Latest news with #Ahmadiyya
Mint
4 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Banned from celebrating Eid: ‘Muslims' in Pakistan to be fined ₹1.5 lakh if they make animal sacrifice, offer namaz
The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) has asked the Punjab Police Chief to stop the Ahmadiyya community from performing Islamic rituals during Eid al-Adha, also known as Bakrid or Bakra Eid. According to LHCBA's letter, while Eid al-Adha is a sacred festival for Muslims, its rituals, like namaz (Islamic prayer) and animal sacrifice, are meant only for Muslims. The letter also claims that Ahmadis are a non-Muslim group. They are not legally or religiously allowed to use Islamic symbols or practise Islamic customs, the letter claims. Ahead of Eid al-Adha (June 6-10), Ahmadis faced growing threats, harassment and even deadly attacks. Since April, at least three Ahmadis have been killed, DAWN reported. Authorities in many areas forced Ahmadis to sign legal papers promising not to offer Eid prayers or perform animal sacrifices. If they break these terms, they could be fined up to 5 lakh Pakistani rupee ( ₹ 1.5 lakh) or face legal trouble. According to LHCBA, the Ahmadiyya community is still presenting themselves as Muslims, which is illegal. The letter claims that Ahmadis are openly organising events for Eid that look similar to Islamic traditions. The LHCBA calls it a violation of the Constitution of Pakistan, the Penal Code and past Supreme Court rulings. It asked police to take legal action if any Ahmadi was found violating these laws during Eid. In Pakistan's Punjab province, Ahmadiyya community members have been asked to sign affidavits promising not to celebrate Bakrid or perform related rituals. This follows a 2023 order enforcing laws that ban Ahmadis from identifying as Muslims or practising Islamic traditions. Human rights groups have criticised the move as unfair and against religious freedom. Amnesty International has called on Pakistani authorities to stop the unfair treatment of the Ahmadiyya community. It has directed them to protect Ahmadis' right to follow their religion freely. Amnesty reviewed documents from five districts and found police orders in cities like Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi asking for action against Ahmadis. Even in Sialkot, authorities issued detention orders to stop them from celebrating Eid 2025. Amnesty says this shows the government is not just failing to protect Ahmadis but is actively limiting their religious freedom. Isabelle Lassee, Deputy Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International, raised concerns against the 'violence and harassment targeted against Ahmadis' ahead of Eid 2025. 'Not only are local authorities and local enforcement agencies across Pakistan failing to protect Ahmadis, they are themselves actively restricting their rights to freedom of belief and religion,' DAWN quoted Lassee as saying. Ahmadis consider themselves Muslims and follow core Islamic beliefs like the Five Pillars and Six Articles of Faith. They believe Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was the promised Messiah and a prophet while still respecting Prophet Muhammad.
Mint
4 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Banned from celebrating Eid: ‘Muslims' in Pakistan to be fined ₹1.5 lakh if they make animal sacrifice, offer namaz
The Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) has asked the Punjab Police Chief to stop the Ahmadiyya community from performing Islamic rituals during Eid al-Adha, also known as Bakrid or Bakra Eid. According to LHCBA's letter, while Eid al-Adha is a sacred festival for Muslims, its rituals, like namaz (Islamic prayer) and animal sacrifice, are meant only for Muslims. The letter also claims that Ahmadis are a non-Muslim group. They are not legally or religiously allowed to use Islamic symbols or practise Islamic customs, the letter claims. Ahead of Eid al-Adha (June 6-10), Ahmadis faced growing threats, harassment and even deadly attacks. Since April, at least three Ahmadis have been killed, DAWN reported. Authorities in many areas forced Ahmadis to sign legal papers promising not to offer Eid prayers or perform animal sacrifices. If they break these terms, they could be fined up to 5 lakh Pakistani rupee ( ₹ 1.5 lakh) or face legal trouble. According to LHCBA, the Ahmadiyya community is still presenting themselves as Muslims, which is illegal. The letter claims that Ahmadis are openly organising events for Eid that look similar to Islamic traditions. The LHCBA calls it a violation of the Constitution of Pakistan, the Penal Code and past Supreme Court rulings. It asked police to take legal action if any Ahmadi was found violating these laws during Eid. In Pakistan's Punjab province, Ahmadiyya community members have been asked to sign affidavits promising not to celebrate Bakrid or perform related rituals. This follows a 2023 order enforcing laws that ban Ahmadis from identifying as Muslims or practising Islamic traditions. Human rights groups have criticised the move as unfair and against religious freedom. Amnesty International has called on Pakistani authorities to stop the unfair treatment of the Ahmadiyya community. It has directed them to protect Ahmadis' right to follow their religion freely. Amnesty reviewed documents from five districts and found police orders in cities like Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi asking for action against Ahmadis. Even in Sialkot, authorities issued detention orders to stop them from celebrating Eid 2025. Amnesty says this shows the government is not just failing to protect Ahmadis but is actively limiting their religious freedom. Isabelle Lassee, Deputy Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International, raised concerns against the 'violence and harassment targeted against Ahmadis' ahead of Eid 2025. 'Not only are local authorities and local enforcement agencies across Pakistan failing to protect Ahmadis, they are themselves actively restricting their rights to freedom of belief and religion,' DAWN quoted Lassee as saying. Ahmadis consider themselves Muslims and follow core Islamic beliefs like the Five Pillars and Six Articles of Faith. They believe Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was the promised Messiah and a prophet while still respecting Prophet Muhammad. However, many mainstream Muslims disagree, saying this belief goes against the idea that Muhammad was the final prophet. Ahmadis are not allowed to perform Hajj or Umrah; they are banned from entering Saudi Arabia.
