United Nations experts call for immediate action to stop violence on Pakistan Ahmadiyya community, raising serious concerns over a troubling rise in discrimination, including extrajudicial killings and assaults on places of worship.
The Ahmadiyya community, which has faced persecution for decades, is now experiencing an escalation in threats and intimidation. A group of eight independent UN experts, including those specializing in extrajudicial executions, freedom of expression, and freedom of religion, expressed alarm over the ongoing violence.
“Reports of violence and discrimination against the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan are deeply troubling,” the experts stated. “Immediate action is required to address these violent attacks and the pervasive climate of hatred that fuels them.”
Recent incidents highlighted by the experts include the extrajudicial killing of two Ahmadis in Saad Ullah Pur on July 8, 2024 and the March 4, 2024 murder of the Ahmadiyya community president in Bahawalpur district. Additionally, there have been numerous attacks on Ahmadi places of worship and cemeteries, some resulting in serious injuries to worshippers.
The experts also noted instances of arbitrary arrests of Ahmadi worshippers during religious holidays, aimed at disrupting their religious practices.
With approximately 500,000 Ahmadis in Pakistan, according to community leaders, their rights are heavily restricted. The Pakistani constitution has labeled them non-Muslims since 1974, and a 1984 law prohibits them from declaring their faith as Islamic or practicing Islamic rituals openly.
The experts emphasized the need to respect Ahmadis’ right to peacefully express their beliefs and warned that judicial harassment normalizes violence against them. While they welcomed a recent resolution by the Pakistan National Assembly urging safety for all citizens, including religious minorities, they cautioned that such measures must tackle underlying issues like blasphemy laws and discriminatory legal provisions to be truly effective.
