Ahmadiyya decry JAIS attacks

Ahmadiyya decry JAIS attacks

Patrick Lee | October 29, 2011

Islamic 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 Sahib, has worked hard to declare his community as apostates.

“JAIS has been attacking the Ahmadiyya through the media. Everything gets thrown against us. It’s not fair. They say we are not Muslims, and (at the same time) they don’t give us a chance to say anything (in return),” he told FMT.

Maulana was referring to a Oct 20 television programme known as “Kes Akidah” aired by local Islamic TV station Al-Hijrah. At the time, the programme’s episode was allegedly entitled “Nabi Palsu Qaidani” (False prophets of the Qaidanis).

(Qaidani is another term for the Ahmadiyya.)

Unhappy with the attacks against them, Ahmadiyya representatives handed over a memorandum to both JAIS and Al-Hijrah on Oct 25 and 27 respectively.

In the memorandum, they demanded equal and fair treatment as Muslims in Malaysia, as well as an open discussion over their position as Muslims.

The memorandum read: “What is most regrettable is that JAIS is so fervent in its attempts to prevent the Malays from becoming apostates or embracing other faiths.”

“But in the context of the Ahmaddiya, they so easily issue fatwas labeling us as kafirs or having left Islam.”

It added that an open discussion over the Ahmadiyya would be better than state-organised raids, and would avoid instances of violence and murder.

The Selayang Council, as well as the Gombak Land and District Office, the memorandum said, had been influenced by JAIS in the past to persecute the Ahmadiyya.

Malaysia, a predominantly Sunni Muslim country has been known to keep other Islamic sects under close watch.

According to a TheNutGraph report, the Selangor Fatwa Council issued a fatwa in 1975, declaring the Ahmadiyya as non-Muslims.

In 2009, the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) forbade the Ahmaddiya from using their Batu Caves mosque.

There are an estimated 2,000 Ahmadiyyas in Malaysia today, with the majority of them residing in Selangor.

The country’s 100,000 Shi’ite Muslims also face discrimination from local Islamic authorities. In May this year, four Shi’ites were arrested after they were celebrating the birthday of Fatimah az-Zahra, Prophet Muhammad’s daughter.

Two hundred Shi’ites were also arrested at a gathering in late December.

Copyright © 2011 MToday News Sdn. Bhd. All Rights Reserved.
URL: www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/10/29/ahmadiyya-decry-jais-attacks/

Ahmadis: The lightning rod that attracts the most hatred

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Ahmadis: The lightning rod that attracts the most hatred

October 28, 2011By Zofeen T. Ebrahim | DAWN.COM

Pakistani 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 Khan

A month after ten Ahmadi students were expelled from two schools in the village of Dharinwala, in Faisalabad district, all have been put back to school, not in there old ones, but in two schools in Hafizabad, thanks to Khalil Ahmad, father and grandfather of four students who were among those expelled.

“I managed to get all of them enrolled in two schools in the nearby city of Hafizabad,” he said talking to Dawn.com over phone from his village.

But it’s not been easy. Most parents of the expelled children are too poor, so Ahmed volunteered to pay for their admissions, their books and stationery. And that is not all. He, with the help of his two sons, makes sure they drop and pick all of them on a motorbike, doing turns.

In one school, the principal knows he has given admission to Ahmadi students but the educator believes faith should not come in the way of those seeking education. “In the other the principal has not been told,” Ahmed revealed.

Sadly, all during this episode, the government has remained a quiet bystander, as always.

It is not the first time that students have been expelled from an educational institution in Punjab because of their religious affiliations, remarked Bushra Gohar, a parliamentarian belonging to the secular Awami National Party. According to Gohar, her party members had condemned the expulsion of students belonging to the Ahmadiyya community each time on the floor of the house. “However, a protest or condemnation from the parties leading in the Punjab has not been forthcoming,” she said.

For far too long, Pakistani students belonging to this minority community have been facing various forms of discrimination based on their faith.

“This tidal wave against the Ahmadiyya education shows no sign of ebbing,” Saleemuddin, the spokesperson of the Ahmaddiya Jammat, told Dawn.com.

He said after 1984, when the government promulgated the anti Ahmadiyya ordinance, both the government and the clerics have been trying their utmost to punish them in various ways.

“Ahmadi lecturers were posted away to distant locations and some were not allowed to teach. Ahmadi principals and headmasters were replaced. Ahmadi students were deprived admission in professional colleges. They were refused accommodation in attached hostels. They suffered attacks by extremist elements on campuses.”

According to the Asian Human Rights Commission, the Islami Jamiat Talaba, the student wing of the Islami Jamiat has been tasked to cleanse the educational institutions, including universities and professional colleges of Ahmadi students.

Hasan Ahmed, who was among the 23 students who were expelled from Punjab Medical College, in Faisalabad, back in 2008, can never forget the stressful event and how “night after night, for over a month” he kept stressing over the events that turned his settled student life all topsy-turvy.

“I knew it happened to others, so was not completely caught unawares,” Hasan acknowledged. He is at present completing his house job in Lahore, keeping an “ultra busy schedule”.

Eventually all were re-instated in some college or another. “After months of waiting, just before exam, my friend was sent to Bahawalpur while I went off to a distant place of Rahimyar Khan in a college of lower merit,” narrated Hasan.

After a gargantuan effort, he was finally allowed to appear in exams from Lahore and then got admitted to Allama Iqbal Medical College, in Lahore.

“To be in a state of flux was the worst part of this episode specially since exams were approaching and I didn’t know which place I was to appear from,” said Hasan.

He expressed that till the identity of an Ahmadi remains undisclosed “he remains safe”.

But that is sadly not the case if you are living in Pakistan. People are culturally nosy and want to know your cast and sect. “Eventually they end up finding that you are an Ahmadi. Once they know, you can feel a change of attitude and it just takes a mischief maker to exploit others’ feelings against you,” said Hasan.

Till Hina Akram’s faith remained unknown to her teacher in Faislabad’s National Textile University, she was considered a star student. But after it became known she belonged to the Ahmadiyya community, she faced so much faith-based harassment that she had to quit studies.

“I was told to convert to Islam,” said Hina, who was studying in the sixth semester of her BSc.

“I was handed some anti-Ahmadiyya literature to read, offered a refuge in Muslim home. But when she told the teacher she was an Ahmadi by choice he called her an infidel and warned her of severe consequences.

“You will face such a fire of animosity in the campus that not even the vice chancellor will be able to help you,” he threatened her.

True to his word, a hate campaign was initiated and a social boycott began. Out of college, she is desperately trying to go abroad. Her fate remains in balance.

But it’s not just the education aspect where the anti-Ahmadiyya lobby is hitting, said Saleemuddin. Since 1984, some 208 faith-based killings have taken place. The persecution against the community has surged following the May 28, 2010 massacre of 94 members of the community in Lahore.

After the four million Ahmadis were officially declared non-Muslims in 1984 by the state, they cannot call themselves Muslims or go to mosques. They cannot be overheard praising Prophet Mohammad. To add insult to injury, every Pakistani who claims to be a Muslim and owns a passport has declared that he or she considers them to be non-Muslims and their leader an imposter prophet.

Pakistani 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.

“The extremist elements are getting more and more powerful because of Saudi-US influence and the government’s policy of appeasement,” said I.A. Rehman, General Secretary Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

“The Ahmadis are already the worst persecuted minority in our country – and things for them appear to be growing worse as hatred and intolerance spread,” Kamila Hyat, a journalist and a rights activist echoed the same sentiments. “The lack of enforcement of laws to prevent the preaching of hatred adds to the problem,” she added.

