7/31/2019 Prosecute Ahmadi massacre suspects: HRW

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ProsecuteAhmadimassacresuspects:HRW

May28,2012

NEWYORK:PakistansfederalandprovincialgovernmentsshouldbringtojusticethoseresponsiblefortheMay2010attacksonAhmadiyyaplacesofworshipthatkilled94people,HumanRightsWatchsaidtoday.

OnMay28,2010,militantsattackedtwoAhmadiyyaplacesofworshipinthecityofLahorewithguns,grenades,andsuicidebombs,killing94peopleandwoundingwellover100.ThePunjabiTaliban,alocalaffiliateofTehrik-e-TalibanPakistan(thePakistaniTalibanorTTP),claimedresponsibility.Twomenwerecapturedduringtheattack,butthegovernmenthasfailedtomakeprogressontheirtrial,seekingrepeatedadjournmentsfromthecourtashasthedefence.

ItsobscenethattwoyearsaftertheworstmassacreinLahoresincethepartitionofIndia,thegovernmenthasstillnotbroughtthesuspectsapprehendedatthescenetotrial,saidBradAdams,AsiadirectoratHumanRightsWatch.BypanderingtoextremistswhofomentviolenceagainsttheAhmadis,thegovernmentemboldensmilitantswhotargetthebeleagueredcommunity,andreinforcesfearandinsecurityforallreligiousminorities.

TheMay2010attackskilled27peopleinLahoresModelTownareaand67peopleinthesuburbofGarhiShahu.Worshipersoverpoweredtwoattackers,Asmatullah,al

iasMuaazandAbdullahMuhammad,andturnedthemovertopolice.EachwaschargedundertheAnti-TerrorismActandremainsincustody,buttherehasbeennoprogressinthecaseandproceedingshavebeenrepeatedlyadjourned.

SincetheMay2010attacks,therehasbeenanintensificationofthehatecampaignagainstAhmadis,HumanRightsWatchsaid.InJune2011,apamphletnamedsome50prominentAhmadisinthecityofFaisalabadinPunjabprovinceanddeclaredthemliabletobekilledunderIslamiclaw,alongwithallmembersofthecommunity.Noactionhasbeentakenbythegovernmentagainstthosewhodisseminatedthepamphlet.InSeptember2011,oneofthosenamedinthepamphlet,NaseemButt,wasshotdead.AtleastanotherfiveAhmadiswerekilledduring2011,apparentlybecauseoftheirreligiousbeliefs.InDecember,unknownassailantsvandalized29gravesinanAhmadiyyagraveyardinthePunjabtownofLodhran.

During2012,extremistgroupsinLahorehaveuseddiscriminatoryprovisionsofPakistanilawthattargetAhmadisandpreventthemfromposingasMuslimstoforcethedemolitionofsectionsofanAhmadiyyaplaceofworshiponthegroundsthatitsdomemadeitlooklikeamosque.InthegarrisoncityofRawalpindi,theauthoritiesbarredAhmadisfromusingtheirplaceofworshipattheinsistenceoflocalextremistgroups.Inbothinstances,PunjabprovincialadministrationandpoliceofficialssupportedtheextremistsdemandsinsteadofprotectingtheAhmadis.

ThePunjabprovincialgovernmentshouldbeprovidingextrasecuritytoAhmadiyyaplacesofworshipinsteadofsidingwiththoseterrorizingworshipersandattackingtheirplacesofworship,Adamssaid.Pakistansanti-Ahmadilawsneedtoberepe

aled,notenforced.

HumanRightsWatchurgedthegovernmentofPunjabprovince,controlledbyformerPrimeMinisterNawazSharifsPakistanMuslimLeague(Nawaz)party,toinvestigateandprosecutethoseresponsibleforintimidation,threats,andviolenceagainsttheAhmadiyyacommunity.

MilitantgroupsthathavepubliclybeeninvolvedinsucheffortsincludetheSunniTehrik,Tehrik-e-Tahafaz-e-Naomoos-e-Risalat,Khatm-e-Nabuwat,Difa-e-PakistanCouncil,andothersactingunderthePakistaniTalibansumbrella.Leadersofth

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esegroupshavefrequentlythreatenedtokillAhmadisandattacktheplacesofworshipwherekillingshavetakenplaceaswellasotherAhmadiplacesofworship.

AhmadicommunityleaderstoldHumanRightsWatchthattheyhadrepeatedlybroughtthreatsagainstthemtothenoticeofthePunjabchiefminister,ShahbazSharif,theprovincialgovernment,andthepolicecontrolledbytheprovincialauthorities,andthattheyhadaskedforenhancedsecurityforvulnerableAhmadiyyaplacesofworship.However,theprovincialgovernmentfailedtoactontheevidenceortoensuremeaningfulsecurity.

HumanRightsWatchcalledonPakistansgovernmenttointroducelegislationinparliamentwithoutdelaytorepeallawsthatdiscriminateagainstAhmadisandotherreligiousminorities,includingsections295(blasphemy)and298(AhmadispecificlawthatpreventsthemfromposingasMuslims)ofthePakistanPenalCode.

