UN experts denounce discrimination, violence towards Ahmadis in Pakistan

A group of independent experts at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed grave concern over a reported increase in discrimination and violence against Ahmadis in Pakistan, highlighting incidents such as extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, attacks on places of worship, and restrictions on free expression, assembly, and association.

“We are alarmed by ongoing reports of violence and discrimination against the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan. We urge Pakistani authorities to take immediate action to address this situation,” the experts said in a statement.

“Urgent measures are necessary to respond to these violent attacks and the broader atmosphere of hatred and discrimination which feeds it.”

The experts cited specific incidents, including the extrajudicial killing of two Ahmadis in Saad Ullah Pur on 8 July 2024, and the President of the Bahawalpur Ahmadiyya Community on 4 March 2024.

They noted numerous attacks on Ahmadi places of worship and cemeteries since the beginning of 2024, some resulting in serious injuries to worshippers.

“The Ahmadiyya community, their places of worship and cemeteries, must be given effective protection from attacks and vandalism,” the experts said.

They also raised concerns about alleged arbitrary arrests and detentions of Ahmadi worshippers during their religious holidays to obstruct their participation in religious practices.

“Ahmadis’ right to peacefully manifest their beliefs must be respected. Discriminatory arrests and detentions which prevent religion or belief observance represent serious violations of their human rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and association. Judicial harassment serves to normalise violence against Ahmadis by non-state actors,” the experts said.

The experts commended the adoption of a resolution by the Pakistan National Assembly on 23 June 2024, urging Federal and Provincial Governments to ensure the safety and security of all citizens, including religious minorities.

“The Resolution by the National Assembly is a welcome step. However, such good-faith efforts to counter discriminatory discourse will be ineffective unless they address its structural drivers,” the experts said.

“These include blasphemy laws and discriminatory legal provisions which situate Ahmadis, their legal representatives, and allies, and other religion or belief minorities, in grave danger of human rights violations.”

In light of its forthcoming second review under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the experts urged Pakistan to implement recommendations by the Human Rights Committee from its first review in 2017.

These include repealing or amending blasphemy laws to ensure compliance with the ICCPR, and bringing to justice those who incite or engage in violence based on allegations of blasphemy.

The experts have communicated their concerns to the Government of Pakistan. “We stand ready and willing to support the Pakistani Government in the effective implementation of its obligations under the ICCPR and other international human rights instruments,” the experts said.