Saleemuddin said by allowing the extremist clerics to hold anti-Ahmadiyya rallies and conferences, the government is adding fuel to this venom. “People are openly instigated to kill us in the name of Islam,” he said.

“Violence and the advance of bigotry, prejudice and hate against minorities have never really been met with the resolve needed to remove impunity from the social equation in Pakistan,” Sherry Rehman, a legislator belonging to the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, agreed.

Instead, she told Dawn.com what is seen is an “expansion in the space for religious and sectarian apartheids, which has led now to heinous acts of brutality and exclusion of many, particularly Ahmadis.”

She warned: “This is a dangerous trend that conflates national identity with religion.”

Perhaps that is one reason why Pervez Hoodbhoy expresses: “Today, when religion has become so central in matters of the state, they [Ahmadis] do not stand a chance in Pakistan of getting rights, respect, and dignity. The overdose of religion given to young Pakistanis in their schools and homes means that nothing matters more than which religion and sect you belong to. Ahmadis are the lightning rod that attracts more hatred than any other sect.”

For its part rights groups like the Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) say they have “repeatedly” raised the issue of “state tolerated persecution”.

“We are urging authorities to intervene in each case,” said Rehman. “But the situation is getting worse day by day.

Terming it “abhorrent and self defeating” when society allows “for the dehumanization of Ahmadis or Christians or the Shia for that matter, it is effectively cannibalizing itself,” said Ali Dayan Hasan, Pakistan director of HRW.

“The federal government expresses regret at incidents but has made clear its unwillingness to repeal or amend discriminatory laws,” said HRW spokesperson.

Given the current intolerance, the fate of the new generation of Pakistani Ahmadis looks “quite bleak” said Rehman.

Even Hoodbhoy said: “For years, Ahmadis, Hindus, and Christians have been desperately seeking to flee Pakistan. They would be foolish to want to stay,” said Hoodbhoy.

This fails to dampen young Hasan’s spirits. He thinks the future looks “brighter than ever before”.

“Even if the situation is made worse in Pakistan, this does not mean the future is not bright. It’s a matter of time before we start getting equal rights in this country.

Often when they get together, the young Ahmadis discuss the “bitter realities” they have to face as Pakistanis.

“But we don’t want to leave our country at the juncture that it is at,” said a patriotic Hasan. This is because the contribution of the Ahmadi community towards building of Pakistan has been immense,” he said with conviction.

He said recently their leader urged all Ahmadis of the world to “fast once a week and pray” especially for the prosperity of Pakistan.”

Zofeen T. Ebrahim is a freelance journalist.

©2010 DAWN Media Group. All rights reserved
URL: www.dawn.com/2011/10/28/ahmadis...most-hatred.html

Debate Over Indonesian Religion Bill Heats Up

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Debate Over Indonesian Religion Bill Heats Up

Ulma 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 is anxious because of a decree signed by Bekasi’s acting mayor, Rahmat Effendi, that bans the Muslim minority group from conducting activities that may be interpreted as an effort to spread its beliefs.

The ban went into effect on Oct. 13. Since then, Rahmat and other members of the Ahmadiyah community in his neighborhood have started holding Friday prayers under tight security from Bekasi Police.

“Our second Friday prayers went relatively normally, about 60 people joined in,” said another resident, Abdul Rohim.

“We don’t know about next week, though.”

In Need of a Law?

The fear appears to be justified. Several violent incidents have targeted Ahmadiyah communities throughout the country.

One of the worst — an attack in February by a mob of at least a thousand on an Ahmadi group in Cikeusik that left three members of the sect dead — spurred a discussion over a long-delayed bill on religious harmony.

At the time, the bill was presented by lawmakers as a long-term solution to the religious conflicts plaguing the country and to give a stronger legal basis to joint ministerial decrees that regulate religious matters in the country today.

Last week, Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare Agung Laksono, Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali and Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi reiterated their endorsement of the bill.

“We need a regulation that contains both conflict prevention and solutions to the problems obstructing religious harmony,” Agung said.

The current draft of the bill regulates various religious rights and obligations such as proselytizing, celebrating religious holidays, constructing places of worship, funerals and religious education.

“The original version of the draft, written by the staff of the Religious Affairs Ministry, dated back to 2003,” said Ismail Hasani, a researcher at Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy. “The current draft is more or less the same.”

The bill is part of the 2011 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas), or the list of priority bills for the year, but it has been delayed as the House of Representatives has turned its attention to other bills.

Will It Help?

Setara deputy chairman Bonar Tigor Naipospos, an advocate of pluralism, isn’t looking forward to the religious harmony bill being passed into law.

He said it would only legitimize existing discriminatory regulations within the 1965 Anti-Blasphemy Law and a 2006 joint ministerial decree on places of worship, which has contributed to a number of conflicts.

In Bogor, for instance, Mayor Diani Budiarto has used the ministerial decree to continue to defy a Supreme Court ruling ordering the reopening of the GKI Yasmin Church.

The 2006 joint ministerial decree requires 60 signatures from local residents in support of the construction of a place of worship, but the mayor has claimed that GKI Yasmin forged the signatures.

The tension in Bogor came to a head two weeks ago, when churchgoers and public order officers (Satpol PP) clashed in front of the sealed building.

West Java Police are now investigating complaints filed by both camps against each other. A Satpol PP chief is accusing GKI Yasmin churchgoers of hitting him in the jaw and knocking him unconscious, while the church is countersuing Satpol PP for disrupting its service.

Bonar said the bill would be unhelpful to the cause of the Ahmadiyah as well. “The spirit of the law that condemns their belief, the 1965 Anti-Blasphemy Law, is still incorporated in the bill,” he said.

Fears and Worries

Abdul Kadir Karding, chairman of House Commission VIII, which oversees social affairs, urged the public to think positively about what the lawmakers in the commission were doing.

He said the House wanted to give protection to minorities.

“For instance, when there is a non-Muslim person living in a Muslim community, he or she has the right to use the same public cemetery like the majority,” he said. “In the Cikeusik case, we want this future law to ensure that the guilty will get punished.”

Activists were outraged that most of the 12 people convicted in the Cikeusik attack were sentenced to just six months in jail — the same sentence given to one of the Ahmadi victims convicted of violent assault and disobeying police officers who had ordered him and about a dozen other Ahmadis to evacuate ahead of the attack.

Karding acknowledges that unless the bill is carefully constructed, it risks becoming a tool for “hard-line groups to limit freedom of religion.”

Fajar Riza Ul Haq, executive director of the Maarif Institute, asked the House to be more open in the drafting and deliberation.

He said it should learn from the recently passed Intelligence Law, when both the House and government ignored public criticism.

One critical point, he said, was how the House would define “harmony” in the bill. “They should have drafted a religious freedom bill instead of this one.”

Harmony vs Freedom

Harmony, for instance, could be used to justify the recently issued Bekasi ban on the Ahmadiyah’s activities, which states the ban is needed to “preserve and maintain the stability of conduciveness and security, peace and order in Bekasi.”

Bonar views the religious harmony bill as the “middle way” after the Constitutional Court rejected a judicial review of the 1965 Anti-Blasphemy Law.

“Because even though the court rejected the request because the law itself is not unconstitutional, it stated in its ruling that a revision or an update of the law was needed,” Bonar said.

“Principally, we can’t agree with the law since it reflects the fact that this government thinks religious harmony is something that should be engineered, rather than grow naturally.”

If the government really wanted “harmony,” Fajar said it should start addressing the prevalence of hate speech.