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Eid Ban, Rs 5 Lakh Fine: Why Are Ahmadiyya Muslims Barred From Worship In Pakistan?
Last Updated: As Pakistan prepares for Eid-ul-Adha, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community faces a crackdown in Punjab and Sindh, with threats of fines and imprisonment for celebrating the festival As Pakistan prepares to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha on Saturday, June 7, with public gatherings, prayers, and festivities, a troubling crackdown is unfolding quietly across parts of Punjab and Sindh provinces. The Ahmadiyya Muslim community, numbering nearly 20 lakh in the country, is being systematically barred from observing the religious holiday under threats of fines, police harassment, and imprisonment. Despite being followers of Islam, Ahmadiyyas are prohibited by law from identifying as Muslims or practicing Islamic rituals in Pakistan. In the lead-up to this year's Eid, authorities have reportedly intensified pressure on the community, forcing members to sign affidavits swearing they will not celebrate the festival. In a disturbing development, local officials have warned that any Ahmadiyya individual found offering Eid prayers or performing traditional sacrifices could face a hefty penalty – a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh (approx. USD 1,800). In some areas, even private observance of religious rituals inside one's home has been outlawed. According to local media, several Ahmadis in Punjab and Sindh have already been detained for allegedly attempting to mark Eid in defiance of this de facto ban. Human rights watchdog Amnesty International, in its June 2024 report, stated that at least 36 members of the Ahmadiyya community were arbitrarily arrested in the province of Punjab to pre-empt any form of Eid celebration. Under current Pakistani law, any Ahmadi who 'poses" as a Muslim, by calling their place of worship a mosque, reciting Islamic prayers, or using traditional Islamic greetings, risks up to three years in prison. Human rights groups have repeatedly condemned these laws as deeply discriminatory and in violation of international norms on freedom of religion. Who Are The Ahmadiyyas? The Ahmadiyya Muslim community was founded in 1889 in Qadian, a town in British India's Punjab province, by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who declared himself the promised messiah and a reformer of Islam. Advocating peace, tolerance, and non-violence, the Ahmadiyya movement positioned itself as a counter to religious extremism. But this very stance made it a target for hardline clerics and political forces in Pakistan. Today, despite their peaceful teachings and contributions to society, the Ahmadiyyas remain among the most persecuted religious minorities in Pakistan. Their mosques have been attacked, graves desecrated, and community members subjected to mob violence, hate speech, and institutional discrimination. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
News18
6 days ago
- General
- News18
Pakistan Asks Ahmadiyya Muslims To Abandon Eid Celebrations Or Face 5 Lakh PKR Penalty
Last Updated: In the Punjab province of Pakistan, police reportedly forced Ahmadis to sign affidavits pledging not to observe Eid rituals. Ahead of Eid al-Adha, Pakistan's Ahmadiyya community faced pressure from authorities to refrain from performing qurbani (ritual animal sacrifice) and other Islamic rites even within their homes. In the Punjab province of Pakistan, police reportedly forced Ahmadis to sign affidavits pledging not to observe Eid rituals, warning of fines up to Rs 500,000 (PKR) for non-compliance. Ahmadis Forced To Sign Affidavits According to Dawn, authorities in several districts of Punjab and Sindh detained members of the Ahmadiyya community and coerced them into signing declarations promising not to celebrate Eid. Some of the affidavit forms include clauses threatening fines for violations while in some cases, indemnity bonds have also been demanded. Systemic Persecution Of Ahmadis In Pakistan Pakistan's 2 million-strong Ahmadiyya community has long faced systematic persecution. A constitutional amendment in 1974 declared Ahmadis non-Muslim and the 1984 Ordinance XX criminalised their religious practices, including saying Islamic greetings, calling places of worship mosques, or reciting the Quran. According to Amnesty International, at least 36 cases of arbitrary arrests targeting Ahmadis for performing Eid sacrifices were reported in Punjab in June 2024 alone. In March 2024, nearly 100 Ahmadi graves were desecrated in Khushab by activists from the hardline Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). First Published: June 05, 2025, 00:17 IST
