Ahmadis are lambs silently going to their slaughter, its ethnic cleansing that recalls the pogroms of Hitler’s...
Ahmadis are lambs silently going to their slaughter, its ethnic cleansing that recalls the pogroms of Hitler’s Germany PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
Another case of digging up the corpse of an Ahmadi near Jaranwala in Faisalabad, Punjab, reminds us that Pakistan is still quite backward in its observance of the multilateral treaties it has signed for the protection of genuine and — in the Ahmadi case — ‘manufactured’ minorities. Extremists of Jaranwala are threatening with what has been done repeatedly in many other places: disinterment of a corpse from a Muslim graveyard and its defilement.
The Ahmadi community claimed that there was an old custom in the area of burying the dead of all communities in one graveyard. An elderly Ahmadi man, who died last May was buried as per the routine with the consent of all villagers. However, the Muslim clergy got wind of it and put up a protest that has developed into a full-blown campaign to persecute the Ahmadis who are receiving death threats. They fear that these threats are a prelude to something more horrible than just digging up an Ahmadi from his grave. One telltale sign of the coming massacre is that the clerics are from out of town.
The police, of course, resolved the matter in no time. SP Jaranwala, not too devoted to the virtue of impartiality, says: “It has been made clear to the Ahmadi community that they will not bury their community members in a graveyard, which is also a Muslim graveyard”. His reassurances have brought no solace to the stricken minority: two years ago, while praying in Lahore, Ahmadis were attacked by armed men with suicide vests and grenades. The killers felled a number of them at leisure without fear of interruption. CCTV footage showed the policemen on security duty fleeing the scene. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, otherwise fond of mixing with people, carefully kept away from the scene of carnage.
In June 2011, pamphlets were distributed in Faisalabad calling on Muslims to kill Ahmadis, audaciously displaying names and addresses of 50 prominent Ahmadis who were to be eliminated. The incendiary pamphlets were signed by the student wing of the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat Federation, boldly listing their website and phone numbers. Inevitably, six Ahmadis were shot dead. On average, 25 Ahmadis are killed by fanatics every year, who think Pakistan has to be purged of their presence.
This where the rub is. As a community, they deserve to be looked after by the state and secured against discrimination and physical assault. Pakistan, never famous for protecting its non-Muslims, experienced a lucid moment in 2006 when it abolished the separate electorates. Initiating joint electorates and thus equalising all citizens as ordained in the Constitution, the state ordered the election commission to prepare a common voters’ list based on Pakistani citizenship and not on the basis of religion and creed. Overjoyed, the Ahmadis tried to get themselves enrolled as voters but in many cases were prevented from doing so by elements motivated by religious prejudice. Instead of coming to their help, the government turned against them. It went back on its decision and transferred the names of the Ahmadis from the common list to another list meant only for them. In other words, the state of Pakistan indulged in its favourite pastime of exclusion.
Now Pakistan is in a ridiculous situation in which there is a common list of voters, which contains the names of all the Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Christians and Buddhists voters; and a strange second list, termed as non-Muslim, comprising only Ahmadis. No Pakistani has the right to say that Pakistan has corrected itself and returned to the joint electorates of the original 1973 Constitution. True and non-fanatic Pakistanis feel the sting of conscience over the way this community has been treated. Other communities may also be persecuted in the coming days, but nothing will surpass the horror of the way the Ahmadis are treated.
This is ethnic cleansing that recalls the pogroms of Hitler’s Germany. The Ahmadis are the lambs silently going to their slaughter. They don’t resist — they have even stopped protesting — because theirs is a cause that moves no one.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2012.
on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook
Absolutely, i would compare the treatment of Ahmedis akin to that of the Jews in Nazi Germany.
May we as a nation learn compassion and respect for others.
Recommend
But for the fear of Iran, the Shias too would have been branded as non Muslims in Pakistan.
Recommend
This is more a cry in the wilderness without even a tinge of hope. It has taken over 65 years to fan the flames of intolerance and bigotry, the results of which are now becoming clearly visible. It is very dangerous for anyone to set fire to ones own house in the fond hope of easily putting it out. It is the responsibility of the State to care about the welfare of its people rather than the appeasement of the intolerant. The Media too has failed to play the role of a real watchdog and has often justified the wrong doings. Rip Van Winkle can wake up from slumber after years, a country can ill afford such a course of action.
Recommend
Clear signs of a society that is going to disintegrate.
