The Persecution of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

Closure Notice

2012-01-01T00:30:00.000-08:00

Important Notice: This blog will not be updated w.e.f Jan 01, 2012. For further updates please visit our new website @ http://www.persecutionofahmadis.org

Kyrgyz Officials Reject Muslim Sect

2011-12-31T00:30:00.000-08:00

December 30, 2011KyrgyzstanKyrgyz Officials Reject Muslim Sect BISHKEK – Kyrgyz religious authorities have refused to re-register the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reports. Sagynbek Toktorbaev, a representative of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Kyrgyzstan, told RFE/RL on December 29 that the government’s State Commission on Religious Affairs rejected their

Terrorism alert: ‘Punjab is home to banned organisations’

2011-12-30T00:30:00.000-08:00

Pakistan Punjab Terrorism alert: ‘Punjab is home to banned organisations’By Rana Tanveer Published: December 30, 2011In 2010, the province suffered 32 attacks, in which 257 people, including 24 policemen, were killed. DESIGN: NABEEL ABDUSAMAD. LAHORE: The city witnessed two explosions in 2011 which left 13 people dead and 112 injured. More than 250 were killed in 18 terrorist activities in 2010.

Minority rights: Silence, increasing intolerance make for another grim year

2011-12-29T00:30:00.000-08:00

Pakistan Minority rights: Silence, increasing intolerance make for another grim yearBy Ali UsmanPublished: December 29, 2011Minority communities, activists suffered huge setbacks in 2011, beginning with the deaths of Taseer and Bhatti. DESIGN: FAIZAN DAWOOD LAHORE: Silence became the biggest atrocity against minorities in Pakistan this year. With the rise of the phenomenon of crushing the voice

Harassment: Three Ahmedis accused under blasphemy laws

2011-12-24T00:30:00.000-08:00

Pakistan Punjab Harassment: Three Ahmedis accused under blasphemy lawsBy Rana Tanveer Published: December 24, 2011“298 Ahmedis had been charged under the blasphemy laws since 1984,” a spokesman for the Jamaat-i-Ahmediya. LAHORE: The police have registered cases under the blasphemy laws against a student and his father in Khushab and a headmaster in Gujrat, all three of them Ahmedis. Sajeel

Monthly Newsreport - Ahmadiyya Persecution in Pakistan - November, 2011

2011-12-20T01:00:00.000-08:00

A narrow escape Manzoor Colony, Karachi; November 13, 2011: Five shots were fired at Mr. Saleem Ahmad S/O Mr. Muhammad Shaban as he was returning home after prayers. One shot hit him. He was taken to the hospital. He is a practicing Ahmadi and is active in the community in various ways, including security duties. Manzoor Colony has a history of anti-Ahmadiyya agitation. Several Ahmadis have

W. Java the ‘least tolerant province’

2011-12-20T00:30:00.000-08:00

NATIONALTue, 12/20/2011 11:25 PMW. Java the ‘least tolerant province’The Jakarta Post, JakartaA survey by human rights watchdog Setara Institute has found that West Java was the least tolerant province in 2011, registering the largest number of religious violence cases. Throughout 2011, West Java saw 57 incidents involving government-endorsed discriminatory policies, instances in which

Bleak prospects for Ahmadis

2011-12-19T00:30:00.000-08:00

ARCHIPELAGOMon, 12/19/2011 11:50 PMBleak prospects for AhmadisPanca Nugraha, The Jakarta Post, Mataram Hopeful eyes: Children pose at an Ahmadiyah shelter in Mataram, Lombok. Members of the religious community have been largely shunned by society, and their future as part of Indonesia’s workforce and as citizens is looking bleak. The 33 families of the community have lived in the shelters since

Blasphemy charges: Out of fear, Ahmadi family on the run

2011-12-15T00:30:00.000-08:00

Pakistan Punjab Blasphemy charges: Out of fear, Ahmadi family on the runBy Rana Tanveer Published: December 15, 2011Teenager accused of making derogatory remarks against Holy Prophet (PBUH). LAHORE: Blasphemy allegations continue to haunt minorities in Pakistan. Aalmi Majlis Tahafuz Khatm-e-Nabuwat (AMTKN) activists alleged that 16-year-old Sajeel committed blasphemy by making derogatory

Ahmadiyah bans: Legal justification for intolerance?

2011-12-10T00:30:00.000-08:00

OPINIONSat, 12/10/2011 9:27 AMAhmadiyah bans: Legal justification for intolerance?Ati Nurbaiti, CanberraAs of September this year, at least 26 regencies and municipalities have passed bylaws restricting or banning the Ahmadiyah sect, 11 of them in West Java alone, according to a list from the National Commission on Violence Against Women. Some were issued after the murderous assault on the sect

2011 Yet Another Bad Year for Human Rights: Setara

2011-12-06T00:30:00.000-08:00

HOME 2011 Yet Another Bad Year for Human Rights: SetaraUlma Haryanto | December 06, 2011 Only a handful of those involved in the attack on a small Ahmadiyah community in Cikeusik, Banten, were charged, and they only received prison sentences of just a few months. An Ahmadi survivor who almost had his hand hacked off, though, was charged with provoking the attack and sentenced to six months in

ANALYSIS: Persecution of Ahmedis in the Islamic Republic

2011-12-05T00:30:00.000-08:00

Monday, December 05, 2011 ANALYSIS: Persecution of Ahmedis in the Islamic Republic — Yasser Latif Hamdani The basic premise on which we won ourselves Pakistan was that a permanent majority cannot and should not dominate a permanent minority on account of numeric strength. Yet contrary to that founding logic, Pakistan is today legally a totalitarian fundamentalist theocracy A fresh round of

For minorities in Pakistan, persecution never ends

2011-12-04T00:30:00.000-08:00

Pakistan Punjab For minorities in Pakistan, persecution never endsBy Abdul Manan Published: December 4, 2011 Dug out, desecrated graves at the Ahmadi graveyard. DUNYAPUR: Even in death, the Ahmadiyya community faces persecution. In a gruesome incident late Saturday night, 29 graves in an Ahmadi graveyard were desecrated in Dunyapur, district Lodhran, around 100 kilometres away from Multan.

