Ahmadi Mosques Attacked in Pakistan, 70 Worshippers Dead

I just wrote a post earlier in the morning about a Maoist attack and now I hear about another brutal attack, this time against Ahmadi worshippers in Lahore, the “cultural capital” of Pakistan.

Gunmen walked into two Ahmadi mosques in Lahore and started shooting.  At one mosque, three suicide bombers blew themselves up during the service and it is at that mosque where the death toll is so much higher.

When we hear news about Pakistan, we often hear about it in terms of what the United States is doing or not doing in the country.  But, keep in mind that almost all of the victims of terrorism  are Pakistanis.

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12 thoughts on “Ahmadi Mosques Attacked in Pakistan, 70 Worshippers Dead

  1. The sectarian aspect of a lot of these attacks is often overlooked by the mainstream media. It seems that extra protection was not provided to the mosque even though there had been some threats against it. It makes me wonder if they weren't adequately covered due to the fact that they are Ahmadi mosques…

  2. “The terrorist attacks that occurred today at two of our mosques in Lahore were completely barbaric and alien to all forms of humanity.

    These attacks took place in mosques which are places of worship and at the time of the Friday prayers which all Muslims know is a holy and sacred time. No true Muslims could ever countenance such attacks, such … See morecruelty and such barbaric behaviour. No form of terrorism has any place in Islam and thus those who were behind these attacks may justify their acts in its name, but let it be clear they are Muslim only in name and never in deed.”

    The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a peace loving law abiding community whose motto is love for all hatred for none. They promote education, tolerance, and citizenship. They also have a presence in 187 countries of the world and endeavour to exert a constructive influence through social projects, educational institutes and health services. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community numbers between 3 and 4 million people in Pakistan.

    Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) had warned the Punjab government about threats to the Ahmadi community centre in Model Town "for more than a year."

    Ahmadi Muslims endure "the most severe legal restrictions and officially-sanctioned discrimination" among Pakistan's religious minorities, according to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

    USCIRF, an independent, bipartisan U.S. government commission, said in its latest annual report that "Ahmadis may not call their places of worship 'mosques,' worship in non-Ahmadi mosques or public prayer rooms which are otherwise open to all Muslims, perform the Muslim call to prayer, use the traditional Islamic greeting in public, publicly quote from the Koran, or display the basic affirmation of the Muslim faith." The agency says it's illegal for the group to preach publicly, pursue converts, pass out religious material, restricted from holding public conferences and travelling to Saudi Arabia for the hajj pilgrimage

    The state-sanctioned discrimination began when Under pressure from hard-liners, the Pakistani government in 1974 declared the Ahmadis a non-Muslim minority. The Government and police authorities have taken no action to prevent the media from promoting the

    killing of Ahmadi's by claiming they are worthy of death. This has sent a message to the culprits that they can do as they wish without fear of prosecution.

  3. Lubna: Thanks for your comments. I have always been very bothered by the fact that the Ahmadis cannot be left alone to practice however they wish. No government should be declaring any group "non-Muslim". I notice in the Dawn article that I linked to they referred to the mosques that were targeted as "Ahmadi places of worship."

  4. The sectarian aspect of a lot of these attacks is often overlooked by the mainstream media. It seems that extra protection was not provided to the mosque even though there had been some threats against it. It makes me wonder if they weren’t adequately covered due to the fact that they are Ahmadi mosques…

  5. “The terrorist attacks that occurred today at two of our mosques in Lahore were completely barbaric and alien to all forms of humanity.

    These attacks took place in mosques which are places of worship and at the time of the Friday prayers which all Muslims know is a holy and sacred time. No true Muslims could ever countenance such attacks, such … See morecruelty and such barbaric behaviour. No form of terrorism has any place in Islam and thus those who were behind these attacks may justify their acts in its name, but let it be clear they are Muslim only in name and never in deed.”