India Today
6 days ago
- General
- India Today
Celebrate Eid, pay Rs 5 lakh PKR as fine: Pakistan to Ahmadiyya Muslims
The Ahmadiyya Muslims, who under Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I had extended unequivocal support to Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his Muslim League for the creation of Pakistan on religious grounds, are now bearing the brunt of repression in the very Islamic Republic they helped form. With Eid al-Adha less than a week away, Pakistan's marginalised Ahmadiyya community is facing growing pressure to forgo qurbani (sacrifice) and other rituals, even in the confines of their homes, with Punjab provincial authorities now demanding affidavits warning of a Rs 5 lakh (PKR) fine for police in several districts of Punjab and Sindh provinces have been detaining members of the Ahmadiyya community, and threatening and harassing them into signing undertakings that they not perform Eid al-Adha 2025 is on June 7. Come Eid, the Pakistani establishment-run state reminds the Ahmadiyya community that they don't belong to the republic that their forefathers helped Ahmadiyya community, numbering around 2 million, faces severe persecution in Pakistan, including violent attacks and legal discrimination. They are not recognised as Muslims under a 1974 constitutional amendment. Barred from reading the Quran or performing namaaz openly, Ahmadis have also been targeted by terrorist groups such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Tehreek-e-Labbaik June 2024, at least 36 cases of arbitrary arrests and detentions of Ahmadiyyas were reported in Pakistan's Punjab, aimed at preventing them from performing animal sacrifice for Eid, noted Amnesty March this year, around 100 graves belonging to the Ahmadiyya community were desecrated by members of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in Punjab's Khushab some cases, authorities have demanded affidavits from Ahmadiyya without any legal basis. Pakistani law does not specifically prohibit people from the Ahmadiyya community from performing qurbani in MUSLIMS MADE TO SIGN AFFIDAVITS IN PAKISTANMembers of the Ahmadiyya community in Punjab have been instructed to submit affidavits and indemnity bonds, pledging not to observe Eid al-Adha or perform its associated religious rituals, reported the Karachi-based of the affidavit forms issued by the Punjab government, shared by US-based Pakistani-origin journalist Sabookh Syed, includes a clause requiring signatories to pay a fine of Rs 5 lakh (PKR) for a full range of repressions against the Ahmadiyya community, officials of Punjab province have offered conflicting explanations for the a 2023 notification has been used to bar Ahmadiyyas from identifying as Muslims or practising Islamic rituals. However, legal experts argue that forcing individuals to sign such declarations is unconstitutional and exceeds the authority of local officials, according to a report by the Lahore-based newspaper, The Friday BAR ASSOCIATION WRITES AGAINST AHMADIYYASIn Punjab's capital, the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) added fuel to the fire by writing to the Punjab Inspector General of Police, urging him to take action against the Ahmadiyya community for "violating" the law by organising gatherings resembling Islamic letter, signed by LHCBA President Malik Asif Nissoana and other office bearers, insisted that only Muslims have the right to perform qurbani, and that Ahmadiyya participation "hurts the sentiments of the Muslim majority and risks public disorder", reported is a Sunni-majority country and a big chunk of the population does not consider the Ahmadiyya community to be Muslims because the community believes in Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as a prophet, a view seen as heretical to the mainstream Islamic belief that Prophet Muhammad was the final Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan has faced systematic disenfranchisement since the Second Constitutional Amendment in 1974, which declared them non-Muslims, stripping them of religious and legal recognition as Muslims. In 1984, Ordinance XX under General Zia-ul-Haq further restricted their rights, criminalising their practise of Islamic rituals, with penalties of up to three years in prison. As Pakistan took a turn towards radical Islam under Zia, and continued on that path after him, the Ahmadiyya community faced widespread discrimination, including voter exclusion through separate electoral lists, effectively barring them from political InTrending Reel
