In a recent assault on Pakistan's Ahmadi community, radical Islamists have demolished the minarets of three of their worship places in various districts of Punjab province. These extremists claimed that the minarets resembled those of Muslim mosques, leading to their destructive actions.
This incident transpired just over a week following the destruction of arches at an Ahmadi place of worship, in direct violation of a high court order that had prohibited such actions against the religious sites of the minority community, particularly those constructed before 1984.
It's worth noting that in 1974, Pakistan's Parliament officially categorized the Ahmadi community as non-Muslims, even restricting their use of the term "Muslim" to identify themselves.
Amir Mahmood, an official from Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan, reported, "Associating Ahmadi places of worship with those of Muslim mosques, members of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) entered three Ahmadi worship sites in the Punjab districts of Sheikhupura, Bahawalnagar, and Bahawalpur in recent days, demolishing their minarets."
These recent incidents bring the total number of attacks on Ahmadi places of worship in Pakistan, either by radical Islamists or through partial demolition by the police, to 31 this year.
Mahmood expressed his distress over the situation, citing that the police had failed to intervene during the attacks and that Ahmadis were being unjustly denied their fundamental rights as Pakistani citizens. He also emphasized that the recent Lahore High Court ruling explicitly stated that there was no need to alter the minarets of Ahmadi places of worship built prior to 1984. "These worship places were built before 1984," he clarified.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) denounced the destruction of parts of Ahmadiyya's places of worship as a flagrant violation of the recent Lahore High Court judgment aimed at safeguarding these sites.
Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan voiced its concerns over the worsening situation for the already marginalized Ahmadis in the country. It stated that Ahmadis continued to endure persecution, with acts of desecration against their places of worship becoming a distressing norm.
The organization also accused the police of being complicit with extremist elements, suggesting that they were involved in the demolition of Ahmadi worship places instead of protecting them.
In Pakistan, Ahmadis are often referred to as Qadianis, a derogatory term. They are prohibited from preaching and are restricted from travelling to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage.
Although official figures indicate a population of around a million Ahmadis in Pakistan, unofficial estimates suggest a much higher number.
Â
