Social terrorism: religious vendetta against Ahmadis
Pakistani Ahmadis today live in constant fear.—Illustration by Faraz Aamer Khan/Dawn.com
Religious persecution of people from Ahmadiyya community is not a new development in Pakistan. Ahmadis have long been marginalised from the time when they were declared non-Muslims in the amendment introduced in 1973’s Constitution. Since then, they have been facing the wrath of many Muslims who have fundamental views and refuse to trade, dine and even sit with them.
Whether it is about banning a certain juice brand, expelling Ahmadi students from universities or failure to recognise the only Pakistani Nobel Laureate, the hatred fuelled by religious clerics knows no boundaries.
Academic institutions remain an arena of conflicting views, hence often turning into another platform for religious fundamentalists to brainwash impressionable minds.
The University of Sargodha, which is in close proximity to Rabwah, is one of a very few universities which houses and educates students from Ahmadiyya community. The university has reportedly been a congenial institute where administration and management support students from different beliefs and schools of thought. However, ubiquity of miscreants, who use religion for their political interests, has contaminated the otherwise pleasant environment.
“I received a text message from my best friend, a week back, which said we should stop being friends because you are an Ahmadi and my allegiance with you is not considered appropriate within the parameters of my religion,” said a student of University of Sargodha.
“A couple of days ago, during a laboratory session, some students disrupted the lecture and started preaching how Ahmadis are non-Muslims and are wajib-ul-qatal (eligible to be killed),” said another student on condition of anonymity.
According to a student, the so-called religious sermon took place in the presence of a teacher, which signified his involvement in the ‘brainwashing’ and ‘hate speech campaign’ against the Ahmadiyya community.
Brochures and booklets, entailing details of how Ahmadis should be prosecuted, are also being circulated amongst the students. So far, Ahmadi students have not been threatened, however, students report that they are constantly being followed and other students have boycotted them completely.
“Nobody sits with us. Nobody is willing to talk to us. Most importantly, people enter the lecture session and use abusive language against our religious clerics which is why we have stopped attending classes,” added another student.
“We miss lectures and when we go back, asking for notes and presentation slides, nobody provides us with the material.”
According to the account of events narrated by various students, the religious repression is only prevalent in the Department of Pharmacy.
The Dean of the department, Prof Dr Muhammad Zahoor-ul-Hassan Dogar said, “I am not aware of any such events, however, I must say that a couple of such incidents took place a year and a half ago in our Medical College. I looked into the matter personally and punished the students responsible for such horrendous propaganda against the students of our university.”
“I understand that it is difficult for students from Ahmadiyya community to trust any of us because of the reasons that we all know, however, unless these students report such incidents, we will not be able to take action against the culprits,” he added.
Most of the students are of the view that since the majority of the other students were treating them as social outcasts, reporting this incident, to appropriate authorities, will further infuriate the perpetrators.
“I do not feel safe living in the dorm anymore so I now travel from Rabwah to Sargodha every day. I tried to inform a couple of officials, however, I was hesitant because the issue is still hot and I do not want to invite more enemies,” said a female student.
Muhammad Akram Tufani, representative of Students Tahaffuz Khatam-e-Nabuwat, on being asked about the primary reason which instigated this campaign against Ahmadi students, said, “Ahmadis call themselves Muslims and that is unacceptable for us.”
“They think they are better off than us religiously and they preach other students about their religion. We will not have them preach their religion to Muslim students,” added Tufani.
However, Dogar said that Tufani has no connection with the students of the university and reassured that he cannot influence them in any way.
Students belonging to Ahmadiyya community said that this campaign was initiated on false accusations. Students and certain faction of teachers have been saying that a religious leader from Ahmadiyya community came to discuss our religion with other students; however, this is completely untrue.
Living by the ideology of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, which emphasised primarily on coexistence, all the citizens of Pakistan are entitled to live according to their own religious beliefs. Spreading hatred and creating religious divergence have never benefited us as a nation and will continue to hamper our growth.
