Asia

Pakistan’s appointment of new Military Chief sparks religious controversy

Appointment of a new military chief in the largely Muslim country of Pakistan has sparked a religious controversy. The new chief, Lieutenant General Qamar Javed Bajwa who is replacing General Raheel Sharif, has been labeled an ‘Ahmadi’ by the country’s right-wing religious nationalists. The controversy began on November 22nd, when Pakistani Senator, Sajid Meer, published a video on facebook in which he suggested that one of the four Generals being considered for the position of Army Chief had Ahmadi family …

Pakistan bans Christian TV channels

Pakistan has ordered a shutdown of all Christian channels airing in the country and has arrested at least six cable operators for defying the order. Local priests have called the ban a blow to religious freedom in the country. The ban has affected 11 Christian TV channels including Pakistan’s oldest Christian satellite broadcaster, Isaac TV, as well as Indian Christian channels. The blocked channels include Gawahi TV, God Bless TV, Barkat TV, Praise TV, Zindagi TV, Shine TV, Jesus TV …

Pakistani Muslims face charges for posing as non-Muslims to sell Liquor

Two Pakistani Muslims are facing charges for selling alcohol in the conservative Muslim country by pretending to be non-Muslims. In Pakistan, a permit is required by non-Muslims to buy and sell liquor. According to the charges filed by Pakistan’s Customs Department in Islamabad High court, Brothers Ishtiaq Ahmad and Aamir Malik illegally obtained a Liquor License by pretending to be Ahmadis, a minority Muslim sect declared non-Muslim under Pakistani law. The brothers bought a suspended liquor license in 2014 by …

Pakistan to deport Turkish teachers ahead of Erdogan visit

Pakistan will deport dozens of Turkish teachers employed at 23 schools linked to the controversial Gülen movement. The order by the Pakistani Interior Ministry came as Turkish President Recep Teyyep Erdogan arrives on a two-day visit to Pakistan. According to reports, the government has ordered all Turkish residents affiliated with ‘Pak-Turk Schools’ to leave Pakistan by November 20th and has also notified Immigration officials in this regard. The foundation which has been active in Pakistan since 1995 currently operates 28 Park-Turk …

Pakistan’s Shia Council threatens Ahmadis with mutilation

A leader of Pakistan’s Shia Ulema Council (SUC or Shia Council of Clerics) has threatened the country’s persecuted Ahmadiyya Muslims with mutilation. He made the statement while speaking to a reporter from Pakistan’s most widely circulated paper, the Jang. On November 11, Leader of Shia Ulema Council Multan division, Syed Muhammad Shah said: Belief in KhatmeNabuwat is a part of our faith, denying that is like denying Islam, We will sacrifice everything for its sake. He further said: ” The …

Illegal settlers clash with Police in Rabwah

On Wednesday a Police operation against illegal encroachments in the Ahmadiyya town of Rabwah turned violent as protestors clashed with Police. On 9th November, Police along with officials from the local Municipal authority launched a demolition drive against illegal encroachments. But the anti-encroachment operation soon turned violent when the operators of these illegal establishments attacked Police and municipal workers. Later, the same mob set fire to some of the salvaged material in the middle of Aqsa road. Many of the …

Thousands attend anti-Ahmadiyya ‘KhatmeNabuwat’ conference in Rabwah

The small town of Rabwah went into lockdown on Thursday as thousands made their way to attend the controversial ‘KhatmeNabuwat’ conference. More than 20,000 people are thought to be attending the two-day conference which began on October 27th. The event has been organized by the controversial AMTKN (Aalmi Majlis – e – Tahfuze KhatmeNabuwat) movement, an organization described as a hate group due to its continued encouragement of violence against Ahmadi Muslims. The arrangements for the event have been made …

PEMRA dismisses Ahmadis’ complaint against TV Channels after mob storms office

Pakistan’s Electronic Media Authority (PEMRA) has come under fire after two TV channels aired ‘hateful’ content against the minority Ahmadiyya community. Pakistan’s NEO TV and Channel-92 labeled Ahmadis as ‘Blasphemers’ and ‘Traitors’ in their TV show, Harf-e-Raz, and Subh-e-Noor which were aired in the first week of September. Following the airing of the programs representatives of Ahmadiyya community filed complaints against the two TV channels with PEMRA. The complaint filed by Ahmadiyya representatives stated that “The programs were provocative against …

Pakistan’s top cleric calls for execution of Ahmadis

Chairman of Pakistan’s “Ruet-e-Hilal Committee” Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman has called on the Government to execute Ahmadis as they do not believe in the finality of Prophet Muhammad. He made the comments on Saturday, while speaking at a KhatmeNabuwat rally in the village of Lalian. Mufti Muneeb ur Rahman said “According to the constitution of Pakistan, Ahmadis are deniers of KhatmeNabuwat (Finality of Prophethood) and are hence outside the fold of Islam, Since the punishment for not accepting the constitution is execution, …

Iran opposes appointment of ‘Qadiani’ Asma Jahangir as UN Rapporteur on Human Rights

Iran has slammed the decision by United Nations to appoint Asma Jahangir as special rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran and called her out as a ‘Qadiani’, a derogatory term used for members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Sect. Pakistani Lawyer and Human Rights activist Asma Jahangir was appointed as the United Nation’s Special Rapporteur for Human Rights to Iran on Thursday, September, 1 replacing Maldivian diplomat Ahmed Shaheed. Congratulations @Asma_Jahangir on being named as next UN Sp Rapporteur on #Iran. …

Pakistan Police Arrest Christian Teenager for Facebook Post

A 16-year-old Pakistani Christian has been arrested for Blasphemy for liking a Facebook post. The teenager who is from Punjab has been jailed pending trial. On 18th September, 16-year-old Nabeel Chohan from Chak 66, Bhai Pheru, District of Kasur was arrested and charged under Pakistan’s infamous Blasphemy law. He was arrested by the Police after locals filed a complaint against Masih under Section 295/ 295A of Pakistan’s penal code. The complainant alleged that he was going through Masih’s Facebook account …

Pakistani asylum Seekers in Thailand raise concerns ahead of UNGA

In 1974, Pakistan declared the Ahmadiyya as a non-Muslim community using a constitutional amendment, which soon after lead to the community becoming the most persecuted religious community in the country. Ahmadis are not allowed to call themselves as Muslims and are prohibited from preaching or practicing their faith If they do so they can be charged and arrested under the country’s anti-Ahmadiyya laws. Due to this continuous persecution, many Ahmadis end up fleeing the country. Many have sought Asylum in …