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March 28, 2024
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EditorialCases against Ahmedis

Cases against Ahmedis

Religious intolerance is once again on the rise in Pakistan. People do not leave any occasion without targeting one community or the other. This time the target is on the backs of Ahmedis. The second amendment of the constitution of Pakistan declared Ahmedis to be non-muslims. A consensus among the clerics of different sects of the religion proclaimed that Ahmedis will no longer be considered a part of the Islamic faith. This led to the creation of many other laws which prohibited Ahmedis from practising faith in their way without being persecuted by the majority population.

One of these laws is Section 298-C of the Pakistan Penal Code according to which Ahmedis are not allowed to call themselves Muslims or preach their faith. As per this law, three Ahmedis were arrested in Faisalabad on the first day of Eidul Azha. Their only crime was to sacrifice an animal in the confines of their home. Those who got the First Information Report (FIR) were motivated to do so because they could not allow those declared to be non-muslims to practice an Islamic ritual.

The increasing religious intolerance has deteriorated the very fabric of Pakistani society. People are not allowed to practice their faith even in their homes. What the people do not consider is that in Islam, state institutions or any person cannot challenge or report something that goes on inside the private property of an individual.

Therefore, there is no case which can be made against the Ahmedis who were performing the ritual of sacrifice as they did it in their homes. However, those who spied on them can be held accountable for their actions as it is strictly prohibited to do so.

The FIR also claimed that the sentiments of the Muslim community were hurt by this act of Ahmedis which makes one wonder how fragile the Muslim community is. It is not the sentiments that are hurt or that people want to defend their religion, it is the deep-rooted intolerance that comes out time and again to destroy the peace of society. Muslims, especially those in Pakistan, need to reevaluate their stance on different sects or religions. Every small act cannot be held accountable and some things do not need to be done at all. It is imperative for people to live and let live as such petty issues only break society apart. The arrests would have made sense if those three Ahmedis had done something which broke the law or actually hurt the sentiments of Muslims. However, no such thing happened and it is only the prejudice against minority communities created by various politicians somewhere in history to appease the rigid ones which have led to such intolerance in society.

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