    The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a peace loving law abiding community whose motto is love for all hatred for none. They promote education, tolerance, and citizenship. They also have a presence in 187 countries of the world and endeavour to exert a constructive influence through social projects, educational institutes and health services. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community numbers between 3 and 4 million people in Pakistan.

    Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) had warned the Punjab government about threats to the Ahmadi community centre in Model Town “for more than a year.”

    Ahmadi Muslims endure “the most severe legal restrictions and officially-sanctioned discrimination” among Pakistan’s religious minorities, according to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

    USCIRF, an independent, bipartisan U.S. government commission, said in its latest annual report that “Ahmadis may not call their places of worship ‘mosques,’ worship in non-Ahmadi mosques or public prayer rooms which are otherwise open to all Muslims, perform the Muslim call to prayer, use the traditional Islamic greeting in public, publicly quote from the Koran, or display the basic affirmation of the Muslim faith.” The agency says it’s illegal for the group to preach publicly, pursue converts, pass out religious material, restricted from holding public conferences and travelling to Saudi Arabia for the hajj pilgrimage

    The state-sanctioned discrimination began when Under pressure from hard-liners, the Pakistani government in 1974 declared the Ahmadis a non-Muslim minority. The Government and police authorities have taken no action to prevent the media from promoting the

    killing of Ahmadi’s by claiming they are worthy of death. This has sent a message to the culprits that they can do as they wish without fear of prosecution.

  6. Lubna: Thanks for your comments. I have always been very bothered by the fact that the Ahmadis cannot be left alone to practice however they wish. No government should be declaring any group “non-Muslim”. I notice in the Dawn article that I linked to they referred to the mosques that were targeted as “Ahmadi places of worship.”

  7. Many Ahmadis have been killed in the name of religionin in the recent years. This is a fact that it was not a normal incident of terrorism. It was a massacre of the members of Ahmadiyya community. Furthermore, it was sponsored by government. Before this incident the one could see banners in teh streets of Lahore with slogans against this community. How can one forget the banner in front of High Court on which it was written that Ahmadis, Christians and Jews are the enemies of Islam. The religious leaders were announcing freely on the roads that it is legal to kill Ahmadis.

    Unfortunately the response from the international community and especialy USA government and people has been in very low tone. Don't Ahmadis have the rights like normal human beings? Where are the claims for human rights? Why not associate the aid to Pakistan with the human right conditions? Why to support such governments in Pakistan which formulate and defend laws violating human rights? The members of teh community captured two terrorists and few people were also killed in the attempt to do so. It is a great opportunity ( as it happened that for the first time any such terrorst has been caught who was about to blow him after killing people ) for the government to get information from these terrorists and destroy the organizations and people behind them But the government of Pakistan is silent.The Ahmadis, Christians and other minorities in Pakistan are vulnerable to such more attacks. International community is also silent. Is this silence not criminal?

  8. Many Ahmadis have been killed in the name of religionin in the recent years. This is a fact that it was not a normal incident of terrorism. It was a massacre of the members of Ahmadiyya community. Furthermore, it was sponsored by government. Before this incident the one could see banners in teh streets of Lahore with slogans against this community. How can one forget the banner in front of High Court on which it was written that Ahmadis, Christians and Jews are the enemies of Islam. The religious leaders were announcing freely on the roads that it is legal to kill Ahmadis.

    Unfortunately the response from the international community and especialy USA government and people has been in very low tone. Don’t Ahmadis have the rights like normal human beings? Where are the claims for human rights? Why not associate the aid to Pakistan with the human right conditions? Why to support such governments in Pakistan which formulate and defend laws violating human rights? The members of teh community captured two terrorists and few people were also killed in the attempt to do so. It is a great opportunity ( as it happened that for the first time any such terrorst has been caught who was about to blow him after killing people ) for the government to get information from these terrorists and destroy the organizations and people behind them But the government of Pakistan is silent.The Ahmadis, Christians and other minorities in Pakistan are vulnerable to such more attacks. International community is also silent. Is this silence not criminal?

