IRFBA – The Article 18 Alliance Chair Statement; Letter of Concern for Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan

The persecution of Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan represents one of the most sustained and all encompassing campaigns of religious repression in the world today. It is not confined to isolated incidents or marginalised regions.  

The alarming escalation in vigilante attacks and oppression of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Pakistan has resulted in the destruction or desecration of dozens of sacred sites such as mosques and cemeteries, threats of violence against the community, and the arrest of Ahmadis for practicing their faith, particularly during Ramadan. 

The legal discrimination faced by Ahmadis fosters the attacks on places of worship. Ahmadis were declared non-Muslims when Pakistan’s constitution was amended in 1974, institutionalizing their exclusion from the Muslim community and setting the foundation for further persecution. Other laws also target the community, such as blasphemy laws. Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code mandates the death penalty or life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of defaming the Prophet Muhammad. Ahmadis are frequently targeted under this law for simply practicing their faith.  

In addition, Sections 298-B and 298-C specifically target Ahmadis. Section 298-B criminalizes Ahmadis referring to their places of worship as mosques, using Islamic titles, or quoting religious texts. Section 298-C explicitly prohibits Ahmadis from preaching, propagating their beliefs, or “posing” as Muslims in any manner. These laws deliberately target Ahmadis’ peaceful expression of their faith. 

Extremist political parties, such as Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and others, often cite these laws to target Ahmadis. False blasphemy accusations have led to mob lynchings and extrajudicial killings, as well as vandalism and destruction of their property – attacks on homes, businesses, places of worship, and cemeteries. In many cases, police do not act to protect them.  

I strongly condemn the senseless killing of the renowned gastroenterologist Dr. Sheikh Muhammad Mahmood (58) – the third Ahmadi murdered in Pakistan within the last month. 

What begins with Ahmadis has consequences far beyond the community itself. The criminalisation of their belief, the demolition of their mosques, the desecration of their graves – these are not only violations of religious freedom, but warning signs for the health of Pakistan’s society as a whole. 

When the state ignores and is even complicit in the targeting of one religious group, it sends a message to all minorities: that faith can be policed, identity can be denied, and belonging can be conditional. This is dangerous – not only for minorities, but for the fabric of the nation itself. 

The persecution of Ahmadis must be addressed – not only for their sake, but for the sake of all those who believe in the universal right of freedom of religion or belief.