Published on Feb 03 2009 by Zafar Bhatti - Leamington Spa

Dear Editor (Leamington Spa Observer)

 

I write to you as a concerned member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Leamington Spa.  Since it’s inception our Community has endured persecution and hatred.  The root cause of this persecution is that we believe that the Divine Reformer and Promised Messiah that was prophesied by the Holy founder of Islam, Hazrat Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), has appeared.  In this way we differ from the rest of the Muslim Community. Unfortunately in Pakistan, the extremist factions by completely disregarding and then distorting the teachings of the Holy Quran have deliberately mislead the masses and put pressure on the Government to persecute a peace-loving and law abiding community of Muslims.

 

This persecution was taken to new heights when the Government of Pakistan became actively involved, by passing legislation targeting the community.  The persecution in Pakistan has resulted in the death and murder of many of our members, many others imprisoned for their belief, and unspeakable crimes have been committed against our women to which the authorities have turned a blind eye.  All in a country that translates as ‘Land of the Pure’.

 

Now though the government has breached another extreme, the authorities of Pakistan have begun targeting our children.  They have taken a shocking step in arresting 4 Ahmadi Muslim children between the ages of 14 and 16.  These children have been held in custody since the 28^th January.  On what charge you may ask?  A completely false allegation of blasphemy against the Holy Founder of Islam, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).  We are lovers of the Prophet, your paper bears testimony to our love for him, demonstrated in our previous letters and articles.  How then can our community be targeted with such baseless and false accusations?

 

In what brings to mind the time of Moses, when Pharoah ordered the killing of innocent children, the actual charge that has been laid against these children is a breach of Penal code 295-C which if they are found guilty of, the punishment is either death or life imprisonment.  Let us hope that the Government of Pakistan learns the lesson of history and amends its ways by freeing these children and giving freedom to all its people.

 

We are grateful to the Asian Human rights commission and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan for condemning  this act, and are hopeful that leaders from around the world will bring pressure on Pakistan for the release of these children and the restoration of rights to Ahmadi Muslims.

 

Zafar Bhatti

Leamington Spa