In Jatibening, just before the ban on the Ahmadiyah was issued, members of the notorious hard-line group Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) were in the area.

“They came to Jatibening and intimidated people, telling us to shut down our mosque about three weeks ago,” Rahmat said.

Additional reporting by Vento Saudale

Copyright 2010 The Jakarta Globe
URL: www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/debate-over...up/473591

We’re not safe living anywhere: Ahmadis

CITYSat, 10/22/2011 12:37 PM

We’re not safe living anywhere: Ahmadis

The Jakarta Post, Bekasi

The 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 won’t send them home,” he said, adding that about 50 of the 200 registered followers were regulars at the mosque.

However, dozens of Ahmadiyah members still went to the mosque on Friday — a week after the Bekasi municipality officially banned the sect — and conducted Friday prayers under police guard.

“[Intimidation] makes us stronger. Members are even more determined to go to the mosque,” Vera, a member, told The Jakarta Post.

Congregation members later left the mosque peacefully after the weekly service concluded.

The Bekasi municipality ruled last week that the decree banning Ahmadiyah religious practices had been passed in order to meet the demands of local people.

The Ahmadiyah are not considered a Muslim group by mainstream Muslims, as the sect’s teachings are considered to deviate from mainstream Islam.

However, residents of Jatibening told the Post that there had never been any conflict between Ahmadiyah members, who mostly live outside the housing complex, and them.

Hartinah, who has lived in the neighborhood since before the mosque was built in the 1980s, said there had been no problems between Ahmadiyah followers and residents.

“As a child, I, along with neighbors, often joined Koran recitations or breaking of the fast events at the mosque. They are friendly and have never forced us to follow their beliefs, so we have no problems with their presence,” she said.

Hartinah said that people had started to leave the mosque following the spike in reports of violence against Ahmadiyah members throughout the country.

“I’m not sure who is right, but the presence of vigilante group members around here scares me more,” Hartinah said.

Imam Rahmat said that after the Bekasi decree issuance, he had been intensively communicating with the police. “When there are rumors that certain groups will come, the police deploy officers to guard the mosque,” he said.

Ahmadiyah members have not been holding regular events other than weekly Friday prayers and sermons.

Firdaus Mubarik, public relations officer of the Ahmadiyah Indonesia Congregation, told the Post that the organization had stopped holding national events after thousands attacked the Ahmadiyah Indonesia Congregation in Parung, Bogor, in 2005.

“We are no longer safe anywhere in Indonesia,” Firdaus said.

Concerning the appointment of Nasaruddin Umar as the religious affairs deputy minister tasked with “eliminating possible religious conflicts” during the recent Cabinet reshuffle, Mubarik said he was pessimistic that it would have any impact on the Ahmadis.

“As far as I know, Nasaruddin was involved in the drafting of the 2008 joint ministerial decree banning Ahmadiyah religious practices. Besides, [the problem solving] is not in the hands of ministers, but of the President [Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono],” he said.

Firdaus pointed out that the incidence of violence against Ahmadis had increased and worsen during Yudhoyono’s leadership.

“Before Yudhoyono came to power, the eviction of 300 Ahmadis living in Lombok [West Nusa Tenggara] in 2002 was the biggest tragedy for us. During Yudhoyono’s leadership, we’ve seen worse and even lost several members, who were killed during the incidents,” Firdaus said. (swd)

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved
URL: www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/10/22/we-re...ahmadis.html

Mindless EDL thugs storm Muslim exhibition in Cradley Heath market

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Mindless EDL thugs storm Muslim exhibition in Cradley Heath market

The 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 Ahmadiyya Muslim book stall and Qur’an exhibition was attacked and volunteers were manhandled and abused by members of the Far Right organisation.

Shocked Ahmadiyya outreach worker Toby Ephram described the scene in the market.

He said: “About 25 of the EDL group stormed our stall in Cradley Heath pushing, shoving and threatening our members.”

“We have the book stall to raise awareness of our work in Britain and in the local community we are proud to be British Muslims and this incident saddened us.

“Our motto is ‘Love for All - Hatred for None’ and we do not meet violence with violence so we just stood there and did not respond to the provocation.”

He added: “I’d like to thank the police for responding to the problem so quickly and controlling the situation and we will be back as usual at the market on Saturday.”

Last week the News reported the Muslim group was setting up the stall and exhibition in a bid to ‘increase understanding and improve community cohesion’.

Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris condemned the incident and branded it an ignorant and mindless attack.

He said: “The people storming the stall may claim that they are defending their English identity, but tolerance for other people’s views and beliefs has long been a key part of what it means to be English.

“The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Cradley Heath actively works to help different sections of our society to live peacefully alongside each other, whatever their religion.”

He added: “This mindless attack is absolutely deplorable and can only have been caused by ignorance of the views and action of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community locally.”

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “We were called at 1.40pm with reports of people causing a disturbance in the Market Square area of Cradley Heath. “Officers attended the scene and the groups dispersed.”

On Boxing Day 2009 Cradley Heath Mosque and Islamic Centre in Plant Street was burnt to the ground by arsonists.

Copyright 2001-2011 All rights reserved.
URL: www.halesowennews.co.uk/news/9309878...Heath_market/

Monthly Newsreport - Ahmadiyya Persecution in Pakistan - September, 2011

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 community a year ago. This angered his relatives, who used various means to make him recant, but he remained firm in his new confession. A group of mullas visited him a few weeks ago, and while departing declared him ‘wajib ul qatl’ (must be killed). The authorities failed to provide him any support in exercise of freedom of belief.

The deceased is survived by his wife and four children. He was 42.

Mullas are free in Pakistan to declare anyone Wajib-ul-Qatl (must be put to death); there is no law against such declarations, which are often followed up by target killings. While Ahmadis are the usual victims of this violent indiscretion, non-Ahmadis also are targeted. Governor Salman Taseer was one of them.

There is urgent need to criminalize edicts of Wajib-ul-Qatl. Bangladesh passed such a law in the recent past.

Another murder attack in Rachna Town, Lahore

Rachna Town, Ferozwala, District Lahore; September 7, 2011: Khatme Nabuwwat Organization considers 7 September an important date and celebrates it every year, because in 1974 on this date Ahmadis were declared a non-Muslim minority by the state. This year, religious bigots chose this day to make a murder attempt in Rachna Town where last year they had murdered Professor Muhammad Yusuf and got away with it – thanks to intervention of a local political heavy-weight of PML (N).

Unknown pillion-riders fired pistol shots at Mr. Basheer Ahmad the local secretary of public affairs of the Ahmadi community, at about 11 a.m. He was hit by four bullets in the neck, shoulder and stomach. Three of these remained embedded while the fourth shot to the shoulder came out at the other end. Mr. Ahmad was rushed to Mayo Hospital where he was attended by a competent surgical team in the ‘emergency’ room. They took out the bullets from the stomach and the neck. His vertebrates and entrails were damaged. They had to undertake a colostomy. It took them many hours of surgical operation, and they had to use four bottles to replenish his lost blood. His state was precarious for hours, and they shifted him to the Intensive Care Unit after the operation. Fortunately he survived.

Days later he was shifted to another hospital for medical care and recovery. He had to be provided an armed guard to ensure that he is protected against a repeat attempt.

As the local Khatme Nabuwwat chapter of TAKN (Tajdar Anjuman Khatme Nabuwwat) is intensely involved in anti-Ahmadi activities, a number of activists reportedly fled from the area to avoid arrest.