Blasphemy allegations: Ahmadi family under threat from clerics

2011-12-01T00:30:00.000-08:00

PakistanPunjab Blasphemy allegations: Ahmadi family under threat from clericsBy Rana Tanveer Published: December 1, 2011“The police should come and see me. If I go to the police station, thousands of Muslims will come with me and there will be unrest,” Qari Saeed. LAHORE: An Ahmadi family in Khushab says it is being victimised by local clerics who instigated the expulsion of a 16-year-old from

Monthly Newsreport - Ahmadiyya Persecution in Pakistan - October, 2011

2011-11-30T20:00:00.000-08:00

Kidnappings of Ahmadis Peshawar October 17, 2011: Mr. Mushtaq Ahmad S/O Mr. Akbar Shah has been kidnapped by unknown men. He was riding his motor bike with his children to drop them at the school. When he reached the University Road, men riding a car intercepted him and forced him into the car. The kidnappers have not contacted the family yet. Mr. Ahmad is 60 years old. He has three sons and

Pakistan: Ahmadi student ejected for resisting Islamists

2011-11-25T01:00:00.000-08:00

World: Asia Pakistan: Ahmadi student ejected for resisting IslamistsAhmadi Muslims live in constant fear of persecution in Pakistan. Earlier this year, hundreds were killed by Islamic radicalsFriday, November 25, 2011By Rodrick Samson Rabia Saleem, a female student of the Ahmadi religious sect in the final year of studies at the COMSATS Institute of Information Technology in Lahore, Pakistan,

Lahore: Ahmadi student expelled on false blasphemy charges

2011-11-25T00:30:00.000-08:00

» 11/25/2011 17:11PAKISTANLahore: Ahmadi student expelled on false blasphemy chargesby Jibran KhanRabia Saleem ripped up an anti-Ahmadi poster. Students affiliated with Islamic fundamentalist groups accused her falsely in order to expel her from campus. The university usually covers up extremist abuses as silence reigns in the Education Ministry. Catholic priest slams the authorities’ inaction.

Persecution of Ahmadis Spreads

2011-11-22T00:30:00.000-08:00

Persecution of Ahmadis SpreadsBy Zofeen Ebrahim KARACHI, Nov 22, 2011 (IPS) — “Hatred against us has now spread to small towns and villages,” Saleemuddin, spokesperson of the persecuted Ahmadiya community in Pakistan, told IPS. The Ahmadis believe that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, a 19th century cleric, “was the messiah promised by God”. Such beliefs are seen by orthodox Muslims as unacceptable. Pakistan

The Other Indonesia

2011-11-21T00:30:00.000-08:00

The Other IndonesiaBy Emily Rauhala Monday, November 21, 2011 Guilt trip Dani bin Misra was sentenced to three months’ jail — APA year ago Barack Obama returned to Indonesia, where he lived as a boy, as President of the United States. In a speech at the University of Indonesia, he reminisced about catching dragonflies, flying kites and running through rice paddies in the Jakarta of his youth. “

Banner against Ahmadis not removed despite passing 10 days

2011-11-20T01:00:00.000-08:00

Sunday, November 20, 2011Banner against Ahmadis not removed despite passing 10 daysBy: Syed Danish Hussain | Published: November 20, 2011 RAWALPINDI — It seems that city administration is waiting for occurrence of some untoward incident against Ahmadi community, as despite passage of several days the administration has not removed a number of banners demanding end to religious activities of the

Minority report

2011-11-20T00:30:00.000-08:00

Sun, Nov 20, 2011, Zilhaj 22, 1432 A.H Opinion Minority report Sana Bucha Sunday, November 20, 2011 Blood, meat and hides marked the first day of Eid-ul-Azha in Pakistan. While most Muslims celebrated their holy festival by sacrificing animals, some decided to achieve new levels of faith by targeting Hindus in Shikarpur. Three doctors were shot dead in broad daylight in Chak Town, allegedly,

City closes Ahmadi mosque, denies religious prejudice

2011-11-19T00:30:00.000-08:00

CITYSat, 11/19/2011 11:40 AMCity closes Ahmadi mosque, denies religious prejudiceAndreas D. Arditya, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe Jakarta administration denies any religious predilection in sealing off an Ahmadiyah mosque in East Jakarta this week. Jakarta Deputy Governor Prijanto said that mosque was shut down because it violated a building permit. Prijanto did not consider that the Ahmadis

City seals off Ahmadiyah mosque in East Jakarta

2011-11-18T01:00:00.000-08:00

CITYFri, 11/18/2011 10:41 AMCity seals off Ahmadiyah mosque in East JakartaThe Jakarta PostEast Jakarta officials sealed off a mosque belonging to a group of Ahmadiyah followers in Duren Sawit on Thursday, saying that the place of worship violated zoning regulations. Officials from the East Jakarta Building Supervisory Agency (P2B), accompanied by public order officers, closed down At-Taqwa

The Thinker: Open or Closed?

