Calling a halt to the persecution of Muslims and Christians in Pakistan

The Taliban terror regime in Afghanistan provokes outrage throughout the world. However, neighboring Pakistan, the last alliance partner with the extremist Taliban, persecutes Muslims and Christians just as well. Islamic clergyman who advocate the radical version of Sunnite faith are preaching hate. The mob rule is eagerly taking up appeals of mullahs and is bothering Ahmadiyya-Muslims, Christians, Shiite, non-orthodox Sunnite, Khodjas and Sikhs. Due to discrimination and persecution of religious minorities many people have left the country for fear of infringement of right.

Predominantly Christians and approx. 3,5 million Ahmadiyya-Muslims are affected. They are considered "renegades" by the majority population of Sunnite Muslims. Although they worship Mohammed as the last Prophet as well. However, they believe that there must have been other envoys and prophets after Mohammed's death. Due to their beliefs the movement, which originated in the 19th century, has been persecuted for decades, even though religious freedom is guaranteed by the Pakistani constitution, article 20. Even in 1953 mosques and houses of Ahmadiyya-Muslims were destroyed and people were killed.

In 1974 the Ahmadiyya-denomination has been declared a ‘non-Islamic minority’ in an amendment to the constitution by the Pakistani Parliament. As a result the persecution of Ahmadiyya escalated and there were numerous pogroms. 1984 Pakistani dictator Zia ul-Hacq called the movement a "cancerous ulcer" and prohibited the Ahmadiyya to profess and practice their faith in public, under threat of imprisonment and penalty. They are not allowed to express their creed and to call themselves Muslim under threat of three years imprisonment and a penalty, according to the Pakistani criminal code, article 298c. In it the Ahmadiyya are also forbidden to do missionary work. In 1986 the Islamic Law, the Sharia was introduced in Pakistan. This would allow death sentence because Ahmadiyya are accused of denigration of the Prophet Mohammed. According to the Sharia they are liable to prosecution because they don’t regard Mohammed to be God’s last envoy. In 1993 the Pakistani High Court of Justice prohibited the Ahmadiyya to call themselves Muslims.

Since the beginning of the 90es all Pakistani nationals have to register the denomination in their personal documents. Thus the discrimination of three million Christians and other religious minorities has become a lot easier. Christians consider themselves to be without rights and to be defenseless in Pakistan. They are victims of arbitrary arrests, women and children are raped, their property is raided. Some judges take up legal proceedings against Christians just to avoid the wrath of Muslim eyewitnesses. Police refuse to investigate criminal charges that are reported by Christians.

Particularly Ahmadiyya and Christians suffer as a result of the Blasphemy Laws. On accounts of alleged blasphemy Christians are commonly criminalized and denounced. They are threatened by capital punishment - the death penalty. This has already been imposed on several people. So far, however, no Christians have been executed. But several people who had been charged with this offence were murdered by Muslim extremists. Christians who are lucky enough, to get away with a successful appeal have to leave the country for safety reasons. On May 6th 1998 the catholic bishop of Faisalabad, John Joseph, set himself on fire to protest against the blasphemy laws.

For years the GfbV has been protesting against discrimination and persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan. We repeatedly demanded a reform of the blasphemy laws. When the reform was finally introduced with a decree of the military regime under General Pervez Musharraf on April 28th 2000l we welcomed this decision. In order to curb the improper use of the blasphemy laws for neighborhood disputes, the courts were going to be instructed to examine cases of blasphemy thoroughly before they were handed to the police for further investigation. We were deeply disappointed when the General put a halt to the reforms in May 2000 due to public pressure of radical Islamists. Please support our commitment to religious freedom for Muslims and Christians in Pakistan with a donation addressed to account no. 1909 at the Sparkasse Göttingen, BLZ 260 500 01.

Translated by Bärbel Heimansberg