Ten days after this incident the local leaders of the TAKN in Ferozwala filed a dacoity complaint with the police against unnamed accused, reportedly as ‘FIR insurance’ against an accusation of involvement in the murder attempt on the Ahmadi. Humayun Akhtar, younger brother of TAKN Ferozwala president Afzal Tahir, was the complainant of the dacoity case. The Express Tribune reported the following on September 20, 2011, ‘Sources in the police said that Tahir, Qari Muhamamd Ahmad Faridi and two other prominent TAKN members contacted the police and asked them not to allow TAKN people to be named in the FIR. They said that PML (Nawaz) MPA Ashraf Rasool, who is also a member of TAKN, had also approached the (police) station house officer on this matter.’

The same newspaper quoted a local as, “The TAKN is very strong here. They have renamed the crossing where Chaudhry Basheer was attacked and are calling it Khatme Nabuwwat Chowk. The bazaar is being called Khatme Nabuwwat Bazaar.”

A few days earlier mulla Muhammad Ahmad Faridi, the Khatib of the local Khatme Nabuwwat mosque issued a poster titled: “Khatme Nabuwwat doctrine is the foundation of Islam”. Its contents include, inter alia:

These people (Ahmadis) call Mirza Qadiani a Prophet (Nabi), and a Messenger (Rasul); they consider his diabolic inspirations holy revelations and call his nonsense ‘Hadees Rasul’. They call his cursed colleagues Companions of the Messenger, and call the corrupt family of the cursed Mirza ‘Ahle Bai‘at’. Hence Mirzais are not only Kafir (infidels), they are also guilty of blasphemy against the Prophet, the Quran, the Companions and the Holy Family. Mirzais call themselves Muslims despite all their nonsense, trash and bull. … They are traitors to Islam and the country.

From: Muhammad Ahmad Faridi,
Khatib Jame Masjid Khatme Nabuwwat,
Rachna Town, Ferozwala, Street No. 26
Contact # 0322 48 67977

Such propaganda can only lead to incidents of murder and assault, as those in Rachna Town. If the authorities do not take notice of the criminals who give their addresses and phone numbers on posters, it only shows that they support such crimes and lawlessness against Ahmadis.

Mr. Riaz Ahmad of Rachna Town, a friend of Mr. Basheer Ahmad the victim of the attack, has received serious threats from unknown men. He has little option except moving elsewhere – a painful choice.

Unending state-supported anti-Ahmadiyya agitation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir

September; AJ&K: Although general elections were held recently in Azad Kashmir and a new government has taken over, sectarian and extremist elements have not only maintained their agitation against the Ahmadiyya community but also have raised its level to a threatening point. This is done with the collusion of ruling politicians.

Recently Ch. Abdul Majeed, the prime minister visited a religious center at Faizpur run by Mulla Atiq-ur-Rehman (MLA), and while making uncalled for remarks against the Ahmadiyya community was reported by the press in a headline as:

Qadianis’ activities will be watched in Azad Kashmir – Ch. Abdul Majeed

The daily Nawa-i-Waqt, Rawalpindi; September 9, 2011

At the same occasion, Mulla Atiq-ur-Rehman was reported by the same newspaper to have said:

Muslim children should never be taught by Qadiani teachers (in public schools). Qadianis can exist here only as a non Muslim minority. … They are not allowed to practice Islam. (etc)

In view of the above, the Director Public Affairs in the Ahmadiyya head office at Rabwah wrote the following letter to the President of Pakistan and a similar one to the President of Azad Kashmir (translation from Urdu):

Nazarat Umoor-e-Aama Sadar Anjuman Ahmadiyya Rabwah (Pakistan) Ph: 047-6212459 Fax: 047-66215459 nuasaa@hotmail.com To, Honourable Asif Ali Zardari President, Islamic Republic of Pakistan Subject: Anti-Ahmadiyya activities — a request to restrict them Greetings For some time now there has been increase in organized anti-Ahmadiyya activities in Azad Kashmir. Unfortunately these elements have been patronized by the government of Azad Kashmir. Ch. Abdul Majeed the prime minister of AJ&K and Pir Atiq ur Rehman, member of the AJ&K Assembly and President of Jamiat Ulama Jammu and Kashmir are in the lead of such activities in public rallies. These people have been mentioned in the news for their anti-Ahmadiyya activities since the 2011 general elections. They add to sectarian strife by making adverse comments against the Ahmadiyya community. Since the PPP took over the government in AJ&K, elements opposed to Ahmadis keep issuing press statements on the issue of posting and transfers of Ahmadis in public service. These elements freely proclaim Ahmadis as Wajib-ul-Qatl and urge the people to undertake Jihad against them. An organized campaign is underway to declare Ahmadis a minority and to curb their religious freedom on the same lines as Pakistan did in 1974. Fabricated accusations are leveled against the founder of Ahmadiyyat; this could lead to tragic consequences. The grave situation prevailing in the country requires that such activities should be curbed and the authorities should not support them. Such anti-Ahmadiyya activities are a conspiracy and a plan of religious extremists and anti-social elements, in the holy name of religion. These are basic to the spread of sectarianism. Unfortunately, the electronic and print media also provide them partial support. Consequently, hundreds of Ahmadis have been killed for their faith. Assaults and countless other hate-promoting activities and incidents are over and above these murders. Sir, you are the head of the state of Pakistan, and the co-chairman of the PPP as well. Your party is at the helm of affairs in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. As such you bear double the responsibility. These issues which are closely related to the peace and co-existence in the country deserve your immediate attention and action. We hope that you will take appropriate action. Sincerely, Saleemuddin Director Public Affairs Rabwah (Chenab Nagar) District Chiniot

Update on the murder in Faisalabad

It was reported last month that Mr Naseem Ahmad Butt was martyred in Faisalabad on September 4.

Khalid Pervez Butt, his brother told the daily Express Tribune, “The boys were between 20 and 25 years old. Three of them kept a watch on the door as one kicked my brother. When he was awake, the killer said, ‘You are an Ahmadi, and liable to be killed’”.

An FIR was lodged in the local police station but the police and the authorities have visibly taken little action. The situation remains tense for Ahmadis.

“Faisalabad has become one of the toughest cities in Pakistan for Ahmadis to live in,” Syed Mahmood Ahmad, secretary of the Faisalabad chapter of Jamaat Ahmadiyya told TNS. “Naseem Butt was neither an active member of our Jamaat nor was an influential person. He was killed only because of his religious beliefs. Within days after his killing, unidentified people have written slogans like ‘Slaves of the champions of Prophet (PBUH)’ and ‘Down with Qadyaniat’ on the walls of Muzaffar Colony,” he added.

The victim’s brother, Mr. Khalid Ahmad seems to be the next target of the extremist group who have already taken the lives of his brother and cousin. Some unknown people have been monitoring his movements for the last few weeks. They visited his work-place and obtained information about him. He is under stress. He has been advised to exercise extreme caution.

The state has done little to provide security to Ahmadis in Pakistan.

Anti-Ahmadiyya annual conference in Rabwah

Rabwah; September 7, 2011: A one-day ‘International Khatme Nabuwwat Conference’ was held at Jamia Usmania, Muslim Colony, Rabwah. This conference is held annually. Mullas avail this occasion for slander, provocation and making brazen demands.