2011-11-18T00:30:00.000-08:00

OPINION The Thinker: Open or Closed?Elaine Pearson | November 18, 2011 “Now we are vilified,” an Ahmadiyah imam told me last week at a mosque outside Jakarta that is threatened with closure. This is not the Indonesia that US President Barack Obama described last year on his visit to Jakarta, when he said, “Even as this land of my youth has changed in so many ways, those things that I learned to

Ahmadiyah Mosque in Duren Sawit Sealed

2011-11-17T00:30:00.000-08:00

Ahmadiyah Mosque in Duren Sawit Sealed BERITAJAKARTA.COM — 11/17/2011 7:42:52 PM A building which used as Mosque by Ahmadiyah pilgrim on Jl Madrasah Block J No. 28 at RT 02/10, Durensawit, East Jakarta was sealed by East Jakarta Building Supervision and Control (P2B) Sub-Department on Thursday (11/17) due to its building had violated building permit. In the permit, two-story building which

Human Rights Watch Calls on Obama to Tackle Indonesian Abuses

2011-11-16T00:30:00.000-08:00

NEWS Human Rights Watch Calls on Obama to Tackle Indonesian AbusesNovember 16, 2011 Armed soldiers patroling the Nusa Dua beach front area on Indonesia’s holiday island of Bali on Wednesday. The 16 leaders and heads of state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and East Asia Summit participants are gathering in Nusa Dua’s convention and resort enclave for this week’s annual

In-camera proceedings on Qadiani issue: speaker releases report

2011-11-15T02:30:00.000-08:00

Home » General NewsIn-camera proceedings on Qadiani issue: speaker releases reportNovember 15, 2011 | RECORDER REPORT The Federal Government Monday unveiled 37-year-old secret proceedings of joint sitting of the Parliament of 1974 that put Qadianis outside the pale of Islam. The Speaker of the National Assembly released a 21-volume official report on the proceedings of the Special Committee of

Ahmadis of Chantara are under Threat!

2011-11-15T02:00:00.000-08:00

Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at, BangladeshAhmadis of Chantara are under Threat! After about an year and a half, Ahmadis of Chantara village under Ghatail Upozilla (Police Station) of Tangail district are under threat again! Background: Last year (18th June 2010) a makeshift Tin-shed Ahmadiyya mosque and a house were vandalized by some fanatic people led by Imam Mufti Nasiruddin. Daily Star Report,

Govt need to act against Ahmadiyya tormentors

2011-11-15T01:45:00.000-08:00

15/11/2011 00:00:00Home | EDITORIAL | Govt need to act against Ahmadiyya tormentors MEMBERS of the Ahmadiyya community, a minority sect of Islam, are once again exposed to intimidation. This time, they have been barred from building a mosque at a village in Tangail, although, in line with Article 41 of the constitution, ‘every citizen has the right to profess, practice or propagate any religion’

Tangail villagers stop Ahmadiyyas from building mosque

2011-11-15T01:30:00.000-08:00

15/11/2011 00:00:00Home | FRONTPAGE | Tangail villagers stop Ahmadiyyas from building mosque Our Correspondent. Tangail People in a Tangail village stopped the local members of the Ahmadiyya community from constructing a mosque for themselves on Monday. Assistant superintendent of police Md Sajahan said that members of the Ahmadiyya community at Chantara in Ghatail started to build a mosque in

Indonesia: Obama Should Press Rights Concerns

2011-11-15T01:15:00.000-08:00

Indonesia: Obama Should Press Rights ConcernsNovember 15, 2011 The Obama administration’s deepening relationship with Indonesia means being frank about Indonesia’s serious human rights challenges. Indonesian government indifference to mob violence against religious groups and brutality by soldiers against peaceful protesters are good places to start.Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at

Letter to President Barack Obama Regarding his Visit to Indonesia and Human Rights Issues

2011-11-15T01:00:00.000-08:00

Letter to President Barack Obama Regarding his Visit to Indonesia and Human Rights IssuesNovember 15, 2011 Barack Obama President of the United States of America The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Via facsimile: +1-202-456-2461 Re: Visit to Indonesia and Human Rights Issues Dear President Obama, Your administration has placed great emphasis on its deepening

Hard-Line Group Lashes Out At Bekasi Ahmadis

2011-11-15T00:45:00.000-08:00

HOME Hard-Line Group Lashes Out At Bekasi AhmadisUlma Haryanto | November 15, 2011 More than 30 people claiming to be from the notorious Islamic Defenders Front besieged an Ahmadiyah mosque in the Jatibening area of Bekasi on Monday, demanding it be sealed off. Local Ahmadiyah leader Rahmat Rahmadijaya told the Jakarta Globe that the group tried to place a placard in front of the mosque to make

House told to scrap ‘intolerant’ bill

2011-11-15T00:30:00.000-08:00

HEADLINESTue, 11/15/2011 12:23 PMHouse told to scrap ‘intolerant’ billIna Parlina, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe House of Representatives has completed a draft of the so-called religious tolerance bill, which observers claim would threaten the very essence of pluralism and tolerance. The draft bill, which would regulate religious sermons and segregate graves within public cemeteries according to

Ahmadis Living Under Siege

2011-11-11T01:30:00.000-08:00

Ahmadis Living Under SiegePosted by Abu Nauman Atif - laiqatif@gmail.comThursday November 10 2011There is a community in Malaysia that is under siege. In fact they are under siege in all countries where they exist and where there is a high number of Muslims; the countries in the Middle East and North Africa, Pakistan, Indonesia and here in Malaysia. In Pakistan and recently in Indonesia, they

Ahmadis fear another attack after intimidation

2011-11-11T01:00:00.000-08:00

Pakistan Ahmadis fear another attack after intimidationBy Mudassir Raja Published: November 11, 2011Locals foresee outbreak of violence after banners against the community. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE RAWALPINDI: The residents of F block, Satellite Town fear for their safety after a number of banners cropped up, demanding that Ahmadis leave the area and terming the community’s activities “

Blasphemy not a crime: UN official

2011-11-11T00:30:00.000-08:00

NATIONALFri, 11/11/2011 11:30 AMBlasphemy not a crime: UN officialBagus BT Saragih, The Jakarta Post, JakartaAmid various acts of discrimination and the persecution of followers of the Ahmadiyah sect, a UN official says blasphemy should not be categorized as a crime. Frank William La Rue, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression,

Sickening Attack Leaves Disabled Ahmadi Severely Injured

2011-11-10T00:30:00.000-08:00

HOME Sickening Attack Leaves Disabled Ahmadi Severely InjuredJakarta Globe | November 10, 2011 Ahmadi children playing at the Transito shelter in Mataram, Lombok, in September this year. (Antara Photo)A disabled member of the Indonesian’s minority Ahmadiyah religious sect survived a brutal attack by an unknown assailant but had both his ears partially severed with a machete, it was reported on