The religious vendetta against different minorities is an open question mark to our psychological growth. Unless we curb our hostilities toward other people and provide them with equal opportunities to live, we will not be able to succeed as a nation or even as an individual.
Students, who are responsible to build the foundation of the country, should not be targeted. Mixing education with religious politics can have disastrous effects, which is why it is best to keep our prejudices aside and exist together without sidelining people who perhaps have much to offer to us as a nation.
Keep up the good work!
Well done.
very gud article….God Bless U !
very well article, jazkaAllah
Implementation of law is the second stage but we have not yet been successful in making the laws which are not biased, which is the first stage.
nice article. we should follow the Quaid-e-Azam principles.
good effort faiza sahiba.
this is a reason of failure of pakistan …
Interesting to read that "refuse to trade, dine and even sit with them".
An excellent example of double standard and dubious face.
All the human beings are equal in front of ALLAH.
sad and shameful,calling a democratic country and doing such things…………..forgotten what quaid e azam said every one is free to worship according to his will and belief,
Why cant we set aside our religious hatred against all sects of Islam and live in peace and harmony like the western societies. We boast of us being the best among all human beings and we will be forgiven in world hereafter; false absolutely false…….We must believe in being pakistanis first and then Muslims…….For God sake, be human and spare humanity……..
Thanx Faiza for your daring effort!!! Lets hope for the best and pray for our nation, may Allah purify their hearts!
Sad, really sad. I dont understand why people cant leave other peoples beliefs alone. We are an Islamic nation but we must first be kind to each other and living without condition to even qualify to be muslim.
What a sad state of affairs
May Allah softening their heart to accept the truth.
A very good article and written very bravely, when we all know how hard it is to speak the truth in Pakistan. This has been going on for years and years now. I wonder when the Pakistani ppl are going to realize this, that all this taking Pakistan towards destruction and not progress. There are so many Ahadiz which show, that when somebody used to declare themselves Muslims, he would be accepted as a Muslim by Hazrat Mohammad (pbuh) and his companions, On one occasion, when one of his companion killed a person who claimed to be Muslim, he was very upset and also said how do u know he was saying this to protect himself, did u cut open his chest and found out? whether he was Muslim or not? These Mullas just read what benefits them, and use that to instigate trouble.
Oh lord!Save us from this victimisation
First of all i really would like to appreciate the Dawn news that it allowed Ahmadiees to write by their behalf's.
Article was very informative so the innocent Pakistani people and Govt may know that what they are doing with human of Pakistan. So tell me how Pakistan can do progress if such kind of situations are being created in to educational institutes. I pray to God that please make our Pakistan such a Islamic country. Where every human would be having same chance and ground to win and compete for the progress of Pakistan.
Progressive countries are never built on religion.
It's true. We hope one day we will see a Happy and progressive Pakistan
According to the constitution of pakistan fundamental rights of all citizens shall be granted by state,no one above the law,but according to the pakistan penal code any ahmadi,lahoree group can not preech(such as call himself muslim,mosque,azaan same as muslim etc) his religion.if he do so he shall be a punisable.concern authority look into the matter and decide case on marits.no person shall not take law in own hand,being a follower of islam we must gave respect them only to change them with our positive attitute.
It is great that we are seeing such articles in the mainstream English newspapers of Pakistan. I never thought it will happen in my life time.
I hope I will see the same happening in the main stream Urdu newspapers soon. That will be a real sign that Pakistan can become a great country.
I think the DAWN has already paid heavy price for it's stance of FREEDOM OF SPEECH but that is what makes it leagues ahead of other english news papers. Now it has become a symbol of awareness and high government officials and multi national institutions executives like to see online news and the paper itself. Already, the minorities cause has been highlighted amply and i being muslim appricate the balance with which it is reported in lines..DAWN keep up good work.
really a touching arsticle and expect many more to make Pakistan majority community show least tolerance towards their minorities