The Director of Public Affairs, Ahmadiyya headquarters, wrote a letter to federal and provincial authorities on August 18, 2011 requesting them to take appropriate action regarding the Khatme Nabuwwat Conference scheduled for 07 September, 2011. It stated:

“Ahmadis in Rabwah, make up 95% of the population and yet they are not allowed to hold their annual conferences and other programs, but their opponents are regularly facilitated to transport vigilantes from outside to Rabwah, hold conferences, take out processions, abuse Ahmadi leaders on loudspeakers, indulge in insulting acts, make mischief and create a threat to law and order. “… “In view of the grave situation prevailing in the country, it would be appropriate to cancel this conference, and provide no official support to its sponsors. However, if decided otherwise, the participants should be made to use only main roads, refrain from harassing women, slogan-raising, improper use of sound amplifiers and posing a threat to the town’s law and order through hateful sectarian speeches.”

No action was taken by the authorities. Mullas were fully facilitated to hold this conference. This conference started at 12:00 p.m. on September 7 and lasted till 3:15 a.m. next day. Five sessions were held in all. The attendance initially was 200 – 300, however in the last session it rose to 1400.

Twenty-two mullas addressed this rally. They all spoke against the Ahmadiyya community. They promoted hatred, animosity and used obnoxious language against the leaders of the Ahmadiyya community. The sessions were chaired by Maulvi Abdul Hafeez Makki from Saudi Arabia and Ahmad Ali Siraj from Kuwait. Some of the prominent clerics who addressed the crowd:

	Maulvi Muhammad Kafayat Ullah, MPA KP
	Ghulam Fareed Paracha, General Secretary Jamaat Islami
	Maulvi Zahidul Rashidi
	Qari Shabbir Usmani, Faisalabad
	Maulvi Ataul Muhaiman Bukhari, Multan
	Qari Zawar Bahadur, General Secretary JUP
	Maulvi Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi, Lahore
	Maulvi Muhammad Ilyas Chinioti, MPA Chiniot
	Maulvi Muhammad Ahmad Ludhianvi, SSP, Jhang

This conference was given great publicity in the vernacular press.

The resolutions adopted were those that violated accepted norms of human rights and international covenants. They included the following, inter alia:

	A ban should be imposed on Qadianis’ activities.
	Add column of ‘Religion’ to the national identity card.
	Block the Qadiani MTA (TV channel).
	Implement Sharia as proposed by the Islamic Ideology Council.
	Change the name of Nusrat Jehan Girls College and School to Aisha Siddiqua, as Nusrat Jehan was the name of the wife of Mirza (Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian). Note: These institutions were built and established by Ahmadis, but were nationalized by Z.A. Bhutto regime.
	The respected Ulama are urged to issue weekly statements in support of Khatme Nabuwwat and against Qadianism.
	Quranic inscriptions written on Qadiani places of worship should be expunged.
	Entry forms to educational institutions should have an affidavit concerning Khatme Nabuwwat and denouncement of the founder of Ahmadiyya community.
	Government should bind Qadianis not to use the title of Islam.
	The school syllabus should include the subject of End of Prophethood.
	Qadiani religious endowments should be taken over by the state.
	Ban the Qadiani newspapers and magazines.
	Dismiss all Qadianis from the government services and the army.

Ahmadis of Rabwah had to take appropriate precautions. They closed down the bazaar, the educational institutions and asked their women to remain at home. The law enforcement agencies also remained vigilant.

Ahmadis – narrow escape

	Sheikhupura

September, 2011: Mr. Tariq Mahmood Bhutto is the president of his local Ahmadiyya community. He was returning home from his factory, Serena Dying, when he was chased by two men on an unregistered motorcycle. The man sitting at the back fired a shot in the air and signaled to stop the car. Mr. Bhutto stopped the car and slouched to save himself from the second shot. The second shot became jammed in the pistol and the villains decided to flee. They went towards Sheikhupura city. Mr. Bhutto had a complaint registered in the police station against unknown persons.

	Sialkot

August 25, 2011: Mr. Abdul Hameed Gondal is an office-holder of the local Ahmadiyya community. He owns a shop, Gondal Electronics in Urdu Bazar, Sialkot. He was in his shop along with his son and brother when a youth, approximately 25 years old, entered the shop, pointed his pistol at his son and said, “You have been given three warnings, and now your time has come.” He demanded twenty-five thousand rupees. At that time a vehicle of Elite Force (a law-enforcement agency) pulled up outside his shop by chance. Two of his accomplices who were on guard outside the shop alerted him and they ran away. This saved the situation. A few days earlier two mullas had come to Mr. Gondal’s shop and threatened him in loud voice. Now Mr. Gondal is very upset at the hand of extremist mullas. The authorities have done little to reassure him.

	Kotli, AJK

September, 2011: Raja Muhammad Iqbal was returning home when some religious bullies abused and harassed him. He did not respond to their provocation. Some nearby shopkeepers intervened and helped him out of this ordeal.

An Ahmadi youth roughed up badly

Baghbanpura, District Lahore; August 31, 2011: Aziz ur Rehman, Ahmadi went to a restaurant along with 8 non-Ahmadi friends. There, Tuti, a religious zealot, seated with a dozen of his pals, expressed anger at the sight of this Ahmadi and raised anti-Ahmadi slogans. Aziz’s friends tried to dissuade Tuti from agitation, but the miscreant decided to escalate the fuss. He is a younger brother of the powerful political theologian, Tahir Mahmud Ashrafi.

Tuti led his colleagues out of the restaurant and started shouting slogans in the street. He managed to assemble a big number of sympathizers. Aziz and his friends decided to leave the spot, but the miscreants held Aziz and two of his friends, and beat them up.

Someone informed the police who arrived and rescued the three detainees. Tuti, supported by a local mulla of the Khatme Nabuwwat faction, accused the three victims of blasphemy and made sworn statement in support of their false accusation.

By this time the people from Baghbanpura approached Tuti’s brother Maulana Ashrafi, and asked him to intervene and dowse the deliberately ignited fire. The mullas insisted that at least the Ahmadi should be charged of blasphemy. Then they suggested that the non-Ahmadi friends of Aziz should agree to accuse him of proselytizing and of arranging visits to Rabwah. They did not agree to the fabrication. Efforts for reconciliation went on till morning when the police obtained a peace-deal from the two parties.

Aziz has been advised by his elders to exercise care and not go out after sunset – at least for the time being.

Sectarian mischief persists in Pachnand

Pachnand, District Chakwal: Pachnand has been mentioned in our dispatches in the past few months. It has become a hot spot of anti-Ahmadiyya sectarian activities. Ahmadis have been under great pressure here for the last few weeks.

The mullas held a big rally here on May 26, 2011 in the name of ‘end of prophethood’. They used very insulting language against Ahmadi leaders and urged people to undertake violence and implement social boycott of Ahmadis.

In the months of June shots were fired at the Ahmadi prayer leader’s house at the time of Fajr (morning) prayers.

The situation worsened from July onward. A social boycott is now in place. Ahmadis are not sold any item at a number of shops. People have been told not to buy anything from Ahmadi shopkeepers. Transporters do not lift Ahmadis, at times.

During the months of August, mullas urged private-school owners to expel Ahmadi children from their schools. They succeeded in obtaining seven such expulsions. They have arranged harassment of Ahmadi children in public schools.

They scheduled a Khatme Nabuwwat rally at the Lorry Adda mosque for September 18 and have given it wide publicity. Two mullas, Abdul Rahman Usmani and Pir Abdul Shakoor Naqshbandi were in the forefront of this campaign. These people went to Muslim Colony in Rabwah to participate in the anti-Ahmadiyya rally held there on September 7. On their way back the next day, their car met an accident in which mulla Usmani died at the spot, while a 14 years old son of Pir Naqshbandi expired in the hospital, and the Pir himself had severe injuries.

