PHOTO: AFP
In a letter to Indian premier Narendra Modi, a member of the Ahmadi community in India has urged him to grant citizenship to Pakistani women who are married to Indians and have been living in the country since decades.
Accusing the Modi-led government of religious discrimination, the media in-charge of the Ahmadi Muslim Jamaat in India, Chaudhary Maqbool Ahmad, said, “Our prime minister talks of women empowerment but these women who have been married in India for past 10 to 35 years even can't call themselves Indians, leave alone go out of Qadian."
Qadian, north-east of Amritsar, is the Ahmadi headquarters in India.
Speaking to the Times of India, Maqbool said the external affair ministry's website is proof that only a handful of Muslims are granted Indian citizenship.
“At least nine Pakistani brides in Qadian alone were awaiting Indian citizenship,” he added.
Maqbool himself married a resident of Faislabad, Tahira, in 2003.
"Isn't this discrimination against women?” Tahira, who is yet to receive Indian citizenship, questioned.
Holding bureaucracy responsible for their plight, she said they were made to run between pillar to post even afer having fulfilled all the formalities required for acquiring Indian citizenship.
Another resident of Qadian, Mehmood Ahmad Nasir, who married a woman from Hafizabad 18 years ago, said, "I am a father of three, yet my wife doesn't have Indian citizenship.”
"I hope after [US President Barack] Obama's public advice to India on religious discrimination , the bureaucracy will get out of its slumber and pursue our case immediately," said Nasir’s wife Mubina.
Further, she said not allowing them to leave Qadian is also a violation of their basic human rights.
Tahira added when her mother was admitted in a hospital in Amritsar, she couldn't go there to inquire after her health.
"When we can't cross the borders of Qadian; we all feel very discriminated, it should come to an end now," she asserted.
COMMENTS (36)
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@AlChemist: This segregation is based on nationality of a country for security. It's its not just india, recently srilanka too sent them back to the country they came from. It's security issue seeing what's happening around the world. Why not solve your own "segregation issue" So they don't have to leave and find asylum in countries elsewhere?
Segregation on the basis of religion and ethnicity is plain racism. Is this what the so called biggest democracy on earth has come to?
@observer: * Ahmadias were one of the most vocal proponents of the Two Nation theory and the demand for the creation of Pakistan. They got what they wanted. Why complain now?*
Your anguish as an Indian is understandable as most Indians still consider Pakistan and Bangladesh a lost part of India. However, you must consider the continues loss of life due to the religious strife between Hindus and Muslims for various reasons.
Didn't you loose a female Prime Minister for a similar reason?
@observer: You are right. At that time atrocities committed against Muslims demanded such an act. Islam also teaches if you find it difficult to practice your religious virtuals better leave that place and migrate to some other place. In accordance with these teachings Ahmadiyya supported the separate homeland. From its inception as long Ahmadiyya remained part of main stream it did lot for the betterment of Pakistan. Sir Zafarullah, Dr Salam and Mr MM Ahmad are obvious examples. In 1974 when the community was separated from main stream and later in 1984, through an Ordinance, was stopped to practice its belief, community again migrated and spread all over the globe where ever it found possibility. Now each Ahmai living any where in the world is loyal to the country of residence. Those who could not get chance to migrate and living in Pakistan are loyal to Pakistan and in spite atrocities you never see any Ahmadi indulging in revolt or anti state activities.
For you2da2. I replied you but it did not fit in to the policy of "liberal and secular" ET
@Zubair Khan:
"Ahmadiyya teachings ask for loyalties to the country where on lives. Last 125 years history supports this view point"
Not true. Ahmadias were one of the most vocal proponents of the Two Nation theory and the demand for the creation of Pakistan. They got what they wanted. Why complain now?
@Max'xx I believe in government record and compensations it offered to those victims with listed names. If anyone was missing they would have complained to Supreme Court. That didn't happen so the figures are true. And btw a train bogie filled with hindu pilgrims, and 300 hindu in riots were killed too why are you discounting that? While you blow up your figures adding zeros you wish to please, do check 1971 millions attrocities you did.Bangladeshis are still awaiting justice.
@Neighbor: I think you got your numbers wrong, It should read millions of Muslims. LOL
What a rubbish story! It is India's internal matter why is Tribune so keen in publishing Indian Ahmadi story here? I think some Mullahism is working in Tribune!!
Ahmadi Muslims, Sunni Muslims, or Shia Muslims regardless whichever Muslim or religion you belong to Citizenship of the country should be granted after fulfilling requirements. India should not discriminate on the basis of religion or national origin. If India wants to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Western powers which India in reality does want to then they should also adopt our ways. If they can adopt in Bollywood copying Hollywood they certainly can do it in human rights.
For rest of you Ahmadi haters or Islam bashers or Pakistan bashers and some Indian bashers go find something better in your life and be productive!!
