July 12th, 2021
Incident Report, PakistanJuly 12th, 2021

A Sinister Act Against Ahmadis in Pakistan of Depriving Them The Right to Offer Animal Sacrifices As Part of Celebrating The Festival Of EIDUL-AZHA 25 July 2020

Like all the previous years the Mullahs (CLERGY) in Pakistan have once again started an intimidating campaign against Ahmadis of Pakistan with the object to force the Ahmadis not to sacrifice animals on Eidul-Adha as part of their religious practice. It has become a usual exercise that on every Eidul-Adha the religious zealots with the support of police and local administration create hurdles in the exercise of religious rite and rituals by the Ahmadis especially on Eidul-Adha and on many occasions the police had confiscated the animals of Ahmadis before the day of Eidul-Adha on the instigation of Mullahs and in previous years number of cases have been registered against Ahmadis for sacrificing animals at the occasion of Eidul-Adha under the provisions of Anti Ahmadiyya laws. Many Ahmadis had to undergo the ordeal of incarceration on the allegations of sacrificing animals on the occasion of Eid and the same episode is going to be repeated this year once again.

It has been reported from different parts of Pakistan that Mullahs have placed banners in different villages, towns and cities giving warning to the Ahmadis not to take part in the ritual of animal sacrifice on this Eidul-Adha and general public is being incited against Ahmadis through these banners. Through these banners the Mullahs are also requiring the public that if they see any Ahmadi sacrificing animal on Eidul-Adha, they should report the matter to the local police as it is a crime under section 298-C of Pakistan Penal Code for an Ahmadi to perform religious ritual of sacrifice of animal on Eidul-Adha. There are reports that in some places some untoward incidents have took place where the people have created law and order situation on the instigation of Mullahs resulting violence against number of Ahmadis.

In the previous years as well, the mischief mongering Mullahs of the organisation of ‘Tahaffuz Khatm-e-Nabuwwat’ used social media platforms and public rallies to incite public against Ahmadis. They also prepared and posted fake notifications issued by the Inspector General of Police in order to use government machinery against the Ahmadis.

It has been reported that on 03.07.2020 the Mullah in charge of the main mosque in the village ‘Trigri’, District Gujranwala, made an announcement after the Friday prayers that this year they are going to make sure that no Ahmadi even attempts to offer a sacrifice on Eidul-Adha. For the accomplishment of their nefarious design the opponents of Ahmadis have submitted a petition on this subject to the local Senior Police Officer demanding that he should take drastic action against Ahmadis who try to offer animal sacrifices on Eidul-Adha.

It has also been reported that Mullahs have given a telephone hotline number to the public on which the public may report any incident of animal sacrifice by Ahmadi where after the Mullahs of the area may be deputed to approach the local police for taking action against the concerned Ahmadi.

In view of such propaganda, there is a likelihood that Ahmadis would be deprived of fulfilling this fundamental practice associated with this event and many would have to face criminal prosecution just because of practicing their faith.

The Eid ul Azha Festival is going to be celebrated in Pakistan on 01 August, 2020 and, as the situation of Ahmadis living in Pakistan is precarious and Mullahs as well as police are trying to persecute them only because of performing their religious rituals, hence, once again we plead to the International Community to take urgent action to urge the Government of Pakistan to safeguard the civil and religious freedoms of Ahmadis and provide them with the safety and security in order to observe and practise their faith.

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