Visit by a religious thug

Nilkot, District Multan; September 5, 2011: At about 5:00 p.m. a stranger knocked at the door of Rana Muhammad Akmal, Ahmadi. Akmal’s elderly father opened the door. The visitor who did not introduce himself poured out venom against the founder of Ahmadiyyat and read out from a leaflet fatwas (edicts) against Ahmadis. On inquiry, he stated that he is back from Afghanistan and is a resident in the nearby Naqshbandi Colony.

At that time, an Ahmadi cousin arrived and intervened. The visitor did not relent and threatened, “It is for you to choose the right path, otherwise we’ll show it to you. Quit Ahmadiyyat.” The unpleasant visit lasted many minutes. The visitor departed without disclosing his name.

Later enquiries disclosed that the man was Arshad Khokhar S/O Qari Ghulam Rasul Khokhar of Naqshbandi Colony. He was away in Afghanistan for two years where he received some training in militancy. He was in prison for eight months. He had bullet wound mark on his hand. More information about him is being sought.

Restoration of Ahmadiyya mosque – after six years

Khiva Bajwa, District Sialkot: Local Ahmadiyya mosque was sealed by the police on the demand of anti-Ahmadiyya elements on June 2, 2005. It was opened on August 21, 2011, and Ahmadis were allowed to pray therein.

Ahmadis, deprived of their mosque, had to offer their daily prayers at the residence of the local prayer leader. The case was referred to a court where it remained sub-judice for years.

Eight months ago, the opponents withdrew the case with the plea that they will re-file the case with convincing arguments. They did not do so till the end of the granted time limit. Eventually they decided to make peace and promised no further litigation.

The mosque structure has suffered due to years of disuse and neglect. It will need renovation before regular use.

Is it not unjust to deny right of worship for years to a community on flimsy grounds? The state and the society participated in this grave crime.

Ahmadis face opposition in District Layyah - again

Chobarah; District Layyah: Layyah in the Punjab is the district where in 2009 four Ahmadi school children were falsely accused of blasphemy, and consequently they suffered months of incarceration. This has encouraged miscreants to create problems for Ahmadis with the police and in the courts.

Mian Mohammad Khan, Ahmadi purchased 3 acres of land in Chobara approximately 40 years ago and got it properly transferred and registered. He transferred a plot of 2 kanals from his lot to the Ahmadiyya Anjuman for construction of a residence. The construction is complete.

A miscreant, who purchased adjacent land out of the original joint property has laid claim to the plot owned by the Ahmadi. He went to the court, however the court decided in favour of the Ahmadi. The disputant has gone in appeal.

In the meantime, the disputant along with his party attacked the Ahmadi and his daughter working on their own land; they were injured. The injured complained to the DSP who ordered that a case be registered. However, he ordered arrest of three individuals of each party.

The situation is a cause for great concern to Ahmadis. The opposition could enlist the support of clerics, and make it a religion-based dispute. All reasonable legal and security steps have been taken to contain the fall-out of the dispute.

Banned organization openly active against Ahmadis in District Hafizabad

Dahranwali, District Hafizabad: The situation in this town has been tense and volatile for Ahmadis during September. Mullas of the Ahle Hadith faction, supported by activists of the banned SSP and Jamaat Da’wa have been very active in fanning the fire of sectarian hatred, not only in Dahranwali but some other villages too where Ahmadis reside.

Early in the month, mullas had slogans written on walls concerning blasphemy and Ahmadis being Wajib-ul-Qatl (must be put to death). They announced it on loudspeakers that killer of an Ahmadi will have direct access to paradise. They disfigured a portrait of the founder of Ahmadiyya community and dropped copies of this leaflet in streets and inside Ahmadis’ homes.

Ahmadi elders therefore approached district administration and police authorities and requested intervention. The police sent for both the parties and told them to exercise restraint and pose no threat to law and order. Ahmadis readily accepted, while their opponents were not too sure. They held a rally on September 16, but refrained from using sound amplifiers.

On September 22, 2011 the Ahle-Hadith mullas held a rally in their central mosque in Dahranwai. They had obtained official permission to hold this rally which continued till 23:00. A number of audiences had come from neighboring villages. Maulvi Asad of Gujranwala, Maulvi Usama from Lahore, Maulvi Wahab from Hafizabad and Maulvi Faisal of Dahranwali addressed the crowd. The police were present in strength. This assured peace on that day, but the hate and prejudice preached that evening is likely to breed its violent cubs in the near future.

The day before, the religious bigots agreed on joint enforcement of ban on Ahmadis’ burial in the common graveyard. They demanded of the administrations of private schools to discharge Ahmadi children. Some children have accordingly been expelled from those schools.

Anti-Ahmadiyya agitation has also been reported in Kot Hasan Khan, Thatha Shamsa and Kot Shah Alam.

The sectarian situation in District Hafizabad is a cause for great concern to Ahmadis.

‘Qadianis’ accused of violation of the constitution

Lahore: September 10, 2011: It was reported last month in some detail that according to the fresh instructions of the Election Commission, separate voters’ lists are to be prepared for Ahmadis – despite Joint Electorates. Any applicant who requests registration as a Muslim voter has to sign a certificate that he has unconditional faith in the ‘end of prophethood’ and that he is not an Ahmadi. Ahmadis have decided not to participate in elections in view of blatant discrimination.

The daily Jang of September 10, 2011 reported in a three-column report that leaders of the Khatme Nabuwwat Lawyers Forum expressed strong objection to Ahmadis not accepting their non-Muslim status imposed on them by law. Extracts of the Jang report are translated below:

Chiniot: (correspondent) Malik Rab Nawaz Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan addressed the conference and said that the parliament had accepted the unanimous resolution and declared the Qadiani and Lahori followers of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani Kafir (infidel), but this group has not accepted their Kafirana (infidel) legal status. He pointed out to Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhri, the Chief Justice that it is the duty of the Supreme Court to ensure implementation of the constitution. … He further asserted that Muslims have not usurped the rights of Qadiani and Lahori groups, but it is Jamaat Ahmadiyya that has usurped Muslims’ rights…”

This Forum is not content only with the discrimination against Ahmadis, it wants them to be punished for not accepting the discrimination.

Threat against worship inside a house

Sahwari, Mugalpura, Lahore; September 12, 2011: In view of difficulties imposed by authorities in having a mosque for worship, Ahmadis of Sahwari, Mugalpura in Lahore assembled for worship in the house of Mr. Bashir Ahmad. On September 12 approximately 50 locals came over to Mr. Bashir’s house. The intruders carried rods etc, and looked inflamed. Ahmadis were at prayers inside the house at about 8 p.m. They demanded from Ahmadis to stop assembling for prayers there and pray in their own homes privately if they wanted to.

All the protesters were of the same locality and most of them were youth. It is learnt that the mulla of a nearby mosque, Jamia Masjid Hanifa Ghosia, Qari Muhammad Ishaq is the agent-provocateur. He decided to remain away from the procession, but he regularly provokes people against Ahmadis in his sermons.

Hateful propaganda

	Sargodha

September, 2011: A provocative booklet, “Difference between Qadianis and other Infidels” of 24 pages, written by mulla Yousuf Ahmad Ludhianvi has been distributed in Sargodha.

	Bahawalpur

September, 2011: A one page pamphlet has been widely distributed in schools and colleges in Bahawalpur to agitate young students against the Ahmadiyya community. This has created difficulties for Ahmadi students. The title of the pamphlet is:

Friend of a Qadiani – Muslim or Infidel?
Unanimous Decree

It contains the text of a decree signed by seven mullas including Deobandi, Barelvi and Ahle-Hadith mullas. It ordains that one who has any relation with Ahmadis is outside the pale of Islam, and Muslims are duty-bound to boycott such a person.

