Graves of Ahmadis Desecrated In ‘Malicious’ Act of Vandalism in Faisalabad Pakistan
Ahmadi graves have once again been desecrated and vandalised in a “malicious and senseless” attack by vigilantes’ elements in Pakistan.
Persecution against Ahmadis has ramped up as of late, as the IHRC has reported almost daily incidents against the minority group. Graveyard vandalism has been a favoured tactic of the Anti-Ahmadi element in Pakistan for years. This shameful tactic means Ahmadis are not free from persecution even after their death.
On 22.01.2023 at midnight some unknown miscreants desecrated Ahmadiyya graves at 89 GB Ratan, Faisalabad. They trespassed the Ahmadiyya graveyard by cutting the barbed wires.
Afterwards they tried to torch up the coffins & some other items in the store. A similar attack was carried out on 20.11.2022 in the same graveyard where unknown miscreants removed gravestones from 3 Ahmadiyya graves. The incident was reported to police who didn’t register an FIR.
.
This is the third time that this heinous act has been reported to the police, but nothing came out. The graves were desecrated and even the wooden coffin boxes were set on fire. Already Faisalabad seems to be in midst of hate crime because of the support of the police the minarets of two places of worship were demolished by the police shutting of lights in the village and then they removed the minarets in Adhwali.
Ahmadis were attacked and fired upon, but the police registered cases against Ahmadis in 89 Ratan. Two Ahmadis were arrested for sacrifice of goats. Ahmadi Muslim community sent emails to higher authorities’ regarding police role in Faisalabad but of no avail.
This must be stopped at all costs and nipped in the bud to stop the perpetrators and brought to justice immediately. Unfortunately, there is no simple solution as the government and authorities encourage this behavior. They must be stopped and discouraged from using cheap tactics to achieve political gain.
We once again urge the international community to pressure the Government of Pakistan to honor its responsibility to provide protection to all its citizens, ensure freedom of religious practice to Ahmadis, and bring perpetrators of such vicious attacks to justice. The Government of Pakistan must also bring its laws and practices in conformity with international standards as ordained by Article 2, 18 and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Article 25, 26.
