Ahmadi graves desecration: The death of conscience
When one is sitting thousands of miles away from Pakistan, every horrifying story and news event come across as more malicious than ever. Perhaps, living in safer countries, where rights are mutually respected and accepted, puts things into clearer perspective. There are times when I want to question God about why I opened my eyes into a society where religion is taken as a point of differentiation? Why was I born in a country where religious places are bombed? Why was I made to be a part of a society in which people continue to disrespect and kill others who are diverse and different?
It is unfortunate that many amongst us continue to kill for religion, money and power, however, what is most unfortunate is that we have stopped paying respects to the dead as well. The desecration of an Ahmadi graveyard in Lahore is a prime example of the brutal death of Pakistan’s conscience.
Religious bigots who continue to consider themselves as saviors of the Muslim brotherhood fail to realise that desecrating graves is not exactly aligned with the teachings of Islam. What purpose does this grotesque act serve rather than further disrespecting the dead, lying six feet under the ground seeking the peace that they could not get in the sanctuary of their own country? Is it not enough that fanatics disallow the Ahmadi community to live peacefully in Pakistan, that now they must destroy their final resting places?
It is admonishable that the culprits were not even arrested for the repulsive acts that they have committed. Where were the law enforcing agencies and what happened to the caretakers of the graveyard? No matter what faith you belong to, it is impossible to not wonder about the families of the people whose graves were disrespected in the most obscene of ways. Most of us are nothing more than living corpses who neither feel nor understand the pain of hundreds of suffering non-Muslims and Muslim minorities living in Pakistan.
More tragic is the fact that our respected Chief Justice, the custodian of human rights, fails to take any action against the mistreatment of living — and now also dead — minorities. If there ever was a suo moto action to take against anything, it would be this.
Discouraged by the law and order situation and the ubiquity of religious fundamentalism in Pakistan, many Ahmadis have been forced to migrate to other countries in the hope of being treated on equal footings with other people in the society.
An Ahmadi who now lives in Toronto shared his views on the incident, on condition of anonymity, “I am not at all surprised to hear that the intolerance has penetrated so deeply into the roots of our society. How can you expect militants and fundamentalist to respect the people who have left this world for good when they do not feel any pain for people who are alive? My family left Pakistan in the early 1990s because we were literally hounded by clerics and people who supported them. We would receive threatening letters about how if we do not accept the ‘one and only true form of Islam’ we would be killed or worse, our daughters would be raped because according to them sexually assaulting an Ahmadi woman was not considered a crime.”
“Fundamentalists believe that we use excuses such as the one I just mentioned to seek asylum in foreign countries. That is certainly not the case. Nobody wants to leave their country and everything that they possess and start from scratch. But most of us are not left with any option,” he said, tears glistening in his eyes.
Neither any social class nor any age is taken into consideration when it comes to the persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan. Adults and children alike are mistreated for their differing religious beliefs. Workplaces, playgrounds and even schools are used as platforms to spread hatred about them. Educational institutes primarily top the list of miscreants who aim to indoctrinate young minds by filling them with hatred for anyone who does not conform to their religious standards.
Many Ahmadi students have been expelled from colleges and universities without any rhyme or reason whereas, others are abused with degrading and hurtful words. It is most ironic but when the entire world was filled with violence and disharmony over the Innocence of Muslims, a group of Ahmadi students was busy organising symposiums in Canadian universities to discourage violence by highlighting the aspects of the holy prophet and how the video was nothing but a way to instigate hatred and aggression. The symposium I attended was held at one of the local universities in the city of Windsor in Ontario. A lot of students showed up for it, some were Christians, many were Muslims and others were agnostic. Most of them came to hear about the life of one of the most revered personalities in Islam and left the auditorium with positive feelings about the religion and its followers.
For me, these students are the true saviors. They’re trying to abridge the communication gap between different communities by answering hundreds of questions which are important to address in order to build an inclusive society.
