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Asia

Activists from Rabwah Address UN Forum in Geneva

Two women with roots in Rabwah, Pakistan, addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council Social Forum in Geneva, using the global platform to highlight the critical connection between education and human rights. The Forum, which opened on October 30, 2025, was centered on the theme of “education’s role in the respect, promotion, and fulfillment of human rights.” The event featured contributions from United Nations representatives, state officials, and civil society leaders. Among the speakers were Shazia Asif, a cybersecurity manager, …

Fawad Chaudhry Calls Out Religious Extremism within Ahmadis

Pakistani politician and former federal minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has sparked a heated debate on religious extremism, highlighting its presence across all communities, including the Ahmadiyya community. In his tweet, Fawad stated, “Religious extremists, whether Hindu, Muslim, Jew, or Christian, are all the same.” However, he singled out the Ahmadiyya community, alleging their involvement in partition-era violence, particularly in Sialkot. He also referenced their financial support for the All-India Muslim League, writing, “Ahmadis and Ismailis provided the largest funding for …

Police Investigate Alleged Rape Case in Rabwah

Authorities in Rabwah have registered a case under Section 376 of the Pakistan Penal Code against a local photographer, Emanuel, son of Sabir, following allegations of rape. Emanuel, a member of the Christian community in Rabwah and a resident of Bab-ul-Abwab, is accused of sexually assaulting a housewife on the morning of Oct. 13. According to the First Information Report (FIR), the victim visited a local photography studio near the Municipal Committee Rabwah at approximately 10 a.m., where Emanuel worked. …

UK Politicians Condemn Terrorist Attack on Ahmadi Mosque in Pakistan

Senior UK politicians have condemned a terrorist attack on the Bait-ul-Mahdi Mosque in Rabwah, Pakistan, that left six people injured, two critically. The attack, which targeted the minority Ahmadi Muslim community during Friday prayers, has drawn sharp criticism from Helen Maguire MP, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, and Siobhain McDonagh MP. Helen Maguire, the Liberal Democrat MP for Epsom & Ewell, described the attack as the “violent culmination of years of state-sanctioned hate against Ahmadi Muslims.” She called on the …

Ahmadiyya Charity Expands Relief Efforts in Gaza and West Bank

Humanity First, a global charity founded in the United Kingdom in 1995 by Mirza Tahir Ahmad, the leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, has expanded its relief efforts in Gaza and the West Bank, providing critical aid to struggling communities. The organization, headquartered in Ramallah for its Gaza and West Bank operations, focuses on addressing poverty, improving healthcare, and supporting education. Humanity First began its work in Palestine in 2016 after obtaining a license from the Palestinian Ministry of Interior. …

TTP Threatened Ahmadi School in Rabwah Before Mosque Attack

Following the recent attack on the central Ahmadiyya mosque, Bait-ul-Mahdi, in Rabwah, previously undisclosed details have emerged about threats made against Ahmadi schools in the area by an alleged member of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Mujahid Ahmed, principal of Nasir High School in Darul Yaman, reported receiving threatening text messages on August 5, 2025. According to a police report filed on August 23, the individual claiming to represent the TTP demanded 100 million Pakistani rupees and warned of suicide attacks …

Gunmen Attack Ahmadiyya Mosque in Rabwah

Gunmen opened fire outside the main gate of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s central Mosque, “Bait-ul-Mahdi,” in Rabwah’s Gol Bazaar on Friday, according to police and local sources. Initial reports indicate that four attackers arrived at the scene in a car and began firing indiscriminately at the entrance during Friday prayers. Security personnel stationed outside the worship site confronted the attackers, killing one gunman on the spot, while the remaining three fled. Police have identified the slain attacker as 37-year-old Sohaib …

Ahmadiyya Youth Leader Found Guilty of Child Exploitation Crimes

Abdullah Shafiq, a 23-year-old university student and Ahmadiyya youth group leader, pleaded guilty on Thursday to 16 counts of disseminating, possessing, and producing child abuse material. The offenses, which occurred between October 2024 and March 2025, have led to his suspension from Flinders University and a ban from campus and online classes involving other students and staff. Despite prosecution attempts to revoke bail, Shafiq was remanded on continuing bail. His defense cited ongoing university exams, medical appointments, and financial obligations, …

USCIRF Calls for Urgent Reforms in Pakistan to Protect Religious Minorities

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has criticized Pakistan for its ongoing, institutionalized discrimination against the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, according to its September 2025 country update. Pakistan’s Penal Code explicitly prohibits Ahmadis from identifying as Muslims or practicing their faith openly. The report documents a series of violent attacks against Ahmadis in 2025, including the demolition of three Ahmadi mosques in Punjab within 10 days in February. In April, a mob of 400 gathered in Punjab to attack …

Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif Welcomes Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday welcomed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan aimed at ending the ongoing war in Gaza, emphasizing the importance of durable peace between Palestinians and Israelis to achieve regional stability and economic growth. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Sharif expressed his belief that Trump’s leadership and efforts could pave the way for an urgent resolution to the conflict. “I welcome President Trump’s 20-point plan to ensure an end to the …

Pakistan Army Pays Tribute to Ahmadi Soldier Who Died of Cancer

Soldier Iqaan Bhatti, who passed away after battling cancer, was laid to rest with full military honors in Rabwah, Punjab. A military contingent attended the funeral, offering a ceremonial salute and paying their respects to the fallen soldier. Bhatti, a native of Mubarakabad near Bashirabad in Sindh, had recently relocated to Karachi with his family a year ago. He served as a soldier in Multan and continued to perform his duties despite his illness. Recognized for his dedication, Bhatti was …

PTI’s ‘Mission Noor’ Criticized for Perceived Ties to Ahmadis

In Pakistan’s politically charged landscape, the minority Ahmadi community has once again become a scapegoat, with political parties accusing one another of alleged ties to the persecuted group. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) ‘Mission Noor’ campaign has been at the center of this controversy, with leaders leveraging religious sensitivities to discredit opponents. The campaign, promoted as a peaceful, apolitical movement, encouraged participants to gather with their families on rooftops at 9 p.m., recite the Azaan (Islamic call to prayer), and pray for …