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Rabwah Times

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 …

The Ahmadiyya Diaspora: An Interview with author Michael Nijhawan

On October 18th, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the Caliph of Ahmadiyya Muslims, the worldwide head of millions of Ahmadis. Over 30,000 of these Ahmadis, call Canada their home, majority of these Ahmadis migrated from Pakistani Punjab due to religious persecution, similar to the Sikh migration from Indian Punjab. This pattern of immigration intrigued Michael Nijhawan, a professor at York University in Canada. Professor Nijhawan ended up writing a book titled “The Precarious Diasporas of Sikh and Ahmadiyya …

Syrian Refugees in Canada: Suha’s Story

I had a very nice life in Syria. I was an elementary school teacher. I got along with all of my neighbours, whether or not they were the same religion as me. When the war began I lost my whole life—memories, friends and family. I never knew which home would be bombed next. I wasn’t able to help anyone, even my neighbours, because I could be killed if I tried to help them. Each day I would say goodbye to …

Syrian Refugees in Canada: Mutaz’s Story

I was held at gunpoint. They took me from my home, blindfolded me and interrogated me for four hours. They asked me to prove that I am Muslim. The only thing that stood in the way of death was literally my faith. All I could hear as I sat blindfolded was the sound of a gun cocking and a man repeating that he was going to kill me. I am an Ahmadi Muslim caught in a war between Sunnis and …

British Muslims urge UK to declare Ahmadis ‘non-Muslim’

British Muslim leaders have called on Britain to declare Ahmadis ‘non-Muslim’, the sentiments were expressed at an event held in Luton. The event which took place at Jamia Islamia Ghosia was attended by Imams, Councillors, and Muslim community leaders from across Britain . The speakers urged the British Government to stop considering Ahmadis as Muslims since they rejected the mainstream Islamic view of ‘KhatmeNabuwat’ or Finality of Prophethood. Ahmadiyya Muslims who consider their founder to be an Islamic Prophet were …

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 …

Pakistani-Indian-American girl makes a mark in U.S. Local Elections

Even though the U.S. presidential race has been dominated by anti-Muslim & anti-immigrant, rhetoric, many Muslims and immigrants have emerged victorious in local level elections across America. Raaheela Ahmed, a 23-year-old Pakistani Indian American from Maryland has won the District 5 school board race in Prince George’s county by defeating longtime school system administrator Cheryl Landis, 57 percent to 42 percent. Ahmed, whose father is from India and mother from Pakistan unsuccessfully ran for the same post four years ago …

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 …

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 …

Canadian MP shuts down headscarf critic

Canadian female Ministers had to face criticism online after they welcomed a Muslim leader to the Parliament while wearing a head covering. The ‘Khalifa of Islam‘ who is the worldwide head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was welcomed to Canadian Parliament by several Ministers including Debb Schulte and Judy Srgo. Both of them adorned head scarves for the occasion; a decision criticized by Canadian-French actress and blogger Sophie Durocher. Durocher, who writes for Le Journal de Montréal, scrutinized the MP’s decision in …

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau welcomes ‘Khalifa of Islam’

Canadian Twitter was buzzing Monday afternoon as the ‘Khalifa of Islam‘ arrived in Ottawa to meet Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The hashtag #CaliphinCanada started trending across Canada as the Khalifa of tens of millions of Muslims made his way to Parliament Hill. His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, who is the worldwide spiritual head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was greeted by Members of Parliament upon his arrival at Houses of Parliament. Prime Minister Trudeau welcomed the Caliph to Canada and thanked …

‘Khalifa of Islam’ to visit Canada

The religious leader of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad is set to arrive in Canada on October 3rd as the community marks 50 years in Canada. This will be his 4th trip to Canada since being elected Caliph in 2003. On Monday thousands will gather at Ahmadiyya ave in Toronto to welcome the ‘Khalifa of Islam‘. The Caliph will be welcomed by Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, John McCallum. His Canadian tour will commence with …