  9. Now the killings are done and the dead are buried the families affected will turn to God Almighty with patience.
    Hadith
    If anyone will invent an innovation so that people start acting upon it. The innovator will also share the sins of those who acted upon the innovation and their sins too will not be lessened. (Ibn-I-Maajjah, Bab mun ahya sunnah qud umeet)
    The Taliban and the Pakistani government are the innovators. It must be noted that out of respect the market and traders in Rabwah closed there shops, and let it be noted some traders in lahore refused the business of Ahmadi muslims. Where is the religion of Islam brought to us by the Holy Prophet Muhammmed peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
    Why is it that the Pakistani country is either run by the West or the Taliban, why cant they stand up for themselves. It is the corruption and the leisure life everyone in power is accustomed to and difficult to part from.
    Every human, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, is held accountable for his or her deeds and are judged by God accordingly.[Qur'an 74:38].
    The Holy Prophet said: "Qiyamah will come….

    When it will be regarded as a shame to act upon Quranic injunctions.
    When untrustworthy people will be regarded as trustworthy and the trustworthy will be regarded as untrustworthy.
    When the liars will be regarded as truthful and the truthful will be regarded as liars
    When decisions will be given on mere conjecture (wild guesses).
    When legislation in matters pertaining to my right (religion) is handed over to the worst elements in my Ummah, and if people accept them and are satisfied with their findings, then such persons will not smell the fragrance of Jannah.
    When the off-spring become a cause of grief and anger (for their parents).
    When Islam will become a stranger (unwanted religion).
    When Malice and Hate will become common among people.
    When Islamic Knowledge (Ilm) is lifted.
    When people will boast upon their palatial mansions.
    When oppression, jealousy and greed become the order of the day.
    When lies prevail over the truth.
    When people dispute over petty issues.
    When people blatantly follow their passions and whims.
    When immorality overtakes shamelessness and is perpetrated publicly
    Need we say any more but to pray for our country and all the good people in it.

  10. Now the killings are done and the dead are buried the families affected will turn to God Almighty with patience.
    Hadith
    If anyone will invent an innovation so that people start acting upon it. The innovator will also share the sins of those who acted upon the innovation and their sins too will not be lessened. (Ibn-I-Maajjah, Bab mun ahya sunnah qud umeet)
    The Taliban and the Pakistani government are the innovators. It must be noted that out of respect the market and traders in Rabwah closed there shops, and let it be noted some traders in lahore refused the business of Ahmadi muslims. Where is the religion of Islam brought to us by the Holy Prophet Muhammmed peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
    Why is it that the Pakistani country is either run by the West or the Taliban, why cant they stand up for themselves. It is the corruption and the leisure life everyone in power is accustomed to and difficult to part from.
    Every human, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, is held accountable for his or her deeds and are judged by God accordingly.[Qur’an 74:38].
    The Holy Prophet said: “Qiyamah will come….

    When it will be regarded as a shame to act upon Quranic injunctions.
    When untrustworthy people will be regarded as trustworthy and the trustworthy will be regarded as untrustworthy.
    When the liars will be regarded as truthful and the truthful will be regarded as liars
    When decisions will be given on mere conjecture (wild guesses).
    When legislation in matters pertaining to my right (religion) is handed over to the worst elements in my Ummah, and if people accept them and are satisfied with their findings, then such persons will not smell the fragrance of Jannah.
    When the off-spring become a cause of grief and anger (for their parents).
    When Islam will become a stranger (unwanted religion).
    When Malice and Hate will become common among people.
    When Islamic Knowledge (Ilm) is lifted.
    When people will boast upon their palatial mansions.
    When oppression, jealousy and greed become the order of the day.
    When lies prevail over the truth.
    When people dispute over petty issues.
    When people blatantly follow their passions and whims.
    When immorality overtakes shamelessness and is perpetrated publicly
    Need we say any more but to pray for our country and all the good people in it.

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