Mr. Abdul Sattar Eidhi, the renowned Pakistani humanitarian is under the pressure of extremist religious groups these days for his contacts with the Ahmadiyya community. The community awards annually someone who has rendered outstanding humanitarian services anywhere. This year this prize was awarded to Mr. Eidhi. He could not be personally present at the ceremony to receive this award, however he sent his representative and a video message for the occasion. Religious bigots in Pakistan took exception to that. A pamphlet on this subject was also widely circulated in district Bahawalpur. The pamphlet denounces Mr. Eidhi for considering Ahmadis as Muslims. He is warned to abstain from such interaction in future, otherwise he would lose the cooperation of Muslim community.

Disturbing developments in various locations

	Badomalhi, District Narowal

September 7, 2011: A Khatme Nabuwwat conference was held here by Sunni Itehad. Several mullas including Hanif Rabani of Rawalpindi, Qari Muhammad Afzal of Data Zaidka and a son of Sarfraz Naeemi from Jamia Naeemia Lahore also participated. The speakers agitated the audience and used insulting language against the leaders of the Ahmadiyya community. The rally started at 8 p.m. and ended at 4:00a.m. Anti-Ahmadiyya literature was distributed among the 3,000 audience.

	Attock

September, 2011: The situation is getting worse for Ahmadis in this district for the last few years. Clerics are active in agitating the people against the Ahmadiyya community. They have been holding Khatme Nabuwwat conference annually for the last three years. This year this conference was scheduled for September 18. This conference is advertised through banners and posters in markets and residential areas. Abusive language has been used against the Ahmadiyya community at these occasions. Officials only attend these rallies, report and maintain their records.

	Mugalpura, Lahore

September, 2011: The mulla of the Masjid Hanifa Jhalar Wali, Shah Kamal Road, Mugalpura is very active against Ahmadiyyat. He speaks against the Ahmadiyya community at prayer times, more especially in Friday sermons. He delivered a venomous sermon on “The Doctrine of Khatme Nabuwwat and rebuttal of Qadianiat (Ahmadiyyat)” on September 2. He provoked the audience against Ahmadis and used abusive language against the leaders of the Ahmadiyya community. He declared Ahmadis infidels, apostates and Wajibul Qatl (must be killed). Ahmadis informed the authorities of this. The mulla however did not abide by the police advice, and kept on violating the Loud Speaker Act.

	Gogera, District Okara

September, 2011: Opponents of Ahmadiyyat undertook anti-Ahmadiyya graffiti in Gogera, District Okara. The people were provoked against the Ahmadiyya community in these writings. They were instigated to boycott Ahmadis. It is learnt that the real cause of this anti-Ahmadiyya campaign is a residential plot. Ahle-Hadith mullas are supporting the other party.

Harassment of an Ahmadi school teacher

Chak no. 55 GB, Jaranwala; September, 2011: Ms. Naheed Akhtar is serving as a PTC school teacher in Government High School in her village. There are anti-Ahmadiyya elements in this village among Ahle-Sunnat, Ahle-Hadith, Jamaat Islami and Tablighi Jamaat. Members of the Tablighi Jamaat are especially active against her. Anti-Ahmadiyya posters and stickers are pasted on walls in the village. A disfigured photo of the founder of the Ahmadiyya community is also pasted at a prominent location. The miscreant has displayed his phone number on it.

In response to baseless complaints against Ms. Akhtar, an investigation team comprising the police staff from Faisalabad and Jaranwala came over to the school and made enquiries about Ms. Akhtar. They asked students and other staff members whether she teaches them about the advent of any new prophet. They claimed to have been sent by the DCO Faisalabad. They did not disclose the name of the complainant(s).

Ms. Akhtar feels this is a threat to her career.

Unfriendly visit of a government official

Chak 363/EB, Vehari; September 2011: The situation in Vehari is worsening day by day against the Ahmadiyya community. The police erased the Kalima from an Ahmadiyya mosque in Chak 245/EB a few weeks ago at the demand of extremist mullas. These mullas are now planning the same for other Ahmadiyya mosques in the district. An ASI from the Special Branch visited Chak 363/EB. He inquired as to when the Kalima and the verse were written in the mosque. Ahmadis told him that those were written long ago at the time of its construction. He told Ahmadis that mullas were holding meetings and making hue and cry about the Kalima in their mosque.

A contemptible plan foiled

Rawalpindi; September 1, 2011: A man came over to the gate at the Ahmadiyya center in Rawalpindi at about 20:30 and attempted entry. He was stopped and interrogated to which his answers were unsatisfactory. So he turned back and went towards the Holy Family Hospital. The suspect was carrying a bag. When close to the hospital he took out something from the bag and threw it towards the washrooms. He left his bag there, and he was picked up from there by a vehicle.

Ahmadis reported the incident to the police.

The suspect’s visit to the Ahmadiyya centre and then to the Holy Family Hospital smells of some conspiracy hatched to implicate first the Ahmadis, failing that, the Christians. Fortunately the nefarious plan failed, and came to naught – for the time being.

A few days later, mullas held a rally close to the Holy Family Hospital, and spoke against the Ahmadiyya presence in their own centre.

“O ye who believe! Why do you say what you do not do?” – Al-Quran

Madina (News agencies): The daily Ausaf, Lahore reported on September 23, 2011 that King Abdulla of Saudi Arabia addressed an international conference and made some important comments. (Translated extracts):

Islam emphasizes tolerance and forbids calling others Kafir (infidels). — King Abdullah Islam cannot be spread through extremism, prejudice, killing others, terrorism and acts of destruction, nor do these help in attaining high objects. Extremism has no religion and is sans frontier. We shall continue to chase the misguided elements. The Servant of the Holy Sites’ address to the Conference

One can always learn from the past. There is credible evidence that in 1974, it was King Faisal of Saudi Arabia who induced Mr. Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto, the prime minister of Pakistan to declare Ahmadis a non-Muslim (Kafir) minority. Saudi authorities apparently did not become any wiser till 2007 when they arrested a large number of Ahmadis, including women and children, in Jeddah, maltreated them and extradited them only for their belief.

King Abdulla’s wise remarks are welcome. It is hoped that the authorities in Saudi Arabia will change their policy and implement in letter and spirit what the king has said.

Ahmadis behind bars

Four Ahmadis, Mr. Naseer Ahmad, Mr. Ameer Ahmad, Mr. Ameen Ahmad and Mr. Shahid Ahmad of Lathianwala have been wrongfully charged of murder in district Faisalabad with FIR No. 682/2010. A passerby was killed during an exchange of fire between Ahmadis and non-Ahmadis. The fire-fight broke out because Ahmadis had to defend themselves against perpetual harassment and aggression. The police could not specify whose bullet had caused the casualty; they arrested four Ahmadis, nevertheless. They have not been granted bail, yet; they are in prison since October 2010.

