Caged Ahmedi Refugees Fear Returning to Pakistan
The plight of minorities: Was the very pretext for Pakistan’s existence not the preservation of religious freedom?
It is no secret that Ahmedis in Pakistan are treated worse than animals, the latter at least having the freedom to bark, meow, chirp the way they choose to. Even when caged, pets are generally loved and cared for. Ahmedis on the other hand receive hatred and indifference from a large segment of Pakistani society. On the one hand, the Mullah brigade has disseminated venom against Ahmedis nationwide (and abroad), while on the other, the state supports this bigotry by criminalising the very existence of Ahmedis through laws that can best be described as discriminatory and cruel.
Since Ahmedis have been declared ‘Wajib-ul-Qatl’ (deserving of death) by numerous influential extremist groups, they are threatened on a regular basis by extremists living in our neighbourhoods. Ahmedi businesses are forcibly closed down, children harassed and homes attacked. False cases are registered, and with many interested in the prospect of hoors, false witnesses are readily available. Section 298-C of the Pakistan Penal Code prohibits Ahmedis from calling themselves Muslim or act “in any manner whatsoever that outrages the religious feelings of Muslims.” This includes saying the Azaan, calling the Ahmedi place of worship a “mosque,” saying the greeting of peace, aka Salaam, reciting the Quran in public, or saying the Kalima. How these acts cause pain to the feelings of “constitutional” Muslims is beyond me, and how not saying any of this brings solace remains an even bigger enigma. Faced with such bitter two-sided damnation, what would a sane Ahmedi do, if not leave the country?
Was the very pretext for Pakistan’s existence not the preservation of religious freedom? Would it therefore not be befitting of Ahmedis to campaign for a separate state on the same grounds? But since this would cause chaos and unrest in the land they call home, Pakistani Ahmedis patiently pray and continue to hope for better days. However, when persecution becomes overbearing for some, they are forced to resort to emigration, which is the Quran’s prescribed way to escape religious persecution (4:98).
Such a group of desperate Pakistani Ahmedis availed a chance to escape to Thailand (legally) in late 2010. They were hopeful of better reception at the regional office of UNHCR in Bangkok. Pending applications for asylum, the group of 131 Ahmedis was placed in detention for “overstaying their visas.” In the face of uncertainty and horror, 35 Ahmedis agreed to be deported to Pakistan. The other 96 preferred to stay in detention rather than reliving the persecution back home.
Mr Veerawit Tianchainan is the executive director of the Thai Committee for Refugees. At an honorary dinner in Pennsylvania recently, he spoke of the horrible conditions the detainees were kept under. Ladies had to take turns sleeping since there was not enough space in the cells for everyone to lie down at the same time. Faced with overcrowded living conditions, many children had only the floor beside the toilets to sleep on. One of the captives, a pregnant lady, later gave birth in these same conditions.
Months into the detentions, human rights groups started noting and campaigning for the release of these refugees. Mr Tianchainan spearheaded a valiant effort to remove the Ahmedis from these inhumane circumstances. He explained how it took his team weeks of hard work that included a great amount of paper work, multiple phone calls and a period of fundraising to gather the huge amount required to bail the detained Ahmedis out and secure their release. It is no surprise why the Pakistani government did not negotiate for the release of these poor detainees. The state supports laws and tolerates, and in many cases endorses, behaviour that leads to such emigrations in the first place. The fact that the majority of the emigrants preferred the misery of detainment in horrible conditions in a foreign land to life at home is strong reason for shame and compunction, if we have any. Ahmedi emigrants fleeing Pakistan generally belong to one of two groups: those personally under threat, including new converts, and those who have witnessed such threats being carried out, especially in the form of the murder of close relatives. Each of the Ahmedi detainees in Thailand had a similar tale, and theirs have yet to come to a close. Angry at a “safe exit,” extremist groups have stepped up their mischief. Families still in Pakistan are now experiencing even greater harassment. The persecution continues unabated as a whole nation watches in silence and apathy.
As the 96 refugees were released from the detention centre in Thailand last month, one child dreaded going back. “I don’t want to go back in that ‘big cage,’” she said. I can imagine that the mother’s reply would have been something like this: “At least we were treated like animals here, not any worse.”
