Faith and practice: Follow lead on ending religious persecution

Last year in Pakistan, a Christian named Asia Bibi was sentenced to death for allegedly blaspheming the Prophet Mohammed. In the same year, the provincial government of Punjab, Pakistan, helped local fanatics to sanction killing Ahmadi Muslims because their beliefs deem them "worthy of death."

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch |
Source/Credit: Milwaukee - Wisconsin Journal Sentinel Online
By Ahmed Khan | April 25, 2011

Congressman Tom Petri (R-Wis.) visited the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA's chapter in Oshkosh to condemn religious persecution of minorities in Pakistan and Indonesia. Petri said, "The thing that is unique about the United States is that it was founded on the basis of religious tolerance, not franchising a particular religious sect or approach."

I completely agree, and we should promote this to other countries such as Pakistan and Indonesia.

Last year in Pakistan, a Christian named Asia Bibi was sentenced to death for allegedly blaspheming the Prophet Mohammed. In the same year, the provincial government of Punjab, Pakistan, helped local fanatics to sanction killing Ahmadi Muslims because their beliefs deem them "worthy of death."


Consequently, terrorist attacks in two separate Ahmadi Muslim mosques in Lahore, Pakistan, resulted in the deaths of 86 members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community.

Lastly, more than 1,000 fanatics in Cikeusik, Indonesia, raided a peaceful gathering of Ahmadi Muslims earlier this year and killed three. Violence against Ahmadi Muslims and other minorities is rising exponentially within these two countries.

In spite of this situation and at a time when government is seemingly becoming ineffective, some important steps have taken place to reduce the growing violence against minorities. Recently, Petri and 26 other House members signed a letter to the president of Indonesia to raise awareness about the growing violence against minorities within his country. Success doesn't occur without important first steps.

When Aaron Rodgers threw a touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson in the first quarter of Super Bowl XLV, that put the Green Bay Packers on their path toward victory. But it required more touchdowns later in the game for the Packers to win. In the same way, more work is needed on this important issue of religious persecution.

Recently, Wisconsin went through a struggle regarding collective bargaining rights for public employees. Along the way, the state played many leading roles and set many paradigms for the nation. It is doing the same here.

While leading others on this issue, Wisconsin has become unique like the United States. Back to Petri's statement about the uniqueness of the United States: I think he firmly believes in that ideal due to his gracious response to our call for ending persecution of minorities in Pakistan and Indonesia. Other members of Congress should follow his lead.

Ahmed Khan of Oshkosh is a member of the Muslim Writers Guild of America.

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