Human Rights

Who are the Ahmadi Muslims?

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was founded in 1889 by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad who claimed under divine instruction to fulfil the major prophecies contained in Islamic and other sacred texts regarding a world reformer who would unite humanity. He announced to Christians awaiting the second coming of Jesus, Muslims anticipating the Mahdi, Hindus expecting Krishna and Buddhists searching for Buddha, that he was the promised Prophet for them all, commissioned by God to rejuvenate true faith and lead a spiritual struggle against evil.

He also reaffirmed that Islam was the final law for humanity revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, and that true essence of Islam had become lost through the centuries which needed reviving in these times. This is why the Ahmadi Muslims also see themselves as leading the renaissance of Islam.

How many Ahmadi Muslims are there, and where are they based?

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has tens of millions members in 190 countries with most followers living in the Indian subcontinent and Africa. It emerged from the Sunni tradition of Islam and remains the fastest growing denomination within the faith. The Ahmadi Muslims were among the earliest Muslim communities to arrive in Britain, building London’s first mosque in Putney in 1924. They also opened Western Europe’s largest mosque, Baitul Futuh, in Morden, Surrey, in 2003. Currently in Britain there are 18,000 Ahmadi Muslims.

What do Ahmadi Muslims believe?

The Ahmadi Muslims believe in all the five pillars and articles of faith required of Muslims. They differ from other Muslims mainly with respect to the status of their founder, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, as a Prophet within Islam, and their view that Jesus survived the attempted crucifixion, traveled in search of the remaining lost tribes in the East and died in India. They believe that Jesus is buried in Kashmir.

Ahmadi Muslims also believe in the continuation of divine revelation. This applies primarily to the Khalifas whose authority derives from God Himself.

Ahmadi Muslims live by a code of peace epitomised by the community’s motto "Love for All, Hatred for None". From their origins they inculcated the meaning of Jihad as striving to free oneself of impurities for the pleasure of God. They have condemned all violence in the strongest possible terms, and have nurtured a spirit of allegiance to the country in which they reside.

Killing Of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat In Pakistan

It is with great pain that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat confirms that two of its members were brutally murdered in Multan. The deceased, Dr Shiraz Ahmad Bajwa and Dr Noreen Bajwa were husband and wife and were both trained as doctors. Both martyrs were under the age of forty.

On 16th March 2009 at around 2.30pm local time, unknown assailants attacked Dr Shiraz and Dr Noreen at their home in Wapda Colony, Multan Road. The assailants first taped together the hands, feet and mouths of both victims. They then tied rope around their necks and strangled them to death. Following death Dr Shiraz was hung from a nearby fan.

The brutality of these murders was further exacerbated by the fact that Dr Shiraz and Dr Noreen were expecting their first child.

Dr Shiraz was an eye-specialist who had served at various hospitals including the Fazl-e-Umer Hospital in Rabwah. At the time of his death he was working at a hospital in Wapda. Similarly Dr Noreen was working at a local children’s hospital.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat also confirms that a police case has been registered against fifteen Ahmadis at Sillanwali Police Station in District Sargodha, Pakistan. The Ahmadis are charged under Section 298C of the Pakistani Penal Code which is specifically an anti-Ahmadiyya piece of legislation. The accused Ahmadis are charged with having a place of worship, which they call a Mosque and use to offer Friday prayers and Eid prayers. Furthermore they are charged with ‘posing’ as Muslims because under the aforementioned Penal Code, Ahmadis are not allowed to class themselves as such.

Actions:

Please write to Human Rights Organizations about the recent escalation in persecution organized by extremist clerics which, yet again, has culminated in murder and tragedy.

Pakistan is a country that is currently facing absolute ruin. Amongst this chaos the hateful acts of religious extremists are ever increasing, to the extent that loving, caring and innocent people are being murdered because they belong to a community whose motto is ‘Love for All, Hatred for None.”

The International Community, Media and Human Rights organisations are all urged to take action to protect the lives and rights of Ahmadi Muslims both in Pakistan and in other countries where they face discrimination. In an era where freedom of religion and belief is accepted as a basic human right throughout the world it is of disbelief that Ahmadi Muslims are being murdered for no other reason than their choice of religion.

Please find below the addresses of Human Rights Organisations which members need to write to as well as their local media etc.

Asian Human Rights Commission:

Fill in form at: http://www.ahrchk. net/ modules7635. html

Or email: ahrc@ahrc.asia