The opinions expressed in this article and the views shared by readers in the comment forum below do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance or policies of Newsline.
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Thank you, Dr. Chaudhry, for this outstanding piece.
He it is Who has raised among the unlettered people a Messenger from among themselves who recites unto them His Signs, and purifies them, and teaches them the Book and Wisdom though before that they were in manifest error; And He will raise him among others of them who have not yet joined them. He is the Mighty, the Wise.” Surah Al-Jumuah 62:3-4
One day Pakistan will understand “Power of Mighty GOD”
Great piece Mr. Chaudry.
What frightens me most about Pakistan is not the Mullah, nor the government who is controlled by the Mullah. The only thing that frightens me about Pakistan is the apathy of the masses. And my fear is not for Ahmedis in Pakistan, but for those masses. Those who refuse to control their own destinies relegate themselves to let other choose their destinies for them.
In the case of Ahmedies, rest assured they are choosing their destinies. But for the apathetic masses in Pakistan, do you really want the Mullah to choose your future?
If so, it’s going to be a blast – pun intended.
I agree with Dr Kashif, the situation is getting worse and worse….I am very much clear that after late General Zia (the main culprit for generation /promotion of bloody extremism), the entire society including the Army, Defense Officials and Administration from top to bottom, has divided into three mind-set type of people (i) the group who are ‘Extremely Liberal’ and more toward leftist (I will use the word extremist in leftist and extremely against Mr. Zia philosophy and against that regime (e.g. Assassinated Ex-Governor of Punjab )` very less in count (ii) the group who is moderate and belief in religious freedom / freedom of expression (e.g. General Kiyani /Prime Minister of Pakistan type) (iii) the group who is real danger for Pakistan credibility and responsible to endanger world peace ‘ Fanatic Jihadist ‘Fasadi’ Mullahs minded type’. We could easily find these negative minded people in Army, police and administration even in Pakistan Judicial system (e.g. Mr. Qadri, Mr. who killed Governor Punjab / honorable Judge who rules death sentence to Ms Aasia Bibi a woman belongs to minority sect). These people have ‘Zero tolerance’ for any other religion, intra-sects difference, other liberal groups and specifically minorities and to extremist in their thoughts/ practices to support jihadist Fasadi Mullahs philosophy and at large Talibanization in the society.
brilliant work , as usual kashif bro, all this needs to be published and told. My Allah bring peace to Pakistan and people here get rid of this mullah cancer soon. ameen
A very nice article, Mashallah
Thanks Kashif and Newsline for a sympathetic, insightful and bracing article on Ahmadis’ situation in Pakistan. My compliments.
Khalid
It’s a great shame that ahmadis are being forced to flee Pakistan.
In the future, prophets of God like Mirza Ghulam Ahmad will no longer be Pakistani citizens. (Ahmadis actively pray to become prophets and their Khalifa has informed them that all future prophets of God will come from within the Ahmadi Jamat)
These future Nabis are likely to be Canadian, American, British and likely to adopt the mannerisms and habits of their peer group.
They will be vocal supporters of their home countries and this will be a major threat to Pakistan as the American and Canadian etc governments can call upon prophets of god in their defence.
The caged Ahmadi Refugees article makes a painful,heart-rendering reading into the inhuman, horrible conditions of life in cells, where the detainees had to take their ‘turns’ to sleep because there is no enough space for all to lie and sleep at the same time and the children had only the floor beside toilets to sleep.The day I read this horrible despatch, I could not sleep at night simply because of my brothers/sisters-in-faith, away from their motherland, do not have suffice space to lie on floor, with straight legs and have no sound sleep at night.I hereby thank Mr.Tianchainan, the Executive Director, Thailand Committee of Refugees, for his valiant efforts to get Ahmadis out of such inhuman conditions and that out of 131 Ahmadis,placed in detention for ‘over-staying their visas’, 35 have agreed to go back to Pakistan, but the rest of 96 want to continue their stay in caged conditions. The Thai govrenment/UN Refugees Body is requested to give these 96 Ahmadis Asylum status of genuine victimised refugees and let them have a living-space as a dignified,(prisoners of conscience) human-beings, till their caes is finally settled.
Why Jammat didnt take care of these member? they got free through one local organization rather than through Jammat ahmadiyya.