A disturbing post highlighting anti-Ahmadi feeling in Pakistan.
The Radd-i-Qadianiyat Conference was held at Jamia Naeemia. The participants were told they had a duty to wage a holy war against Ahmadis. The audience which included a large number of students of the Jamia, vowed to wage ‘jihad’ against Ahmadis through their writings, speech, charity funds and corporal strength.
Maulana Ghulam Hussain Kiani, one of the speakers, said they would force Ahmadis to leave the city. “Their presence has polluted the city… their so-called places of worship are in fact centres of conspiracies against Muslims,” he said.
Kiani said that he had the ‘honour’ of ensuring the removal of Kalma Tayyeba from Darul Zikr, an Ahmadi worship place, at Garhi Shahu.
Advocate Badiuz Zaman, another speaker, told the participants not to befriend any Ahmadis. “Sharing utensils with Ahmadis is sinful,” he said, “Being friends with them is worse… the Holy Prophet (pbuh) disapproved of that.”
Zaman asked the participants to promise that they would do everything in their power to oppose Ahmadis in every way.
Stage Secretary Maulvi Muhammad Asghar urged the participants to take practical measures against the ‘blasphemers’. “How can you eat your meals in peace while there are Ahmadis living peacefully in your city?” he said. Asghar accused former Supreme Court Bar Association president Asma Jehangir of committing blasphemy, “That must be stopped at all cost,” he said.
Asghar also told the participants to stop consuming foods and beverages produced by Shezan. “They are made by Ahmadis. Buying these helps their movement against Muslims,” he said.
Here is part of an earlier report, highlighting the day to day realities of discrimination and prejudice:
The hatred for Ahmadis is not only professed by lower social class of the society but openly exhibited in the elite sections of Pakistani society too. Once sitting with a group of ladies, one might consider being liberal, I overheard discussing about not giving profits by buying from a famous chain of bakery in Lahore that is owned by an Ahmadi.
…
A few days later I visited the tailor again whose fine work despite high charges is in great demand by the ladies of upper class. I asked him if his customers would stop coming to him if they get to know his identity as Ahmadi. He replied “I might lose a few of them, but to feed my kids and family I keep it concealed. I want to move to another country as soon as possible like my all relatives where I will have respect and rights of a citizen and I will never return to Pakistan again.” The thought and wish of every religious minority of Pakistan facing discrimination.
For a little more context, see this earlier post.
Update: I have just read this excellent (but depressing) piece in the Independent.