HumanRightsWatchalsourgedconcernedgovernmentsandinter-governmentalbodiestopressthePakistanigovernmentto:

Repealsections295and298ofthePakistanPenalCode;

ProsecutethoseresponsibleforplanningandexecutingattacksandcommittingotheroffensesagainsttheAhmadiyyaandotherreligiousminorities;and

TakestepstoencouragereligioustolerancewithinPakistanisociety.

ThegovernmentscontinueduseofdiscriminatorycriminallawsagainstAhmadisandotherreligiousminoritiesisindefensible,Adamssaid.Aslongassuchlawsremainonthebooks,thePakistanistatewillbeseenasapersecutorofminoritiesandanenablerofabuses.

BackgroundonPersecutionoftheAhmadiyyaCommunityinPakistan

ThepersecutionoftheAhmadiyyacommunityiswhollylegalized,evenencouraged,bythePakistanigovernment.PakistanspenalcodeexplicitlydiscriminatesagainstreligiousminoritiesandtargetsAhmadisinparticularbyprohibitingthemfromindirectlyordirectlyposingasaMuslim.Ahmadisareprohibitedfromdeclarin

gorpropagatingtheirfaithpublicly,buildingmosquesorevenreferringtothemassuch,ormakingthecallforMuslimprayer.

Pakistansblasphemylaw,assection295-CofthePenalCodeisknown,makesthedeathpenaltyeffectivelymandatoryforblasphemy.Underthislaw,theAhmadiyyabeliefintheprophethoodofMirzaGhulamAhmadisconsideredblasphemousinsofarasitdefilesthenameofProphetMuhammad.In2009,atleast50AhmadiswerechargedundervariousprovisionsoftheblasphemylawacrossPakistan.Manyofthemremainimprisoned.

SincethemilitarygovernmentofGen.Zia-ul-Haqunleashedawaveofpersecutioninthe1980s,violenceagainsttheAhmadiyyacommunityhasneverreallyceased.Ahmadisarekilledandinjured,andtheirhomesandbusinessesburneddown,in

anti-Ahmadiattacks.Theauthoritiesarrest,jail,andchargeAhmadisforblasphemyandotheroffensesbecauseoftheirreligiousbeliefs.Inseveralinstances,thepolicehavebeencomplicitinharassmentandinframingfalsechargesagainstAhmadis,orhavestoodbyinthefaceofanti-Ahmadiviolence.

However,thegovernmentseldombringschargesagainstperpetratorsofanti-Ahmadiviolenceanddiscrimination.ResearchbyHumanRightsWatchindicatesthatthepolicehavefailedtoapprehendanyoneimplicatedinsuchactivityinthelastseveralyears.

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Since2000,wellover400Ahmadishavebeenformallychargedincriminalcases,includingblasphemy.Severalhavebeenconvictedandfacelifeinprisonordeathsentencespendingappeal.TheoffensesforwhichtheyfacedchargesincludedwearinganIslamicsloganonashirt,planningtobuildanAhmadimosqueinLahore,anddistributingAhmadiliteratureinapublicsquare.Asaresult,thousandsofAhmadishavefledPakistantoseekasylumincountriesincludingCanadaandtheUnitedStates.

ThePakistanigovernmentactivelyencourageslegalandproceduraldiscriminationagainstAhmadis.Forexample,allPakistaniMuslimcitizensapplyingforpassportsareobligedtosignastatementexplicitlystatingthattheyconsiderthefounderoftheAhmadicommunityanimposterandconsiderAhmadistobenon-Muslims.UnderPakistansblasphemylaw,virtuallyanypublicactofworshipordevotionbyanAhmadicanbetreatedasacriminaloffense.

Since1953,whenthefirstpost-independenceanti-Ahmadiyyariotsbrokeout,therelativelysmallAhmadicommunityinPakistanhaslivedunderthreat.Between1953and1973,thispersecutionwassporadicbut,in1974,anewwaveofanti-AhmadidisturbancesspreadacrossPakistan.Inresponse,PakistansparliamentintroducedamendmentstotheconstitutionthatdefinedthetermMusliminthePakistanicontextandlistedgroupsthatweredeemedtobenon-MuslimunderPakistanilaw.

In1984,Pakistanspenalcodewasamendedyetagain.Asaresultoftheseamendments,fiveordinancesthatexplicitlytargetedreligiousminoritiesacquiredlega

lstatus:alawagainstblasphemy;alawpunishingthedefilingoftheQuran;aprohibitionagainstinsultingthewives,family,orcompanionsoftheProphetofIslam;andtwolawsspecificallyrestrictingtheactivitiesofAhmadis.OnApril26,1984,Gen.MuhammadZia-ul-HaqissuedtheselasttwolawsaspartofMartialLawOrdinanceXX,whichamendedPakistansPenalCode,sections298-Band298-C.