@Neighbor: "Communalism" is an ugly feature in South Asia - especially India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. But you cannot advance your argument by exaggerating or cooking numbers when the real numbers (such as "Hundreds of Thousands") when the even the real numbers are horrendous. Also, by being one-sided, your obvious bias is revealed. Where did this virulent mindset and practice originate? Certainly not in India before the arrival of Islam as it was widely known as a non-violent, spiritual and tolerant land. Partition of India in 1947 provided a major impetus for its recrudescence in India, especially the demand that a land just for Indian Muslims be created as they were different from Hindus and other religious and ethnic minorities; but that population exchange remains incomplete. The presence of Muslims in India and Hindus in Pakistan has stoked communalism and violence. But the question to ponder: Why is there "communalistic" friction and violence so widespread around the world wherever there are even small Muslim minorities, including those that emigrated to the West within our recent memory? With the exception of predominantly Roman Catholic Latin America, you'd be hard-pressed to name a country which does not suffer from such "communalism". Peace!
@Ramachandran: Have read the comments. In this information age, nothing can be hidden for long, either you are misled by the media, or you are trying to do the same. With whole world open to you through media and internet, the days of hiding facts and covering them is gone. Google search about the facts written and then think about it.
@Neigbour "even ahmadis can't get suitable brides in india" By your logic. Those brides didn't get suitable groom, shoib didn't get suitable bride in your country? It's done to escape/get other country citizenship.
" past 10 to 35 years even can’t call themselves Indians" well PM NaMo came to power just 9 months back and he started blaming him for the things happened 35 years back...!!
@Indian: Yes as community Ahmadiyya did support Mr Jinnah for creation of Pakistan. But what this has to do with the topic under discussion. Each country has law that after fulfilling certain conditions citizenship can be granted. So the ahmadi women are demanding from Mr Modi.
Its sad. To escape and get other country citizenship, marry local citizen. Usa, UK now india.
@neighbour: if your country is less communal then us. Then why are thousands of your countrymen seeking refugee and permanant citizenship in india and not visa versa? Fabricated figures don't hide truth.
@Zubair Khan: hello mr zubair didn't ahmadis support jinnah in his two nation theory?
@Neighbor
Define "Direct action day" promoted by Jinnah?
@Stranger - "All r welcome in India . She gives shelter and solace to all and sundry ."
Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan are fine. But please... no more trash.. These Ahmedis were at the forefront of splitting India and the law of karma is catching up with them, there. Let them pay for their sins.
If you want to bring end of such problems then eliminate and help eliminate all terrorists in Pakistan who will use every means ( even become wife) to launch jihadi attacks on India. And this is not unrealistic, but such means had been used in past.
Visa granted to certain countries are are only specific city they mentioned in visa for travel. So if she travels out of the requested city she took visa for, she's breaking rules. So it's not as if she's not allowed. She's afraid to violate law.
@Zubair Khan: Good to know this. As the usual rap against Muslims around the world is a that a Muslim's first and only loyalty is to Islam and the Ummah, and not to the non-Muslim majority countries they live in. I think Modi's government, which gave permanent residency to the stateless Bangladeshi author Taslima (Nasreen?) will earn some brownie points by giving citizenship to these wives just on humanitarian grounds. (What I don't understand, as a non-Muslim, is why are Shias and Ahmadis discriminated against and why are they not considered real Muslims in places like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia? Please enlighten me with your reply.)
I am sure most of the pakistanis who comment regularly have died of shame. Pak ahmedis asking for refuge in India, after 5000 pak hindus cross over every year. Next shias. Shame.
To Tahira and team: Babbyy be thankful you're not bombed to smithereens in Amritsar..Be thankful you can call your places of worship, "Mosques"...Be thankful you graves are not desecrated...Be thankful you ungrateful woman..
@Sandip: We in India don't understand the distinction but, Ahmadis are not considered Muslims in Pakistan.
All the Pakistani Ahmedis living in India should be thankful that at least they are alive in India ...where as in Pakistan which was created for the Muslims of sub continent ,Shias and ahmedis are being killed every day.
Quote : “I hope after [US President Barack] Obama’s public advice to India on religious discrimination , the bureaucracy will get out of its slumber and pursue our case immediately,” said Nasir’s wife Mubina. Further, she said not allowing them to leave Qadian is also a violation of their basic human rights. Tahira added.......End quote
yeah yeah yeah ...pakistan was created for muslims yet ther still are 120 million in india ,
and they want even more ?
pls go to pak if you feel you get a better deal there
Wasn't Pakistan created to grant muslims security from hindu dominance and to enable them to pursue their way of life? First it was Bangladesh, now its the Ahmedis. Who next? Shias?
my love also in Pakistan.give her too :p
A genuine demand and be considered on humantarian grounds. Ahmadiyya teachings ask for loyalties to the country where on lives. Last 125 years history supports this view point. So Mr Modi go ahead as Ahmadiyya will never make a problem for you.
I am pretty sure in last 10 years Modi wasn't a PM. So where were these people when Khangress was in power? Do they actually expect a anti-terrorist government (unlike Khangress) to import Pakistanis into India? Haha!
Unless they are persecuted Hindus or Sikhs ofcourse in which case they are eligible for citizenship but Muslim born Pakistanis are not going to be granted citizenship, it's the citizenship act.
Maybe they need to read the laws, Male or Female, Pakistani born citizens will not be granted citizenship. There is no sexism here, it's the citizenship act.
All r welcome in India . She gives shelter and solace to all and sundry .
LOL.
Security risk!