Malaysia’s Ahmadis living dangerously

2011-11-08T00:30:00.000-08:00

Malaysia’s Ahmadis living dangerouslyPatrick Lee | November 8 2011Targeted by both society and the state, Ahmadis in Malaysia plead for a fair voice, fearing the worst if they’re denied this. SELAYANG: In the middle of Kampung Nakhoda, there is an unassuming three-storey building. Nothing about its humble stature makes it stand out from nearby houses, except for a council-erected signboard that

Trial Begins for FPI Members Accused in Ramadan Raids

2011-11-08T00:15:00.000-08:00

NEWS Trial Begins for FPI Members Accused in Ramadan RaidsRahmat | November 08, 2011 Abdurrahman Assagaf, left, head of the Makassar chapter of the Islamic Defenders Front, and members Arifuddin, middle, and Ruswandi Abubakar sit in court on Tuesday. (AFP Photo)Makassar. Three members of the hardline Islamic Defenders Front appeared in court in Makassar on Tuesday to answer to charges of assault

PAKISTAN: A senior surgeon belonging to the Ahmadi sect is abducted with his son and remains missing

2011-11-03T01:00:00.000-07:00

News / AHRC NewsPAKISTAN: A senior surgeon belonging to the Ahmadi sect is abducted with his son and remains missing November 3, 2011 A senior surgeon belonging to the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam has been missing since October 30, 2011. He was traveling in a car with his son of eleven years. The car was found abandoned far away from his home. Dr. Shah Muhammad Javed, a resident of Sadiqabad

Branded an Ahmadi, hakim is expelled from district

2011-11-03T00:30:00.000-07:00

Pakistan KP & FATA Branded an Ahmadi, hakim is expelled from districtBy Muhammad Sadaqat Published: November 3, 2011Police denies expulsion, claims to have closed the clinic to avoid unrest. HARIPUR: A hakim accused of being an Ahmadi and proselytising was expelled from Haripur on Wednesday. The police, however, denied expelling Sheikh Arif from the district and said he had decided to leave

Hint of Ahmadi ties gets hakeem ‘banished’

2011-11-01T00:30:00.000-07:00

Pakistan KP & FATA Hint of Ahmadi ties gets hakeem ‘banished’By Muhammad Sadaqat Published: November 1, 2011‘Religious’ leaders decide to expel Sheikh Arif from Haripur for hanging up a picture in his shop. HARIPUR: For some bigots, putting up a portrait of a man vaguely associated with the founder of the Ahmadi sect is enough to deserve being ‘punished’ with exile from the district and a ban on

Ahmadiyya decry JAIS attacks

2011-10-29T00:30:00.000-07:00

Ahmadiyya decry JAIS attacksPatrick Lee | October 29, 2011Islamic authorities are bent on demonising us, say local Ahmadiyya Muslims. PETALING JAYA: Local Ahmaddiyya Muslims are tired of being discriminated against, and want to challenge the state to a discussion on their stand as believers. The Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS), according to Ahmadiyya spokesman Maulana Ainul Yaqeen

Ahmadis: The lightning rod that attracts the most hatred

2011-10-28T00:30:00.000-07:00

FEATURES Ahmadis: The lightning rod that attracts the most hatredOctober 28, 2011By Zofeen T. Ebrahim | DAWN.COMPakistani Ahmadis today live in constant fear and humiliation. So much so, the hatred has permeated into each and every slice of society and the oppressors have become more vocal and aggressive. - Illutration by Faraz Aamer KhanA month after ten Ahmadi students were expelled from two

Debate Over Indonesian Religion Bill Heats Up

2011-10-24T00:30:00.000-07:00

HOME Debate Over Indonesian Religion Bill Heats UpUlma Haryanto & Anita Rachman | October 24, 2011 Rahmat Rahmadijaya, an Ahmadiyah leader living in Jatibening, Bekasi, has been anxious for a few weeks now. At first he didn’t want to talk, but he later changed his mind. “If I speak out, maybe I can get people to support us, to pray for us,” he told the Jakarta Globe in a recent interview. He

We’re not safe living anywhere: Ahmadis

2011-10-22T00:30:00.000-07:00

CITYSat, 10/22/2011 12:37 PMWe’re not safe living anywhere: AhmadisThe Jakarta Post, BekasiThe imam of the Al-Misbah Ahmadiyah mosque in Jatibening, Bekasi, recently called on members not to congregate for Friday prayers for safety reasons following an official ban on Ahmadiyah religious practices in Bekasi. Rahmat Rahmadijaya, the imam, said, “It’s up to them if they want to pray here anyway. I

Mindless EDL thugs storm Muslim exhibition in Cradley Heath market

2011-10-17T00:30:00.001-07:00

News Mindless EDL thugs storm Muslim exhibition in Cradley Heath marketThe EDL at Cradley Heath market 1:05pm Monday 17th October 2011 A MUSLIM book stall in Cradley Heath market was stormed by over 25 thugs from the English Defence League this weekend. The shocking attack occurred in front of shoppers, many of which were women and children, at the market at 2.30pm on Saturday. The local

Monthly Newsreport - Ahmadiyya Persecution in Pakistan - September, 2011

2011-10-17T00:30:00.000-07:00

Convert teacher shot dead in school at mid-day Farooqabad, District Sheikhupura; October 1, 2011: Mr. Dilawar Hussain, an Ahmadi teacher in a local primary school was shot dead at about 12:30 by pillion riders. One bullet hit him in the neck and another in the stomach. He was taken to the hospital but he died en-route. The attackers fled after the attack. Mr. Hussain joined the Ahmadiyya

Indonesia: Open letter on human rights violations against the Ahmadiyya in West Java

