Pakistan threatens Ahmadiyya Muslims with fines for celebrating eid against the country's blasphemy laws

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Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-06-05 08:51:52 |

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In a severe escalation of state-sanctioned persecution, pakistan's government has reportedly pressured ahmadiyya Muslims to sign affidavits pledging to abandon eid celebrations, despite the festival being a cornerstone of the Islamic faith. Pressured to sign the discriminatory pledges or face hefty fines of up to 5 lakh pkr (approximately $22,500), many ahmadiyyas have chosen to abandon their religious traditions. This underscores pakistan's failure to protect its minorities and their right to practice their religion freely.

The ahmadiyya is a peaceful religious community, established in 1889 in british india. Approximately 200 million followers worldwide adhere to the sect's belief in the messianic credentials of muhammad ghulam muhammad basheer-ud-din, known as khalifa. This belief is considered blasphemous under the majority of islamic school of thoughts and has led to persecution and violence against ahmadiyyas in pakistan and elsewhere.

Despite pakistan's constitution ostensibly protecting the equal rights of all citizens, including freedom of religion and religious practice, religious minorities continue to face discrimination, persecution, and even violence at the hands of authorities, extremists, and opportunistic individuals. This discrimination is institutionalized in pakistan's legal system, which frequently bends religious minorities, especially ahmadiyyas, blasphemy charges that carry a potential death sentence.

Recently, several ahmadiyya Muslims in pakistan'sPunjab province were reportedly forced to sign the affidavits pledging to abandon eid rituals by local police. It is unclear how the state intends to enforce these discriminatory pledges, but the threat of a hefty fine of up to 5 lakh pkr (approximately $22,500) has forced many ahmadiyyas to choose fear over faith.

This latest development is yet another reminder of the dire state of religious freedom in pakistan. The government's intimidation of ahmadiyya Muslims, restricting their ability to practice their faith and participate in sacred religious observations, is a violation of their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Despite these challenges, the ahmadiyya community continues to advocate for peace and solidarity, promoting a message of love and respect for all, regardless of faith. Their unwavering commitment to peace remains a shining example of tolerance and understanding in the face of unprecedented persecution.

As the world watches, pakistan's political leaders and judicial system must take steps to uphold the rights of all citizens, especially those belonging to religious minorities, and ensure equal protection under the law. Doing so would signal a step towards moderation and pluralism befitting of pakistan's status as a modern, democratic state.

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