Security of Ahmadiyyas demanded

	Your Right To Know
Sunday, June 6, 2010	Point Counterpoint
Security of Ahmadiyyas demanded Staff Correspondent

Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at and civil society members yesterday condemned the May 28 bomb attacks on two Ahmadi mosques in Lahore, Pakistan, that killed 85 people.

They also demanded punishment to the attackers and steps to ensure security of the people of Ahamadiyya community across the world, especially in Pakistan.

The demands were placed at a press conference at the national headquarters of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Bangladesh in the city.

Prof Meer Mubashsher Ali, nayeeb-e-amir of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, urged the international community to take necessary steps to stop such barbaric attacks on them.

Strongly criticising the Pakistan government for declaring the Ahmadi Muslims of the country ‘Non-Muslim’ in 1974, he urged the international community to take necessary measures to repeal the law to uphold freedom of religion.

A global charter must be formulated to curb such violence in future, he added.

Noted writer and columnist Shahrier Kabir said the international human rights organisations should raise their voice to ensure the right to freedom of religion.

He also called for putting an end to the culture of impunity to prevent such attacks. “If we cannot get rid of the culture of impunity, it would not be possible to ensure security of lives.”

Prof Parveen Hasan of the department of Islamic history and culture of Dhaka University laid emphasis on the formulation of a law to end religion-based discrimination.

Abdul Awal Khan Choudhury, missionary-in-charge of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Bangladesh, and Sharif A Kafi, executive director of Bangladesh Development Partnership Centre also spoke.

URL: www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=141587

Ahmadiyyas condemn Lahore killings

Dhaka, Sunday, June 6, 2006 Ahmadiyyas condemn Lahore killings Staff Correspondent

The Ahmadiyya community in Bangladesh on Saturday called for drawing up a global charter to curb violence against religious minorities, hate campaigns and religious discrimination to make the world a better place to live in.

The community leaders at a briefing at its headquarters condemned the brutal attack by armed bigots on two Ahmadiyya mosques in the Pakistani city of Lahore on May 28 that left 86 dead and more than 125 injured.

They said the bloodbath of Ahmadis was a natural consequence of pampering of extremists and the enactment of barbaric laws by the Pakistani parliament barring one from practicing his religion.

‘We condemn the premeditated and cold-blooded killing in the strongest possible term and call for an end to the impunity to the bigots… This is high time for the international community to take steps to repeal such inhuman laws and help establish freedom of religion in the civilized world,’ said Meer Mubashsher Ali, naib national amir of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Bangladesh.

Citing instances of violence and violation of basic and religious rights of the minority people, Mubashsher said, ‘Pakistan is not only the most dangerous place on earth now; it has turned into the breeding ground for terrorism in the garb of religion. Some global charter must be drawn or at least activated to curb such inhuman violence and hate campaign to make the world a better place to live in.’

He said formulation of such a charter would give a strong message to all extremists in and outside Pakistan who were trying to exploit religious sentiments of innocent masses.

Central missionary of Ahmadiyya community Bangladesh, Abdul Awwal Khan Chowdhury, Dhaka University Islamic history professor Parvin Hasan and writer Shahriyar Kabir were also present at the briefing.

URL: www.newagebd.com/2010/jun/06/nat.html

Violence against us enjoys ‘legal sanction’: Ahmadis

---The News International, Pakistan

Monday, May 31, 2010, Jamadi-us-Sani 16, 1431 A.H.

Violence against us enjoys ‘legal sanction’: Ahmadis

Monday, May 31, 2010
By our correspondent

LAHORE

AHMADIYYA Community Director Mirza Ghulam Ahmed has alleged that all violent acts against the community members enjoy ‘legal sanction’.

Addressing a press conference at the community’s worship place in Garhi Shahu on Sunday, he lamented that since 1974, those associated with the Jamaat had been facing prejudicial treatment, and were even losing their lives at the hands of terrorists.

He said that 95 innocent people lost their lives in the attacks on two centres of the community where they had gathered to offer prayers, and asked wasn’t it the duty of the provincial government to protect them?

Mirza Ghulam Ahmed said the Ahmadiyya community was declared non-Muslim in 1974 by the government through a constitutional amendment and since 1984, the members of the Jamaat had not been able to hold a major gathering. He said the last gathering of the community took place in 1983 and afterwards, their public activities were banned, but those who wanted to eliminate the community members were allowed to hold event. He said the government had also imposed a ban on their prayer call.

To a question about the findings of investigation of Friday tragedy, Mirza Ghulam Ahmed said that so far the Punjab government had not taken the community on board regarding the matter. He said the Ahmadiyya community had played a great role in the Pakistan Movement and later defended the homeland against any aggression. He said the members of the community fought battles for the country and sacrificed their lives but unfortunately, they were declared ‘Wajibul Qatal’ by different elements of the society. He also protested against the display of banners against the Ahmadiyya community, saying a planned campaign against the Jamaat continued unabated.

To a query about the involvement of the Research and Intelligence Wing (RAW) in the Friday carnage, he said he did not think it proper to comment on it. He said the community members were living in India as well as in Pakistan and they had affiliation with their respective countries. The community also issued the list of people who lost their lives in the attacks on the worship places.

Meanwhile, the message of Head of the Ahmadiyya Community Mirza Masroor Ahmed was also circulated among the media persons.

Mirza Mansoor Ahmed condemned the Friday’s terror attacks in Lahore as barbaric. The message further stated that the situation in Pakistan was extremely grave and for decades, Ahmadis had not been able to live in peace, in fact they were living in constant danger.

Mirza further said, ‘The Ahmadiyya is a peace-loving Jamaat, thus there will be no improper reaction from any Ahmadiyya.’ Reporters also visited the site attacked by the terrorists.

URL: www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=242193