2011-10-14T03:00:00.000-07:00

Indonesia: Open letter on human rights violations against the Ahmadiyya in West Java Ref: TG ASA 21/2011.034 Index: ASA 21/032/2011 Gamawan Fauzi Minister of Home Affairs Ministry of Home Affairs Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara No.7 Jakarta 10110 Indonesia 14 October 2011 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT Peter Benenson House, 1 Easton Street London WC1X 0DW, United Kingdom T: +44 (0)20

Kazakhstan passes restrictive religion law

2011-10-14T02:30:00.000-07:00

VideosKazakhstan passes restrictive religion lawNew law, which authorities say is needed to curb extremism, bans prayer in state institutions.Last Modified: 14 Oct 2011 05:23 Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan’s president, has approved a new religious law which authorities say is intended to tackle extremism following a spate of violent incidents over the summer blamed on religious groups,

New Religion Law Will Help: Minister

2011-10-14T02:00:00.000-07:00

NEWS New Religion Law Will Help: MinisterCamelia Pasandaran & Antara | October 14, 2011 A proposal for a new law on religious issues that may soon make its way to the House of Representatives has been welcomed by some, but others warn that it may restrict religious freedom. Ministers have responded to a perceived rise in radicalism and religious intolerance by announcing that a new “bill on

Blasphemy Law: Coming a full circle

2011-10-14T01:30:00.000-07:00

Blasphemy Law: Coming a full circleby BUSHRA S on October 14th, 2011 |It was bound to happen. When you have a vaguely worded law with so many loopholes, and a clergy hell bent on defining religion in asphyxiating, rigid boundaries, its supporters and enablers were bound to get scorched themselves. The law was eventually going to come and bite them in the back and that is exactly what happened

Ahmadiyah officially banned [by Bekasi municipality]

2011-10-14T01:00:00.000-07:00

HEADLINESFri, 10/14/2011 6:54 AMAhmadiyah officially banned [by Bekasi municipality]Hans David Tampubolon, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe Bekasi municipality has officially banned the religious practice of the Ahmadiyah sect on Thursday, a move pluralists deemed as the legitimation of a violation of the spirit of the Constitution. The head of the Bekasi Agency for State Unity, Politics and

Ahmadiyya Muslim sect thanks Wimbledon Guardian and Wandsworth Guardian for exposing hate

2011-10-14T00:30:00.000-07:00

News Ahmadiyya Muslim sect thanks Wimbledon Guardian and Wandsworth Guardian for exposing hateHow we reported the story one year ago 9:21am Friday 14th October 2011By Omar Oakes » A minority Muslim sect says it still faces persecution from extremists but has praised efforts to stamp out discrimination in south London. A year ago, this newspaper exclusively revealed shocking examples of Ahmadiyya

Intolerance in the curriculum

2011-10-13T01:30:00.000-07:00

Thu, Oct 13, 2011, Ziqad 14, 1432 A.H Opinion Intolerance in the curriculum Kamila Hyat Thursday, October 13, 2011 There have been several shocking incidents over the past week or so that go only to highlight the kind of intolerance we are facing in our society and the manner in which this is spreading. Worst of all the spirit of hatred has also seeped into classrooms, and is being used to

Kazakhstan curbs religious freedom to halt militancy

2011-10-13T01:00:00.000-07:00

Edition US Kazakhstan curbs religious freedom to halt militancyKazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev addresses the 66th United Nations General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters in New York, September 21, 2011. Credit: Reuters/Shannon StapletonBy Dmitry SolovyovALMATY | Thu Oct 13, 2011 9:44am EDT (Reuters) — Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a tough religion law Thursday

Kazakhstan Passes Restrictive Religion Law

2011-10-13T00:30:00.000-07:00

Kazakhstan Passes Restrictive Religion LawBy AP / PETER LEONARD Thursday, Oct. 13, 201 (ALMATY, Kazakhstan) — Kazakhstan’s president on Thursday approved a bill tightening registration rules for religious groups that has been described by critics as a blow to freedom of belief in the ex-Soviet nation. Supporters of the bill signed into law by Nursultan Nazarbayev say it will help combat

Qadri supporters rail against US, Ahmadis

2011-10-10T00:30:00.000-07:00

Pakistan Punjab Qadri supporters rail against US, AhmadisBy Rana Tanveer Published: October 10, 2011Sunni Ittehad announces ‘Remove government’ train march on Nov 21. PHOTO: AFP LAHORE: Speakers at the Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) National Khatam-i-Nabuwat Conference railed against the death sentence handed to Mumtaz Qadri for the murder of Salmaan Taseer, as well as Ahmedis and America, on

Ideology and intolerance

2011-10-08T01:00:00.001-07:00

OPINION Ideology and intoleranceOctober 8, 2011Irfan HusainMOHAMMAD Ali Jinnah visualised the state of Pakistan as “a homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent”. Sadly, he did not specify precisely which sect of Muslims he had in mind. Although a Shia himself, he did not have a sectarian bone in his body. Indeed, he was secular to the core, and this was the philosophy he bequeathed to the

Ahmadi students, teacher expelled from Pak schools

2011-10-08T01:00:00.000-07:00

South AsiaAhmadi students, teacher expelled from Pak schoolsLast Updated: Saturday, October 08, 2011, 12:53Islamabad: Ten students, including seven girls, and a woman teacher belonging to the minority Ahmadi sect have been expelled from two schools in Pakistan’s Punjab province amid a hate campaign against the community, a media report said on Saturday. They were expelled from Chenab Public

Ahmadis expelled from school

2011-10-08T00:30:00.000-07:00

Pakistan Ahmadis expelled from schoolBy Shamsul Islam Published: October 8, 201110 students, teacher forced out of schools because of their faith. FAISALABAD: At least 10 students, including seven girls, and a female teacher were expelled from Chenab Public School and Muslim Public School, Dharanwali area of Hafizabad, for being Ahmadis. “It is extremely unfortunate that my daughters are being

PAKISTAN: The principals of the schools obey the instructions of Mullahs to rusticate the Ahmadi students

