Escalation of persecution against Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan

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Subject: Escalation of persecution against Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan

I write to bring to your attention the alarming and escalating persecution of Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan, which has reached intolerable levels.

In recent weeks and months, Ahmadi Muslims have endured a distressing series of attacks, ranging from the desecration of their mosques and graves to unlawful detentions and hate speech—all driven by extremist influences and often executed with the support or involvement of local authorities.

Despite explicit legal protections for religious buildings, extremists and law enforcement have been attacking Ahmadi Muslim mosques across Pakistan with more than 50 mosques attacked since 2021. Additionally, more than 421 graves of Ahmadi Muslims have been desecrated since 2021.

In the latter part of this year, police – under pressure from extremists – desecrated five Ahmadi Muslim mosques, including those in Gujranwala, Khanewal, and Nankana Sahib. These incidents, which involved the demolition of minarets and removal of Islamic inscriptions, show a complete disregard for the rule of law.

Furthermore, on 30 September, police in Baghbanpura, Lahore, again under pressure from extremist clerics, raided Ahmadi Muslim properties. Despite finding no evidence of wrongdoing, several Ahmadi Muslims including women and children were detained and charged under Pakistan’s draconian anti-Ahmadi laws that deny Ahmadis the right to practice their Islamic faith. In another incident on 22 September, a large protest led by the right wing Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), was held outside the Baitul Zikr mosque in Lahore inciting hatred and demanding the mosque be shut down permanently.

This highlights a deeply disturbing trend where police, swayed by extremist pressures, are targeting rather than protecting Ahmadi Muslims.

Ahmadi Muslims are also targeted by hate speech. On 7 September, cleric Manzoor Mengal, speaking at a large rally in Lahore, called for the killing of Ahmadi Muslims, declaring them “Wajibul Qatl” (liable to be killed). Such incitements to violence, coupled with a complete lack of accountability have created a deeply hostile environment, putting lives and property at risk with five Ahmadi Muslims brutally murdered this year on grounds of faith.

We want Pakistan to succeed and prosper and our community has made immense sacrifices for the country for many decades, and it is deeply worrying to see its current challenges driven by extremists. Pakistan must take action to overcome and curb these extremists otherwise there is a real risk that it will suffer further under their influence.

I urge your you to call upon the UK Government to press Pakistan to:

· End the attacks on Ahmadi Muslim mosques and graves and bring to justice those responsible for these attacks and those who have killed Ahmadi Muslims.

· End the anti-Ahmadi hate speech in Pakistan that incites violence and murder.

· Uphold its obligations under international human rights law by ensuring the safety and rights of Ahmadi Muslims and all citizens on an equal basis.

· Protect all places of worship including Ahmadi Muslim mosques and end the ongoing harassment and violence against the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

I look forward to hearing from you on these critical matters

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