From the Media

Ahmadi shot dead in his house (in Faisalabad) The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 5, 2011

Ahmadi shot, injured ‘on Khatm-e-Nabuwwat Day’ The daily The Express Tribune; September 8, 2011

Khatme Nabuwwat conference (on 7 September) will prove to be the last nail in Qadiani coffin. — Shabbir Usmani The daily Jang, Lahore; September 4, 2011

Posting Qadiani teachers in educational institutions is a conspiracy against Islam and the government. — Pir Atiq ur Rehman (former minister AJK) The daily Ausaf, Lahore; September 5, 2011

Non believers in Khatme Nabuwwat are Wajib-ul-Qatl (must be put to death) — Ahle Hadith Youth Force The daily Nawa-e-Waqt, Lahore; September 20, 2011

Qadianis are a threat to national solidarity. — (Mulla) Abdul Aleem Yazdani The daily Al-Sharaq, Lahore; September 10, 2011

Chenab Nagar: Heaps of garbage; out break of malaria, hundreds admitted in hospitals. The daily Khabrain, Lahore; September 4, 2011

Chenab Nagar: Numerous robberies in one night. Police acts helpless. The daily Aman, Faisalabad; September 13, 2011

Unscheduled electric load-shedding in Chenab Nagar. Labour class severely affected. The daily Pakistan, Lahore; September 30, 2011

The government should keep careful watch on Qadianis and forbid their proselytizing. — Fazl Karim (MNA and Chair Sunni Ittehad Council) The daily Ausaf, Lahore; September 7, 2011

Qadianis should either accept Islam or their constitutional status — International Khatme Nabuwwat Conference. The daily Jang, Lahore; September 9, 2011

Supreme Court should investigate Qadiani role in Karachi unrest. — Fidayan Khatme Nabuwwat Conference (in Karachi) The daily Samaa, Lahore; September 9, 2011

Those who feel soft towards Mirzais are outside the pale of Islam – Fazl Karim The daily Al-Sharq, Lahore; September 19, 2011

The law of ‘death sentence’ should be imposed at the earliest to put an end to Qadiani mischief. The daily Nawa-e-Waqt, Lahore; September 5, 2011

Ousting of Qadianis remembered at rallies (in Lahore on Wednesday) The daily Nation, Lahore; September 9, 2011

Suicide strike on Lower Dir funeral leaves 26 dead The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 16, 2011

26 (pilgrims) shot dead in Mastung sectarian attack The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 23, 2011

Eid day suicide attack in Quetta claims 13 lives The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 3, 2011

Suicide blasts rock Quetta. FC brigadier’s wife, colonel among 28 killed. The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 8, 2011

KP: 12 killed in suicide bombing, ambush The daily The News, Lahore; September 3, 2011

Khatme Nabuwwat day celebrated with fervor (in Multan). The major event was organized by Jamiat Ulama Pakistan. The daily The Nation, Lahore; September 8, 2011

The HRCP has expressed concern at serious excesses against non-Muslims in Pannu Aqil, Sindh. … The HRCP has received reports of houses burnt, properly looted and women violated. This is absolutely intolerable. The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 10, 2011

Lashkar Jhangvi (terrorists) consort with officials in the Punjab. – Rehman Malik These members of Lashkar Jhangvi are active (despite ban) but no action is taken (against them). — Federal Interior Minister The daily Nawa-e-Waqt, Lahore; September 24, 2011

Islam teaches tolerance and forbids calling others Kafir. - King Abdullah The daily Ausaf, Lahore; September 23, 2011

The US hand in terrorist attacks. Speeches in the Khatme Nabuwwat Conference in Chenab Nagar (Rabwah) The daily Jang, Lahore; September 8, 2011

Pakistan escapes (US) list of states violating religious freedom The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 8, 2011

600 Jamaat (Islami) members arrested in Bangladesh The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 21, 2011

Suicide bomber attacks church in Indonesia; 27 injured. The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 26, 2011

JI says nation stands united against US The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 25, 2011

Saudi woman sentenced to 10 lashes for driving The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 28, 2011

France bans praying in the street The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 17, 2011

‘Take off veil’: Burqa banned in Switzerland too The daily Pakistan, Lahore; September 30, 2011

UK Muslims hold rally against extremism The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 25, 2011

Taliban suicide bomber kills Prof. Rabbanni (former president) The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 23, 2011

Alama Zaheer (of MJ Ahle Hadith) has had a long-standing, positive relationship with the US government. All moderate clerics consistently highlight the need for financial assistance. - Political Officer Hunt quoted in Wikileaks The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 10, 2011

PA (Punjab) for seeking ‘God’s forgiveness’ – Dengue outbreak The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 17, 2011

Religious leadership eager to get US aid - WikiLeaks The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 10, 2011

Pakistanis have $97 billion as personal deposits in Swiss banks. - Director Swiss Bank The daily Aman, Faisalabad; September 19, 2011

Over 25 pc of $56 bn foreign loan obtained by present govt (in 3 ½ years): report The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 25, 2011

PIA has 150 officers who get Rs. 500,000 monthly salary. The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 15, 2011 Note: Average income of a labourer in Pakistan these days is Rs. 7000 P.M.

18,532 registered madrassahs in country, NA told The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 13, 2011

Many in police are political appointees. – IG (Sindh Police) The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 10, 2011

Seven sentenced to death for Sialkot lynching The daily Dawn, Lahore; September 23, 2011

	Op-ed

Dr Salam, and 1974 Whilst the 1974 amendment in Pakistan’s constitution (regarding Ahmadis) was without doubt a turning point in Salam’s life, the events of 1974 had a far more cataclysmic effect on the future course of Pakistan. For the first time in Pakistan’s nascent history, the Islamists had scented blood and, having made the government bow to their demands, were at last, in the ascendancy. Munir Khan in the daily Times, Site Edition on August 24, 2011

Delusion, denial and ‘Dr’ Liaquat The reaction (to Liaquat’s exposure) exposes a deeper malaise in Pakistani society. As a people, we seem intrinsically drawn to egotists, narcissists and demagogues. We love the masala, drama and showboating these characters provide, whether it is a Bhutto, a Zaid Hamid or an Aamir Liaquat, we look to these people for simple answers to complex problems, preferring their demagoguery and simplistic solutions to the heavy lifting of using our own grey matter. The exposure of Aamir Liaquat exposes some of the country’s inherent contradictions and character flaws. My friend, Nadeem Farooq Paracha, often says that the problems with Pakistan aren’t economic, political or social – they are psychological. He has a point. We have developed a Stockholm syndrome with the egomaniacs on our screens. Falling in love with them rather than contemptuously rejecting them. And when they have been revealed to be phonies, we continue to delude ourselves into believing their bold faced lies. It is time we turned the alim-online, off. George Fulton in The Express Tribune, August 18, 2011

‘Crackdown’ no solution The trauma of multi-ethnic Karachi is linked to the nation’s low level of morality. Unfortunately, Pakistan has no moral leadership, and those who are called ulama are, with rare exceptions, religion peddlers seeking power, and pelf and abject self-projection. M.A. Siddiqui in the Dawn of September 13, 2011

Ineffectual ban Nearly a decade ago, in 2002, the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) a rabidly extremists group involved in a host of sectarian killings mainly in Punjab during the 1990s, was banned. Yet today, the organization remains active in effect. Most recently it has claimed responsibility for the death of three people in Quetta after a bus was fired upon in the Saryab Road area. … Op-ed in The News of September 27, 2011

Saint or Hypocrite? Technology can confirm the real Aamir Liaquat Liaquat is either a saint or a hypocrite. In the interests of accountability, we must allow Liaquat the opportunity to prove his innocence (one more time). If he is blameless, whoever tailored the ‘fake’ videos must be reprimanded (or made head of the Pakistani filmmaking industry). Ruining someone’s character is surely a serious crime. However, if Liaquat is hesitant to come forward with the ‘originals’, he should be taken to account for the deception of millions on television and for continued hypocrisy in the name of faith. If any television channels continue to host him still, they should also be taken to task for fraudulent conduct and boycotted in protest. What will Liaquat say next? Was he cloned for the tape? It’s a world of technology, after all. Kashif N. Chaudhry on twitter@KashifMD