2011-10-07T01:00:00.000-07:00

News / AHRC NewsPAKISTAN: The principals of the schools obey the instructions of Mullahs to rusticate the Ahmadi students October 7, 2011 The government has still not taken any action against the cases of rustication of twenty-three Ahmadi students from Punjab Medical College, and particularly against the rustication of Hina Akram, a third year Ahmadi Muslim student at the National Textile

Incitement goes unchecked as hatred is spewed at rallies

2011-10-07T00:30:00.000-07:00

Pakistan Incitement goes unchecked as hatred is spewed at ralliesBy Saba Imtiaz Published: October 7, 2011 KARACHI: The judge who sentenced former Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer’s assassin, Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, to death has been forced to go on leave after threats, banners and slogans at rallies proclaiming him a non-Muslim and an Ahmadi. His court in Rawalpindi was also attacked by

Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have left even judges in fear of their lives

2011-10-03T02:30:00.000-07:00

Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have left even judges in fear of their livesThe furore over the killing of Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer for allegedly licentious behaviour is merely the latest and most extreme example of an appallingly divisive issueDeclan Walshguardian.co.uk, Monday 3 October 2011 20.00 BST Mumtaz Qadri, sentenced to death for killing TaseerPhotograph: STRINGER/PAKISTAN/REUTERSSo

Rabwah: an oasis of tranquility amidst raging storms

2011-10-03T02:00:00.000-07:00

October 07-13, 2011Vol. XXIII, No. 34 Blog » By Tariq BashirRabwah: an oasis of tranquility amidst raging storms Apart of the city caught fire or, more probably, was set on fire and under cover of the fire, a mob started targeting a religious minority killing a few big names of the community. Terrified of impending death at the hands of the baying crowd, the remainder took refuge in a building

The upset men

2011-10-03T01:30:00.000-07:00

October 07-13, 2011Vol. XXIII, No. 34 View » By Ali Usman QasmiWhat does the early 20th century campaigner and rabble-rouser Syed Ata Ullah Shah Bukhari have in common with Imran Khan? More than you think, according to Ali Usman QasmiThe upset men Those cognizant of the towering figure of Sayyid Ata Ullah Shah Bukhari (d. 1961) may consider the comparison of his life and achievements with Imran

Ahmadi schoolteacher shot dead in Sheikhupura

2011-10-03T01:00:00.000-07:00

Pakistan Ahmadi schoolteacher shot dead in SheikhupuraBy Rana Tanveer Published: October 3, 2011Dilawar Hussain was shot twice at the government school where he taught. LAHORE: As his students watched, a recent convert to the Ahmadi faith, Dilawar Hussain, 42, was shot dead at a government primary school in a village in Sheikhupura on Saturday. According to the FIR registered, the deceased was

The dying canary and Indonesia’s religious freedom

2011-10-03T00:30:00.000-07:00

OPINIONMon, 10/03/2011 7:57 PMThe dying canary and Indonesia’s religious freedomTobias Basuki, Jakarta“Religious liberty is the proverbial canary in the mine,” according to Doug Bandouw, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute. Canaries are often used by miners as an early-warning signal for poisonous gases. When the small birds stop singing and suffocate, miners know toxic gases have polluted the

‘Heretical’ Ahmadiyya sect raises Muslim hackles

2011-10-02T00:30:00.000-07:00

Sun. 02 Oct 2011New Delhi‘Heretical’ Ahmadiyya sect raises Muslim hacklesFirst Published: 23:31 IST(2/10/2011)Last Updated: 23:36 IST(2/10/2011)Zia Haq, Hindustan TimesNew Delhi, October 02, 2011 They proudly claim to be Muslims but are laughed off by mainstream Islam as “fakes”. The dispute goes beyond mere ridicule. From Pakistan to Indonesia, the Ahmadiyyas are often killed for believing in

Ahmadiyah onslaught ‘hardest test’ for RI democracy

2011-09-30T00:30:00.000-07:00

NATIONALFri, 09/30/2011 2:20 PMAhmadiyah onslaught ‘hardest test’ for RI democracyAti Nurbaiti, The Jakarta Post, CanberraIndonesians used to glowing praise over the country’s democratization were abruptly shamed with scenes of February’s mob attack and brutal killing of three Ahmadis in Cikeusik, West Java, projected in the first session of annual talks on Indonesia in Canberra on Friday.

PAKISTAN: Ahmadi students are under threat from the extremist religious groups — government turns a blind eye again

2011-09-28T00:30:00.000-07:00

News / AHRC NewsPAKISTAN: Ahmadi students are under threat from the extremist religious groups — government turns a blind eye again September 28, 2011 Malice, hatred and discrimination against Ahmadi Muslim students in Pakistan are part of a wider scheme to cripple Ahmadis educationally, economically and socially. Ahmadis were declared a non Muslim minority in Pakistan by the amendment in the

Indonesia’s ‘individual jihadists’ gaining ground

2011-09-27T00:30:00.000-07:00

By Agence France-Presse, Updated: 9/27/2011Indonesia’s ‘individual jihadists’ gaining groundThere was nothing sophisticated about the suicide bombing at an Indonesian church Sunday – using homemade explosives packed with nails, nuts and bolts, the bomber killed only himself. National Police spokesman Anton Bachrul Alam holds up photographs of Ahmad Yosepa Hayat, the Bethel Injil Church bomber,

Delhi: Quran exhibition called off after protests

2011-09-24T04:30:00.000-07:00

DelhiDelhi: Quran exhibition called off after protestsLast Updated: Saturday, September 24, 2011, 18:41 New Delhi: An exhibition on Quran and the message of Islam being held here was called off Saturday mid-way through its schedule after facing protests from other Muslim groups. The three-day exhibition was organised in the constitution club by Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, a group of representatives

Fearing row, Bukhari detained

2011-09-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

Sat. 24 Sep 2011New Delhi Fearing row, Bukhari detainedFirst Published: 23:14 IST(24/9/2011) Last Updated: 23:16 IST(24/9/2011)HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times New Delhi, September 24, 2011 The Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid and more than a hundred of his supporters were detained for four hours at the Daryaganj Police Station on Saturday morning, police said. Police said Maulana Syed Ahmed