Recommend
Shame on all of us and particularly on these self-styled religious nuts. It is the worst type of human degradation and disrespect for transition to the eternal world.
Recommend
It has started from long time and in different shapes. They are following Ahmadi muslims even in european countries.
But with the grace of God Ahmad’s are growing day by day and ripping the fruits of faith and patience.
God bless them wherever they are.
Recommend
Tolerance & mutual coexistence are the key words that this nation has to learn.
Recommend
Dear Editorial Staff
We should respect the rights of the minorities but i have a strong objection in using of the term “manufactured” in regard of declaring Ahmedis minority. I think you need to read the religious literature of Ahmedi where they declared other than themselves non-Muslim. This is not proper place for intellectual discussion….so entertain only those readers who know only to react without knowledge or understanding of the slant editorial approach
Recommend
That is pathetic, May Allah’s curse be on each one who is responsible for ths madness.
Recommend
It is because of reasons like this that Pakistan is the laughing stock of the civilised world. This Jahil mentality which is firmly embedded in our society by the Mullahs must be stopped or Pakistan as a nation will be doomed
Recommend
@Ali
Please quote where Ahmadis have declared others (sects other than Ahmadiyyat) as non-Muslims.
Official Website: http://www.alislam.org
(Refer anything from here)
You know what, this country is represented by intolerant, corrupt (judiciary, religious scholars, media personnel’s, Army), incompetent humans, please think why this country was going upwards till this Non-Muslim blasphemy (this itself is blasphemy to call others Non-Muslims as long as they consider and name themselves Muslims) tinge was introduced in the constitution. From that day onward this nation is slanting downwards which never seem to end. Repent and Seek forgiveness and let Allah SubhantAllah take charge of things/matters meant for Allah SubhanatAllah Alone!!!
Recommend
A well written bold editorial. However question is if commando ex-Chief Executive of Pakistan bowed head to religious clerics who else can dare to raise the voice for this deprived community.
Recommend
@Ali: It is because of people like you who prefer to turn a blind eye to the real issue in the article and instead choose to focus on an inconsequential phrase instead, that people like the religious fanatics of Jaranwala feel safe in persecuting Ahmadis. Stop burying your head in the sand. Open your heart and mind and protest against the injustice meted out to your fellow countrymen. Ahmadis, Shias, Sunnis, Hindus, Jews, Christians are all Allahs creations. Would He forgive those who did not even let His creatures rest in peace after death.
Recommend
@Ali:
Ahmadies consider all kalima reciters as Muslims. The founder of Ahmadiat and his successors and followers strictly believe in the foregoing statement. Anything contrary to this; quoted from the Ahmadia literature is due to the out of context and selective selections and references by biased and partial pseudo scholars.
Recommend
Thank you, The Express Tribune, and its Editorial Board for raising your voice for the persecuted and the deprived. So long the country chooses to close its eyes to justice, equity and fair-play, in terms of the Islamic teachings, it would fail to develop. While I would thank all those who could see through the game of the clergy and sided with the persecuted lot, I am surprised to find a gentleman trying to sidetrack the main issue and trying to mislead your readers by claiming that the Ahmadi Muslims do not accept members of other sects as Muslims. This is a big white lie, spread by vested interest. I am myself an Ahmadi Muslim of India, and I can emphatically say that the community never calls anyone non-Muslim as long as he calls himself a Muslim. It is for Allah, the Almighty to decide. How can a human being (or for that matter a state) abrogate to himself or itself, the authority of Allah in deciding a person’s faith? May Allah guide the misguided to the right path. (Amen)
Recommend
Very well and bold article. Thanks ET and staff for raising the minority issue in Pakistan.
Recommend
My Solutes to Express Tribune team and the editor in particular. No Words to describe my affection for your great work.
Recommend
This is the only reason that Pakistan adversely going to distraction day by day
No rights for human
No care about the religious places and no fear to make and call anyone KAFIR to person who says himself MUSLIM
Thanks to the team of editorial of EXPRESS TRIBUNE
At least you raise voice for A COMMUNITY NO ONE CARES ABOUT
Recommend
Resemblance to Nazi acts committed against Jews does not fit in this case. Probably your reporting editor likes exaggeration. No planned mass elimination by the ruling elite so for has surfaced for this community. So please be careful when writing such stories. Atrocities are committed but by an extremist minority. Hitler eliminated the Jews community when he was the ruler. No such act by any ruler of Pakistan can be presented.
