BREAKING: Under pressure from TLP state-backed persecution of Ahmadiyya Muslims intensifies
TLP issues threats, the state obeys: Ahmadiyya worship places attacked and demolished across Pakistan
A systematic crackdown on Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan is unfolding.
- Since the start of 2025, persecution against Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan has intensified. Multiple social media account have reported multiple cases of mosque demolitions across Punjab and Karachi.
- In a shocking escalation, Pakistani authorities—under pressure from the extremist group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP)—have participated in the destruction of SIX Ahmadiyya mosques across Punjab this year.
- Mahar Shakawat, Chairperson of TLP District Okara, has issued a public threat in a video[1], pressuring authorities to demolish minarets of Ahmadiyya mosques:
“Mr. DPO, enough is enough! We cannot carry this humiliation anymore. You have 48 hours to demolish the minarets—or else, on Wednesday, I will personally take action!”
This state-backed religious persecution is at its peak. Authorities are not just ignoring extremism—they are facilitating it.
Freedom of belief is a fundamental human right. The world must not stay silent.
Raise awareness. Speak out. Defend religious freedom. Stand for the civic rights of Ahmadi Muslims.
The latest situation from the Mosque is that the locks have been put at the gates of the Mosque.
Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan continue to struggle to enjoy their most basic and fundamental human rights in relation to Freedom of Religion and Belief. The Government of Pakistan must look into this blatant violation of judgment of the Lahore High Court and must hold the culprits accountable. Moreover, it is mandatory that security be provided to all Ahmadiyya Muslim Community places of worship to ensure violence and hate-incidents such as this do not escalate any further.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan’s judgement (PLD 2014 SC 699), authored by the then Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, guarantees the protection of all places of worship and instructs the police to protect places of worship. Destroying minarets is also a violation of Article 20 and the same Supreme Court verdict of 2014 (PLD 2014 SC 699).
The same Supreme Court judgement of 2014 (PLD 2014 SC 699) had asked the Government of Pakistan to form a special task force for the protection of worship places of minorities. On the contrary, an extremist agenda sponsored by the state is being pursued against the Ahmadiyya community with authorities encouraging this type of violent behavior which defies this Supreme Court judgement of 2014 (PLD 2014 SC 699) and all norms of religious sanctimony.
Human rights groups have repeatedly expressed their deep concern over the lack of attention to the serious human rights violations perpetrated against the Ahmadiyya community around the world and called on the international community to step up efforts in bringing an end to the ongoing persecution of Ahmadis.
The Unfolding Crisis Requires Urgent Intervention
No one can deny or ignore an intensifying pattern of religious persecution and violence that threatens the freedom and safety of hundreds of thousands of peaceful Pakistani citizens from violence by extremists, who are driving local and national authorities to do their bidding in the name of the law.
Pakistan is thus egregiously flouting international religious freedom standards. The IHRC calls upon governments, including that of the European Union, United States and UK, which have affirmed their support for religious freedom, to urgently engage with Pakistani authorities at this critical juncture, when escalating, state-sanctioned religious persecution is rising to unprecedented levels.
[1] Link to a video on social media: https://x.com/i/status/1899817846701469745