Exhibition on teachings of Quran denounced

2011-09-24T03:30:00.000-07:00

News » Cities » DelhiNEW DELHI, September 24, 2011 Exhibition on teachings of Quran denouncedMadhur TankhaHOLY READING: A visitor at the three-day Quran exhibition titled ‘Love for all, Hatred for none’ that began in New Delhi on Friday. Photo: V. V. KrishnanProtest by Muslim Law Board member and Shahi Imam’s brother A three-day exhibition on the teachings of the Quran by Ahmadiyya Muslim

Ahmadiyyas face protest at peace mission

2011-09-24T03:00:00.000-07:00

Delhi Ahmadiyyas face protest at peace missionShreya Roy Chowdhury, TNN | Sep 24, 2011, 06.49AM IST NEW DELHI: The Islamic concept of jihad is often misunderstood in the current times of war and terrorism. And Ahmadiyyas have organized an exhibition to tell the world about what they claimed to be the real message of Quran — peace and brotherhood. Through their ‘Holy Quran Exhibition’ at

KAZAKHSTAN: Parliamentary adoption of restrictive laws imminent?

2011-09-23T20:00:00.000-07:00

23 September 2011 KAZAKHSTAN: Parliamentary adoption of restrictive laws imminent? By Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service Two laws imposing severe restrictions on freedom of religion or belief could possibly be adopted by Kazakhstan’s Senate, the upper house of Parliament, as early as next Thursday (29 September). Both laws passed through the Majilis, the lower house, in

Jinnah’s Pakistan, hijacked by clerics

2011-09-19T05:30:00.000-07:00

Opinion Jinnah’s Pakistan, hijacked by clericsPosted by Kashif ChaudhryPublished: September 19, 2011Jinnah founded Pakistan with the dream of it being a secular state where people could live as free citizens.However, today, Pakistan finds it hard to uphold the very ideals it was founded upon With the partition of the Indian subcontinent, Pakistan came into existence on August 14, 1947. The

CJ urged to take action against land grabbing

2011-09-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

Monday, September 19, 2011 CJ urged to take action against land grabbingPublished: September 19, 2011 CHINIOT — Advocate Supreme Court Malik Rab Nawaz has appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to take suo motu action against Qadiani Jama’at which is not accepting the amendment in constitution that declares it as non-Muslim jama’at. Addressing the 6th

Persistent persecution

2011-09-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

threatPersistent persecutionAhmadi community in Faisalabad keeps carrying the tag of ‘liable to be killed’ with no securityBy Aoun SahiSeptember 18, 2010 Naseem Ahmad Butt, 55, father of four daughters and a son and a follower of Ahmadi school of thought, was sleeping in the courtyard of his house in Muzaffar Colony in Faisalabad on the night of September 4, 2011 when four unidentified attackers

Monthly Newsreport on persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan - August, 2011

2011-09-16T00:30:00.000-07:00

Ahmadis denied once again their democratic rights in national elections Islamabad: The government, through the Election Commission of Pakistan, has undertaken the massive exercise of updating the electoral lists for the forthcoming national elections, but have made sure that despite the proclaimed Joint Electorate system, Ahmadis are discriminated against, and religion is mentioned in Form A in a

EDITORIAL: Religious freedom in Pakistan

2011-09-16T00:10:00.000-07:00

Friday, September 16, 2011 EDITORIAL: Religious freedom in Pakistan US Department of State’s July-December, 2010 International Religious Freedom Report has documented “major developments with respect to religious freedom in 198 countries and territories”. The report placed China, Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Uzbekistan as “countries of particular concern”

Religious freedom report: Pakistan one of 10 countries ‘failing to protect minorities’ rights’

2011-09-15T00:30:00.000-07:00

Pakistan Sindh Religious freedom report: Pakistan one of 10 countries ‘failing to protect minorities’ rights’By Atika Rehman Published: September 15, 2011US state department report states that the Pakistani govt failed to protect minorities against abuse, discrimination. PHOTOS: FILE KARACHI: Pakistan was cited among 10 countries “failing to sufficiently protect religious rights”, in a report

Count Pakistan among countries violating religious freedom: US commission

2011-09-14T00:30:00.000-07:00

Pakistan Thinking proactively: Ahmadis have found their own solutions in RabwahBy Atika Rehman Published: September 14, 2011Female supporters of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) hold placards and banner during a protest regarding the Pope’s statements on Pakistan’s blasphemy law. PHOTO: AFP/FILE WASHINGTON: The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) expressed concern over

Indonesia’s Ahmadiyah Sect Fears Religious Violence

2011-09-13T00:30:00.000-07:00

AsiaIndonesia’s Ahmadiyah Sect Fears Religious ViolenceBrian Padden | Jakarta September 13, 2011Photo: AFPMembers of the Ahmadiyah community attend Friday prayers at the An-Nur Mosque in Manis Lor village, in Kuningan, West Java. Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa defended the country's judicial system after a court sentenced Muslim radicals to a few months in jail for killing members

Pandeglang administration seals off Ahmadiyah mosque

2011-09-12T05:30:00.000-07:00

ARCHIPELAGOMon, 09/12/2011 10:50 PMPandeglang administration seals off Ahmadiyah mosqueThe Jakarta PostPandeglang regency administration has reportedly sealed off a mosque belongs to Islamic sect Ahmadiyah at Kadu Kandel, Cisereh, Cisata, Pandeglang, Banten. “The sealing off is in line with a consensus made during a meeting with the Coordinating Board for the Monitoring of Mystical Beliefs in

VIEW: A vote a day keeps the Ahmedi away

2011-09-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

Monday, September 12, 2011 VIEW: A vote a day keeps the Ahmedi away — Yasser Latif Hamdani What I can gather from the Ahmedis now is that, while they consider the treatment meted out to them as unjust and immoral, they are willing to go about their lives if they are allowed to do so with dignity and the freedom to live their lives according to their own rights As if widespread kidnappings and