Societies which thrive on religious disharmony and bigotry perish sooner than later. It is time for us to wake up and safeguard the rights of religious minorities. It is time for us to hold their hands and stand in defiance to the fundamentalist elements who take advantage of our silence. It is indeed time to acknowledge their sacrifices and treat them with the respect that they truly deserve because their graves now seek answers.
The writer is a Reporter at Dawn.com
Written very well.I believe that such an act is beyond humanity and we should not blame hindus,sikhs or any other community for performing such an inferior act.
Infact,it is the duty of the govt. to provide a peaceful atmosphere to all the minorities as it is apart of the pakistani constitution to provide rights to the minorities.Her, I would like to appreciate Faiza g for writing about such a bold issue as nobody dres to write about us(Ahmaddis).
any Mullah who deliver hate speechs Should be flogged in open public.
The author missed out the Ahmadiyaa community’s contribution to the creation of Pakistan. Compare and contrast with the Mullahs who referred to Quaid-e-Azam as Kaffir-e-azam, and opposed his every move. As a Sunni Hanafi myself, the Mullahs have had far too much say, and its time we put this genie back into its box. In order to do this the public must be made aware of the contradictions and hypocrisy in the arguments led by the fundamentalists. One day they will be found out, lets bring that day closer
Never chase a man into his grave.
This is a true example of might is right in a society where think tanks are peoples from Jamat Islami etc. Making and enforcing laws whatever they like for minorities. We need new generation of open minded peoples for better tolerance in society but it may be too late then?
Such acts ill only create hatred and divde in pakistans society which is alreDy deeply divded,
This is not good or pakistan, it will create mire enemiesfrom ithin.
Respect each other and live in oeace.
Make pakistan atringand such acts will only destroy the fBric of socuety.I strongly condemn. This act.
Further if anyone says there are external forces defaming Pakistan, I agree there are and they will take advantage as we are corrupt. The army, police, politicians, the fanatic, the public are our own brothers and sisters who need to be taught the True Meaning of Islam as the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) lived and left us the teachings of Equality and Peace.
We all are eagerly waiting to see Equality and Peace in the Islamic countries , where all humans are treated equal irrespective of their faith.
Hatred driven by fanatics in Pakistan will destroy the country. Only if these fanatics actually understood and followed the example of Muhammad (PBUH) we could actually call them Muslims. They kill indiscriminately men, women and children. They cause much pain to the masses and cause division by use of manipulating ignorance of our young and old and the brutal force of the gun. Preachings of hatred need to stop immediately and follow the True Religion of Islam that preaches Equality and Peace and gives rights to minorities so they can live amongst us in security.
No one knows the other side of the story. As You can see from the picture the headstone of some of the graves are taken out and the graves are are left as it is, so my point is what exactly was written on the headstone, if qadyannis are calling themselves Muslim even if its written on the headstone of the grave, then it is in the constitution of Pakistan that they have been declared as non Muslims and they are bind to follow the law of land where these graves are situated and what picture clearly depicts is some of the headstones are removed. That might have been done according to the law and by law enforcing agencies. That has nothing to do with majority of Muslims (Sunni) that resides in the country, do stop blaming them.
To Arsalan Usmani
Our problem is that we are living in a state of constant denial. All our problems are attributed to others. The sad thing is we don’t want to get out of this situation, only lip service. Unless, we start identifying the problems we cannot develop a mindset to find solutions. If the majority choose to ignore and keep silent on such blatant acts of hate, prejudice and violence, they are equally responsible.
If there was anything against the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, courts should have directed the law enforcement agencies to act. And that requires giving notice before taking any action. What about the hapless custodian of graveyard and his family? Why were they beaten, harassed and tied up? Who had given the authority to those religious bigots to consider themselves as saviors of the Muslim brotherhood?
You are in denial my friend. We are a nation full of shocking people. God bless you nad our beloved Pakistan.
The law of the land that marginalize minorities, makes them feel inferior and takes no heed to their suffering cannot be called islamic. It is nobody’s business to act on behalf of God to determine who is right and who is wrong and to punish them for their beliefs.
