Published on May 29 2010 by Farooq Aftab - Huddersfield

I WRITE further to your article dated June 2 regarding the attacks on the Ahmadi mosques in Pakistan.
The situation in Pakistan is extremely grave. For decades Ahmadi Muslims have not been able to live in peace. In fact, they live their lives in constant danger.
 
Many people may not know that the law in Pakistan is such that Ahmadis are denied basic fundamental human rights such as the right to freely manifest their religion and the right to vote, to name a few.  Ahmadis cannot call themselves Muslims or do anything which depicts them as Muslims. If they were to do so they could be imprisoned or, at worst, face the death penalty.
 

These laws effectively legitimise the exclusion and persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan. Ever since, extremists have taken advantage and targeted Ahmadis. Despite this cruelty, Ahmadis have remained loyal citizens of Pakistan and have never shown any form of civil disobedience.

 

This is an incredible situation given the so-called secular and developed world we live in today but many people are not aware of this.

 

Prior to this event, open conferences were being held by the religious clergy with Government officials present.

Ultimata were given to the Government to get rid of all Ahmadis in Pakistan and posters to this effect displayed outside courtrooms inciting people to take action with the promise that their reward will be a place in paradise where beautiful women will be eagerly waiting to receive them.

 

No doubt these laws can be used to target other minorities but the reality is that they are used to target Ahmadis as confirmed by many UN Reports and organisations such as Amnesty. Until these laws are removed Ahmadis will continue to be persecuted.

The media and government officials in Pakistan and Pakistani media in the United Kingdom are saying that this was not a religiously motivated attack, which is wholly incorrect. The facts and evidence do not support this. No doubt attacks take place against Shias, Sunnis, etc but the difference here is that the law is giving a licence to people to take action against Ahmadis. No other community faces these sanctions. This is de facto state sponsored terrorism of the worst kind.

 

Many will be astonished to hear that even the Pakistani media will not call an Ahmadi mosque a mosque. Rather they refer to it as a place of worship and have been doing over the last few days of reporting this event. So much for independent and accurate reporting!

 

What is more worrying is that closer to home no Muslim organisation has openly condemned this action and asked the government of Pakistan to repeal these laws.

 

No matter what one’s beliefs are, no-one has the right to curtail another from professing their right to religion, freedom of thought and expression which are basic human rights.

 

Many people in Huddersfield will know that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a peaceful community whose members practice its ethos ‘Love For All, Hatred For None’ by fully integrating and serving the needs of their local community.

 

The community is one of the oldest Muslim communities in Huddersfield with its members serving their community through various charitable and educational projects such as raising money for charities and feeding the homeless. This is the same community which is trying to dispel the myths and misunderstanding of Islam by conducting a nationwide leaflet campaign to portray the true and peaceful message of Islam.

 

Ahmadis have and continue to contribute to the success of Pakistan despite these discriminatory laws.

This is a highly educated and inclusive community which believes it represents Islam in its pure and pristine sense. A community which does not face the issues facing other Muslims, a community which abhors violence, a community which condemns suicide bombings, a community which works for the good of mankind.

 

In an era where Islam has been tainted by numerous terrorist acts that have been falsely conducted in its name, the world should take notice that the one Muslim group that has always practised and preached a truly peaceful message has been targeted by the hateful acts and words of fanatical Muslim clerics who have been given a licence to kill by legislation entrenched in the Pakistan Constitution.

 

I hope members of the Huddersfield community – irrespective of their faith, colour or belief – take notice of the ever-increasing persecution of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community and join me in condemning these barbaric acts.

 

Farooq Aftab

Huddersfield