19 July 2008

The entire population of Rabwah (aka Chenab Nagar), including women and children face the prospect of potential criminal proceedings after the Chenab Nagar Police Station filed First Information Report (FIR) 254/08 under anti-Ahmadiyya laws prescribed by the Pakistan Penal Code.

This year throughout the world the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is celebrating the centenary of ‘Khilafat’ which is the system of spiritual succession that begun in 1908. The peace loving community has held events marking this occasion throughout the world. One such event was held in Rabwah where in May 2008 for one night the Ahmadi residents of the town lit earthen lamps as a means to illuminate and decorate their homes and buildings.

In the FIR the police authorities have taken issue with the lighting of the town. It further mentions that one Ahmadi, Muhammad Yunus, was seen selling caps and badges which had the words ‘Congratulations over the Khilafat Centenary’ and a verse of the Holy Qur’an printed upon them.

The said FIR charges all ‘residents of all neighbourhoods of Chenab Nagar town’ and thus opens the door for the authorities to arrest any resident of the town. Thus far Muhammad Yunus has been arrested. All persons who are charged under this FIR face up to three years imprisonment.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has faced for decades hatred and persecution both at an institutional and individual level in Pakistan. The Community has always borne this persecution with quiet dignity. In the town of Rabwah anti-Ahmadiyya rallies are held by organisations such as Khatme-Nabuwat in which people are encouraged to brutally injure or even kill members of the Ahmadiyya Community. The Government of Pakistan has not only declared Ahmadi Muslims as non-Muslim but have gone much further by failing to protect the human or civil rights of its Ahmadi citizens.

It is most unfortunate that the authorities actively encourage the hateful persecution of the Ahmadiyya Community and regularly invoke anti-Ahmadiyya legislation such as in this case which prevent Ahmadi Muslims from living in peace.

Further Information:

Abid Khan
Press Secretary Ahmadiyya Muslim Community