OrdinanceXXundercuttheactivitiesofreligiousminoritiesgenerally,butstruckatAhmadisinparticularbyprohibitingthemfromindirectlyordirectlyposingasaMuslim.Ahmadisthuscouldnolongerprofesstheirfaith,eitherorallyorinwriting.PakistanipolicedestroyedAhmaditranslationsofandcommentariesontheQuranandbannedAhmadipublications,theuseofanyIslamicterminologyonAhmadiweddinginvitations,offeringAhmadifuneralprayers,anddisplayingt

heKalima(thestatementthatthereisnogodbutAllah,MohammedisAllahsprophet,theprincipalcreedofMuslims)onAhmadigravestones.Inaddition,OrdinanceXXprohibitedAhmadisfromdeclaringtheirfaithpublicly,propagatingtheirfaith,buildingmosques,ormakingthecallforMuslimprayer.Inshort,virtuallyanypublicactofworshipordevotionbyanAhmadicouldbetreatedasacriminaloffense.

WiththepassageoftheCriminalLawActof1986,theparliamentaddedsection295-CtothePakistanPenalCode.Theblasphemylaw,asitcametobeknown,madethedeathpenaltymandatoryforblasphemy.Gen.Zia-ul-HaqandhismilitarygovernmentinstitutionalizedthepersecutionofAhmadisaswellasotherminoritiesinPakistanwithsection295-C.TheAhmadibeliefintheprophethoodofMirzaGhulamAhmadwasconsideredblasphemousinsofarasitdefiledthenameofProphetM

uhammad.Therefore,theoretically,Ahmadiscouldbesentencedtodeathforsimplyprofessingtheirfaith.Thoughthenumbersvaryfromyeartoyear,Ahmadishavebeenchargedeveryyearundertheblasphemylawssincetheirintroduction.

In2008,atleast15Ahmadiswerechargedundervariousprovisionsoftheblasphemylaw.Inadditiontoblasphemycharges,Ahmadishavesporadicallycomeunderphysicalattack.Forexample,inJune2006,amobburneddownAhmadishopsandhomesinJhandoSahivillagenearthetownofDaskainPunjabprovince,forcingmorethan100Ahmadistoflee.Thepolice,thoughpresentatthescene,failedtointerveneorarrestanyoftheculprits.However,theauthoritieschargedseven

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AhmadisundertheBlasphemyLaw.

In2009,atleast37Ahmadiswerechargedunderthegeneralprovisionsoftheblasphemylawandover50werechargedunderAhmadi-specificprovisionsofthelaw.Forexample,inJanuary2009,fiveAhmadis,includingfourchildren,werechargedwithblasphemyinLayyahdistrictofPunjabprovince.Thechildrenwerereleasedafterbeingjailedforsixmonths.InJuly2009,SunniTehreekmilitantsstagedprotestsuntilthelocalpoliceinFaisalabaddistrictofPunjabprovinceagreedtoregisterblasphemycasesagainst32AhmadisforwritingQuranicversesontheouterwallsoftheirhouses.Throughout2009,Ahmadigraveyardswerethreatenedwithdesecration,andAhmadimosquesreceivedthreats.

In2010,atleast70Ahmadiswerechargedundervariousprovisionsofsections295and298onaccountoftheirfaith.

OnMay30,2010,twodaysaftermilitantsattackedtwoAhmadiyyaplacesofworshipinLahore,killing94people,aTalibanstatementcongratulatedPakistanisfortheattacks.ItcalledpeoplefromtheAhmadiyyaandShiacommunitiestheenemiesofIslamandcommonpeopleandurgedPakistanistotaketheinitiativeandkilleverysuchpersoninrange.

OnthenightofMay31,2010unidentifiedgunmenattackedtheIntensiveCareUnitofLahoresJinnahHospital,wherevictimsandoneoftheallegedattackersintheMay28attackwereundertreatment,sparkingashootoutinwhichatleastano

ther12people,mostlypoliceofficersandhospitalstaff,werekilled.Theassailantsescaped.

Theanti-Ahmadiyyacampaignintensifiedin2010,exemplifiedbythegovernmentallowinggroupstoplacebannersseekingthedeathofQadianis(aderogatorytermforAhmadis)onthemainthoroughfaresofLahore.

PunjabprovincialauthoritieshavepointedlyignoredpleasforenhancedsecurityforAhmadiyyaplacesofworshipgiventheirvulnerabilitytoattackandinsteadsoughttoappeasethegroupsposingthethreat.Forexample,onMay30,2010,ZaeemQadri,advisertothePunjabchiefminister,ShahbazSharif,saidinaninterviewonaprivatenewschannelthattheprovincialgovernmenthadnotremovedthethreateningbannersfromthecitysthoroughfarestopreventadversereactiona

gainstthegovernmentbythegroupsresponsible.

http://dawn.com/2012/05/27/prosecute-ahmadi-massacre-suspects-hrw/

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