Arsalan, you are a strange creature!!! How can any law of the land dictate how Ahmadies should practse their religon. Just as you believe that your religon was from God so so Ahmadies. Just because you are more in number in Pakistan doesn’t mean you can hurt the sentiments of the minorities. Otherwise the pwoerful of the world will do the same thing to Muslims. Actally they are already doing it!!! But they have learned from idiots like you!!! The law of the land was man made and written by the most vile person who had ever ruled Pakistan. ia Ul Haq and Allah destroyed him completly. And as far as Bhutto is concerend his off springs are totally eleiminated so that A “Zardari” has to pose as a “bhutto”. And you stil do not learn!!!
Faiza has nothing to write except ahmadies and ignores 99.99% issues that we are facing???
I am not against her but be fair and look at other problems that we are in!!!
We do not appreciate this blame game and urged Dawn to stop these kind of discriminations which are causing more polarization in our society.
Our so called intellectuals have chosen the easy path of demonising Pakistan rather than stand up and defend it in the face of all the problems and aggression from within and without. A single person could have done this but they try to paint the whole nation as intolerant.
These things happen to muslims also in the west but no tries to make a mountain out of a mole hill…….
Muslim in West and in many other non Muslim country are staying happily and prospering,They are free to preach their religion. It’s People like you and behavior with minorities in Pakistan and many other Muslim countries which makes non Muslim think whehter Muslim in their neighbour hood deserve to be treated well. Is he really as geniune person as he shows off or he is pretending because he is in minority.
Sorry to say, Muslims world are only responsible for giving bad name to their religion by their deeds.
To Abbas
You should be grateful that there still are some saner elements in the society who can raise their voices against the hate, prejudice, bigotry and intolerance in our society. Who through their pen tries to make our country just, peaceful and liveable. Instead of criticising those voices, why can’t you start writing about the other problems we have and their solutions? I fully support Dawn and Faiza Mirza to raise the issues of minority in Pakistan. No Urdu newspaper has morale courage to do so. Thanks Dawn.
Unbeleiveable comment! if you see with your open eyes for all such issues, root is one. Its all about dirty politics to use name of Islam. Declaring Ahamis non muslims was nothing but a political step of bhutto, which he must be regretting at the time when he was in jail in his last days. Ahmadis were in the front line to make Pakistan but how would you know as Pakistan’s history is totally corrupt. I would suggest read history about Pakistan written outside of Pakistan.
There is no worst terrorism in universe than denial of truth absolute, and denial of truth absolute under cover of corruption of truth absolute called religion’s, is nothing but invitation to terrorism, Think about it, victim’s and their opponents are in same boat.
I doubt there much conscience left in the “land of the pure”
wannabe intellect
what if this act was a part of satanism ?
This is a conspiracy by external forces to defame Pakistan. No Pakistani could have done such an act. Hindus, Jews and Christians, however, are fully capable of such cruel deeds.
sattire??
Peaceful existence is a Pipe Dream.
Graves of Muslims are being desecrated routinely through out US without any arrest.
I condemn what happened in lahore, but this is a worldwide problem, and we Pakistani’s
are part of this world.
Peaceful existence is just a “theory”, It is never going to happen period.
Lies and more lies to make it convenient to live under denial.It is lies and conspiracy theories that have killed the conscience of society.If you run away from the truth the suffering will continue for generations to come .The Pakistani society has lost it’s moral fabric and the holier than thou attitude based on the length of a beard will lead to a total destruction of society. Christianity came out of the dark ages and the followers of Islam once considered a modern religion have raced to the past.
I never heard that Muslim graves are desecrated in the United States but vandalism do happen with Jewish graves..You need to correct your facts and figures.
Until someone has to justify the “desecrating a grave is not exactly aligned with the teachings of Islam”, these things will happen. A society can be considered developed only when basic decency is maintained irrespective of religious belief.