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PEACE FOR AHMADIYAA MUSLIMS RESPONSE TO OUR MESSAGE FROM DR. ASLAM DAUD OF THE AHMADIYYA MUSLIM COMMUNITY OF CANADA - June 1st, 2010 Dear Ms. Shahla Khan Salter: Thank you very much for the kind words of condolences. It is very much appreciated. On Friday May 28, 2010, atrocities were committed against peaceful members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, who had gathered to offer prayers at two mosques in Lahore, Pakistan. The ongoing persecution of Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan took a gruesome turn with coordinated attacks on two Ahmadiyya Mosques. Fanatical terrorists, carrying automatic weapons and hand grenades attacked thousands of Ahmadi Muslims who were offering congregational prayers in those Mosques. 94 Ahmadis were killed, along with more than 150 injured. Another Ahmadi was killed by another fanatic who was inspired by the Mosque attack on Friday. Ahmadi Muslims continue to receive death threats. These terrorists have claimed responsibility for the attack and have congratulated the attackers for successful mission. On May 31, same terrorist group attacked Jinnah Hospital where victims of Friday Mosque attack where being treated. One of the injured terrorist was also admit in the same hospital. 12 people died in this attack. Seeds of hatred sown by fanatical clergy and supported by Government have resulted in death of innocents Ahmadis. Each year Ahmadi Muslims are martyred in Pakistan for no reason other than their faith. It is a matter of great shame for any civil society where evil instigators inculcate hate against Ahmadiyya Muslim community by attacking their places of worship. Media, Non-Government Organizations and Human Right Agencies are urged to take note of such on-going acts of persecution and condemn all such actions of extremism. Please find enclosed a publication on Persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan during 2009. Scores of Ahmadis are attacked, killed or put into jail every year. Even this year since January 2010, a number of Ahmadis have been brutally murdered. Last month 3 Ahmadis were killed in Faisalabad. 1 Ahmadi was killed last week in Karachi. How many more deaths of innocent Ahmadis will be required when world organizations and governments will take a step to stop this. The human conscious cannot be so insensitive! Persecution of Ahmadi Muslims has its roots in discriminatory legislations that violate basic human rights of life, liberty and freedom to practice one’s faith in Pakistan. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community requests you to demand from Pakistan Government that all discriminatory laws, particularly the blasphemy laws in Pakistan, be rescinded, thereby, removing legislative barriers against equal human rights of all its citizens. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a peaceful community whose motto is “love for all hatred for none”. We promote peace and do not believe in violence. In response to these atrocities against us, we only pray to Almighty Allah for the protection of Ahmadi Muslims around the world! Thank you! Yours truly, Dr. Aslam Daud
OUR MESSAGE TO THE AHMADIYYA MUSLIM COMMUNITY CANADA - MAY 28TH, 2010 Salaamualaikum:
Muslims for Progressive Values USA (www.mpvusa.org ) has issued the following statement, and we are united with them and with you, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Canada - our brothers and sisters, in Islam.
We at Muslims for Progressive Values are deeply upset by the targeted attack of the Ahmadi Muslim community in Lahore, Pakistan on Friday, May 28th, 2010 in which more than 80 people were killed.
We stand against the continued targeting of Muslim minority sects, including the Ahmadi Muslim and various Shi'a Muslim communities, as well as non-Muslim communities in Pakistan. MPV calls upon the government of Pakistan to play a stronger role in addressing these issues. Repealing the 1973 declaration of Ahmadis as non-Muslim and the 1984 ban on Ahmadis identifying themselves as Muslims is an important first step in showing support for this community and encouraging peaceful pluralism. In the wake of this tragedy, MPV renews its call for intrafaith peace, acceptance and non-violence. We accept as Muslim anyone who identifies as such. The veracity and integrity of that claim is between the individual and God, and is not a matter for the state nor an issue which other individuals can or should judge. We affirm that justice and compassion should be the guiding principles for all aspects of human conduct. We repudiate militarism, terrorism and violence, whether on an individual, organizational, or national level. May Allah swt grant all of us strength during these troubled times. You have our support.
Regards,
Shahla Khan Salter
Chair - Muslims for Progressive Values Ottawa
OUR MESSAGE TO THE HIGH COMMISSION OF PAKISTAN IN CANADA, MAY 28TH, 2010, seeking repeal of law declaring Ahmadiyya as Non Muslims - High Commission for Pakistan in Canada
10 Range Road
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 8J3 Salaamualaikum:
Today Pakistanis died when its Ahmadiyya community was targeted by terrorists. Please see forwarded below our message of sympathy and support to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Canada. Muslims for Progressive Values urges the Government of Pakistan to repeal the 1973 declaration of Ahmadiyyas as non-Muslim and the 1984 ban on Ahmadiyyas identifying themselves as Muslims. Please forward our request to your Minister of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad. We are cc'ing our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lawrence Cannon as well.
Regards,
Muslims for Progressive Values Ottawa
Shahla Khan Salter
Chair
A HISTORY OF THE PERSECUTION OF AHMADIYYA MUSLIMS IN PAKISTAN - For more information on the persecution of the Ahmadiyya minority in Pakistan, please check out this article from the Harvard Human Rights Journal, entitled "Persecution of the Ahmadiyya Community in Pakistan: An Analysis under International Law and International Relations", by Professor Amjad Mahmood Khan, found at the following link: http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/hrj/iss16/khan.shtml |
