Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Pakistan: Ahmadi community members face arrests, vandalism for animal sacrifice on Eid-ul Adha

WION
Islamabad
Written By: Anas Mallick
Updated: Jun 19, 2024, 

This photograph taken on March 27, 2017, shows a view barriers on the road leading to an Ahmadi sect mosque at Rabwah in Chiniot District in Punjab Pakistan 


STORY HIGHLIGHTS

In 1974, Pakistan's parliament under the premiership of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto passed a law that declared Ahmadis to be non-Muslims, and the country's constitution was amended to define a Muslim as someone who believes in the finality of Prophet Muhammad

Dozens of members of minority Ahmadi community were arrested in Pakistan for allegedly sacrificing animals on Eid-ul Adha.

The four million-strong community is deemed non-Muslim under the country's constitution.


The Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan, which represents the minority community in the country, strongly protested against the authorities for allegedly preventing Ahmadis from offering their religious rites within the confinement of their homes during Eid.

Notably, contrary to other reports in the media, WION can confirm that no members of Ahmadi community have been killed in the acts of violence and vandalism that erupted in the country over Eid-ul Adha earlier this week.

"At least 36 members of the minority Ahmadi community have been arrested for offering sacrificial animals for slaughter on Eid-ul Adha in the country mostly in Punjab province," Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan official Amir Mahmood told news agency Press Trust of India.

Mahmood accused radical Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) of fanning the hatred and leading acts of vandalism against the Ahmadi community in the country.

"Preventing Ahmadis from offering their religious rites within the confinement of four walls is a grave violation of their human rights as well as a clear violation of the judgements by the Supreme Court of Pakistan," he said.

Mahmood said that Ahmadis are being harassed throughout Pakistan and especially in Punjab, not only by extremists but also by law enforcement agencies.

Mahmood said the police not only detained Ahmadis but also their sacrificial animals.

Also read | Ahmadis in Pakistan say intimidated ahead of Eid Al-Adha feast

"Instead of protecting Ahmadis from harassment and violence, the police officials are calling in Ahmadiyya leadership in various police stations and are threatening them that if any Ahmadi is found performing the 'Qurbani' or offering Eid prayers, then they are in imminent danger from the TLP," he said.

"It has come to be known that the intelligence agencies have also issued a threat alert on the occasion of Eid against Ahmadis," he said.

Unlike the overwhelming majority of Muslims across the world, Ahmadi Muslims do not subscribe to the conventional teachings of Islam and dispute the finality of prophet Muhammad.

In 1974, Pakistan's parliament under the premiership of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto passed a law that declared Ahmadis to be non-Muslims, and the country's constitution was amended to define a Muslim as someone who believes in the finality of the Prophet Muhammad.

The law made it a crime punishable by death for Ahmadis to use Islamic greetings, the traditional call to prayer, or to pray in mosques.


Since 1987, the members of the community remains banned from practicing their faith in public.


(With inputs from agencies)


Anas Mallick is an international journalist who has been working as a field reporter for 7+ years now. With a focus on diplomacy, militancy, and conflict

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