An Ahmadi Muslim teacher killed in Pakistan

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful
International Press and Media Desk
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat International
22 Deer Park, London, SW19 3TL
Tel / Fax (44) 020 8544 7613 Mobile (44) 077954 90682
Email: press@ahmadiyya.org.uk

Web: Alislam.org

LONDON, 30th November 2009

PRESS RELEASE

AN AHMADI MUSLIM TEACHER KILLED IN PAKISTAN

Mr Rana Salim of Sanghir District, Sindh was shot dead on 26 November 2009.

It is with great sadness that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat confirms that another member of its Jamaat, Mr Rana Salim of Sanghir District, Sindh was shot dead on 26 November 2009.

Mr Salim was walking out from the Baitul Hamd mosque after the evening prayers when he was shot at point blank range. He was rushed to hospital but died prior to arrival. The Asian Human Rights Commission confirmed that the local police did not arrive until very late and subsequently failed to file any proper report or conduct a proper investigation. Locals have confirmed that recently a number of Ahmadis in the area, including Mr Salim, had been receiving frequent threats. The police had been made aware of these threats but refused to take any action.

Mr Salim devoted his life to his passion for education. He and his wife ran the prestigious ‘New Life’ public school and they were routinely praised for providing an excellent standard of education. Indeed jealously at the high performance of the school is one of the reasons that local extremists had targeted Ahmadis in the recent past.

Regarding the continued attacks on Ahmadis in Pakistan, the Asian Human Rights Commission reported on 27 November 2009:

“The State consistently fails in its responsibility to protect them (Ahmadis), despite repeated claims by the current administration that it represents the best interests of minorities in the country. The impunity seen to be enjoyed by those who commit crimes against Ahmadis only further encourages discriminatory violence.”

Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, led the funeral prayer of the deceased in absentia on 27 November 2009. Prior to this he said:

“Mr Rana Salim ran the ‘New Life’ school in Sanghir District in which around 1000 students are currently enrolled. The standard of the school is very high… The deceased is survived by his wife, two daughters and one son. May God grant his family patience at this time and may He elevate the status of the deceased in heaven.”

End of Release

Press Secretary AMJ International, press at ahmadiyya.org.uk

PAKISTAN: Another Ahmadi academic is killed by Muslim fundamentalists

---Asian Human Rights Commission, Hong Kong

Asian Human Rights Commission — Statement

PAKISTAN: Another Ahmadi academic is killed by Muslim fundamentalists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AHRC-STM-234-2009
November 27, 2009

On November 26, 2009 Mr. Rana Salim, a well known educationalist of Sanghir district, Sindh province, was shot dead. Mr. Salim and his wife ran the prestigious New Life public school, credited by residents for the quality of its teaching.

As Mr. Rana was walking out from Baitul Hamd mosque after his evening payers, he was shot at point blank range and was rushed to hospital, but died on the way. The local police didn’t arrive until very late and have yet to start any investigation. District authorities have stated that the assailant cannot be identified and that therefore they cannot speculate on the cause of the murder.

However the administration of New Life Public School claims to have been frequently threatened by Muslim extremists and though the deceased had reported this, no actions had ever been taken by the authorities.

Fundamentalist groups are openly critical of the notoriously high performance of Ahmediya schools in Pakistan, since they consider the Ahmediya community — which they believe to be non Islamic community — a threat. In the past it has been left to local people to shield this particular school from small attacks.

Salim is the 106th Ahmadi to be murdered since 1986, when former military dictator General Zia ul Haq prohibited the religious sect from performing Islamic rituals and constructing mosques. During 2009 six Ahmadis have so far been murdered in target killings, and the state consistently fails in its responsibility to protect them, despite repeated claims by the current administration that it represents the best interests of minorities in the country. The impunity seen to be enjoyed by those who commit crimes against Ahmadis only encourages further discriminatory violence.

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About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.

URL: www.ahrchk.net/stateme...ements/2317/