Recommend
@Baghi-3:
What an argument. In modern world this planned but slow and systematic persecution of Ahamdies is like ethnic cleansing and editor has pointed it out very rightly. What you will call the mass massacre of Ahamdies in Lahore in May 2010. Try to understand the problem and contribute to finish this menace from Pakistan.Recommend
Persecution is both deliberate and clearly with at least implicit backing of the State. It really is upto the “silent majority”, if there is one, to sit up and take note. If they choose to ignore the calls, they will become a minority themselves.
My compliments to the Express Tribune team for having the courage to call a spade a spade
Recommend
I feel ashamed of being a member of such a barbaric society.
Recommend
Simply want to say”A community we should care about”
Recommend
@Ali if we do not speak truth we are waisting time.you argument is not true,the diffrences between sects exits from centries and every sect belive no one is more devout than him .
Recommend
They just care about killing people and persecuting them in the name of religion , ethnicity and social/cultural differences , where you can kill a Governor and praise the killer then who is safe ??
Recommend
I applaud your paper for bringing the Ahmadi issue into the spotlight. Islam teaches religious freedom and Pakistan, as a so-called “Muslim” country needs to remember this tenet of Islam and finally give its minorities fair and proper treatment under the law.
Recommend
Ahmadis are the true followers of Islam and never take up weapon to fight. Instead leave their matter on God to decide. It is He who will inshaAllah protect all Ahmadis from the insane brutality. We are united at the hand of our Khalifa and he teaches us to be patient and steadfast, while praying to God for help. God will answer our prayersand will punish all those who are doing injustice with Ahmadies.
Recommend
Treatment or rather ethnic cleansing of Ahmedis in Pakistan is sickening…one day our country and people will have to pay for it…Its shameful and disgusting and we have the audacity to complain about discrimination against Muslims in Western countries where most of the Muslims and Pakistanis would prefer to live ironically…This genocide of Ahmedis must stop completely…
Recommend
Thanks to Express Tribune for this article. It has shown us how cruel we Pakistanis are with our Ahmadi citizens. It is really sad to know that for voter lists Ahmadis have been excluded from common voter lists and a separate list is prepared for Non-Muslim voters which only contains Ahmadis. I agree with author when it says “This is ethnic cleansing that recalls the pogroms of Hitler’s Germany.”
Recommend
Great Article. Thanks to ET
Recommend
We should have respect for each and every person irrespective of his faith, religion, race, gender and nation etc. if not, then there will be no return of respect.
Recommend
so sad .. but no use to cry …. thats why we are so much un-lucky. stupid mullahs are responsible for all types of unrest in pakistan . religious extremism is increasing day by day .and of course mullahs are responsible for all Recommend
Said the Quaid-e-Azam “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place or worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed, that has nothing to do with the business of the State.” Extremism in Pakistan today has made a mockery of the Quaid’s ideals. Kudos to ET for poignantly reminding all Pakistanis that Ahmadis are ‘lambs silently going to their slaughter’ because of their beliefs.
Recommend
Thank you for raising awareness about the persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan. They are the target of this state-sanctioned persecution in Pakistan, where the government itself allows for the harsh treatment. This is unlawful, as Ahmadis are citizens of Pakistan as well, and deserve to be treated with equity by their own government. This article highlights many sorrowful incidents of persecution in Ahmadi history, that are unjust and wrong in every way. I hope the government of Pakistan can change its attitude towards its minorities, and treat them with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Recommend
“As a community, they deserve to be looked after by the state and secured against discrimination and physical assault. “
If the state won’t do it than ordinary non-Ahmadi citizens can demonstrate their solidarity by standing peacefully outside Ahmadi worship centers with signs proclaiming their support.
Recommend
This is not the first time when Ahmadis have been treated with discrimination as ever. However, it is highly appreciateable that writers keep the moral courage to display the real picture of mullahs from behind the curtain of their bigotry.
Recommend
Ahmadis are the most sevelerly persecuted minority in Pakistan since 1953. It got worse in 1974 when they were declared non-muslims by Mr Bhutto and they were criminalized when Gen Zia promulgated ordinance of 1984. What a shame – a silent majority of Pakistan is watching it all over as nothing wrong is happening but things will get worse for them too and there would be no one to speak for them…Recommend
@Ahmee (Pakistani):
The website has been blocked by pta.
Recommend