Pakistan and persecution of Ahmadis

It's no coincidence that after the Pakistani government escalated this state-sanctioned persecution in 1984 by enacting laws that prevent Ahmadis from practicing the very basics of their faith, all these terrorist organizations were formed and grown.

File photo: Young children waiting to offer prayers at an Ahmadiyya mosque

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: LF Press | Letters
By Rizwan Syed | February 15, 2012

Being an Ahmadi Muslim who lived in Pakistan for 16 years before coming to Canada, I can tell you two things for sure.

First, the persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan is so bad that as long as I lived there I was afraid to even let my best friends know that I'm an Ahmadi and some still don't even know it till this day. This is the situation of many Ahmadis in Pakistan.

Secondly, it's not just about Ahmadis. If the government takes a firm stand against persecution of Ahmadis, all other terrorist organizations in Pakistan will be greatly deterred too, because they're all formed on this fundamental notion of "who dares to disagree with us?".

It's no coincidence that after the Pakistani government escalated this state-sanctioned persecution in 1984 by enacting laws that prevent Ahmadis from practicing the very basics of their faith, all these terrorist organizations were formed and grown.

Ultimately for me, these and other similar situations around the world only further highlight the value and need for an Office of Religious Freedom.


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