Khatam-e-Nabuwat Conference: Ahmadis accused of working against Pakistan

2011-09-10T05:30:00.000-07:00

Pakistan Punjab Khatam-e-Nabuwat Conference: Ahmadis accused of working against PakistanBy Shamsul Islam Published: September 10, 2011Three-day meeting ‘celebrates’ declaration of Ahmadis as minorities. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE MULTAN: “Ahmadis are part of a Jewish conspiracy against Islam and Pakistan and are responsible for sectarianism and terrorism in the country,” claimed religious leaders at

Ahmadis criticise govt inaction over targeted killings

2011-09-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

Pakistan Punjab Ahmadis criticise govt inaction over targeted killingsBy Shamsul Islam Published: September 10, 2011Ahmadis say their community is facing dire threat. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE FAISALABAD: Ahmadis are completely at the mercy of assassins who are targeting and killing them with impunity and police and other law-enforcement agencies were doing nothing to thwart their actions, the

Communal violence: Police clueless in attack on Ahmadi man

2011-09-09T05:30:00.000-07:00

Pakistan Punjab Communal violence: Police clueless in attack on Ahmadi manBy Rana Tanveer Published: September 9, 2011Ferozewala police have registered a FIR against three assailants. LAHORE: The police said on Thursday it had no clue about the attackers who shot and injured an Ahmadi man in an attack which carried communal overtones on Wednesday. Ferozewala police have, however, registered an

Indonesians Feel Ahmadis Should Be Protected as Fellow Countrymen: Poll

2011-09-09T05:00:00.000-07:00

NEWS Indonesians Feel Ahmadis Should Be Protected as Fellow Countrymen: PollRonna Nirmala | September 09, 2011 FPI members protesting in front of Ahmadiyah secretariat in Makassar. They urged the Ahmadiyah members to stop their activities. (Antara Photo/Yusran Uccang)Most Indonesians oppose the use of violence against the minority Muslim sect Ahmadiyah and think its followers here are their

Attack on Ahmadiyah condemned by most, survey reveals

2011-09-08T05:30:00.000-07:00

NATIONALThu, 09/08/2011 8:26 PMAttack on Ahmadiyah condemned by most, survey revealsThe Jakarta PostAccording to Setara Institute, most Indonesians condemn the attack on Ahmadiyah in Cikeusik, Banten, West Java, which occurred earlier this year. “As many as 82.3 percent of the respondents said they disapproved the attack, 7.9 were in favor, while 9.8 did not give a statement,” Setara Institute

Ahmadi shot, injured on ‘Khatam-e-Nabuwat Day’

2011-09-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

Pakistan Punjab Ahmadi shot, injured on ‘Khatam-e-Nabuwat Day’By Rana Tanveer Published: September 8, 2011Relatives allege he was targeted for his religious beliefs. NEFER SEHGAL/FILE LAHORE: A man, who was later identified to be an Ahmadi, was critically injured after being shot three times in Ferozewala of Sheikhupura district on Wednesday just as religious parties observed the ‘Tahafuz

PAKISTAN: The federal government must intervene to stop the killings of Ahmadis

2011-09-06T05:10:00.000-07:00

News / AHRC NewsPAKISTAN: The federal government must intervene to stop the killings of Ahmadis September 5, 2011 Another Ahmadi killed in hate crime against religious minorities The religious minority group of Ahmadis is under constant threat of religious hate crimes and no serious efforts have been initiated by the government to provide protection the community. In the latest incident a

Another Ahmadi Muslim killed in Pakistan

2011-09-05T05:30:00.000-07:00

5th September 2011PRESS RELEASE Another Ahmadi Muslim killed in PakistanNaseem Ahmad Butt (55), was martyred in Faisalabad It is with great sadness that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat hereby confirms that on 4 September 2011, a well-known and respected Ahmadi Muslim, Mr Naseem Ahmad Butt (55), was martyred in Faisalabad, Pakistan. Naseem Ahmad Butt was sleeping in his home in Muzzaffar Colony,

A most dangerous place

2011-09-05T05:20:00.000-07:00

Opinion Editorial A most dangerous placeBy Editorial Published: September 5, 2011Ahmadis may be killed with impunity because their persecution by a significant segment of society is ignored by the state and the government of the day. PHOTO: REUTERS The All-Pakistan Students Khatam-e-Nabuwwat Federation has killed another Ahmadi in Faisalabad, the city where the Barelvi school of thought has been

Suspected hate crime: Ahmadi man shot dead in Faisalabad

2011-09-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

Pakistan Suspected hate crime: Ahmadi man shot dead in FaisalabadBy Shamsul Islam Published: September 5, 2011The minority has been under constant attack even though it keeps a low profile. DESIGN: SAMAD SIDDIQUI FAISALABAD: In a suspected incident of hate crime against minorities, unidentified attackers killed an Ahmadi man in Faisalabad late Saturday night. Naseem Ahmad Butt, 55, was shot

Caving in to pressure: Ahmadi place of worship demolished

2011-09-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

Pakistan Caving in to pressure: Ahmadi place of worship demolishedBy Owais Raza Published: September 4, 2011Destruction came in the wake of local demonstrations, minority community lodges peaceful protest. PHOTO: AFP/FILE LODHRAN: The municipal administration has razed to the ground an under-construction Ahmadi place of worship in Jannat Wala, a village on the outskirts of Lodhran, after clerics

Indonesia sect fears more attacks

2011-09-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

WORLD Indonesia sect fears more attacksThree members of the Ahmadiyah, a minority sect, were slain by Islamic hard-liners in February. Ahmadis fear the attackers' light sentences signal tacit government acceptance of religious violence.Nurhayati, a member of the Ahmadiyah, a minority Islamic sect, and her child are among those seeking refuge at a safe house in Banten, Indonesia. (Dita Alangkara,