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Asia

Pakistan denies “state-sponsored persecution” of Ahmadis

Pakistani Ambassador to U.S. vehemently denied the “state sponsored” persecution of minority Ahmadiyya Muslims on Wednesday. Ambassador Aizaz Chaudhry made the claims while speaking at an event in Washington .D.C. During the event at the U.S. Institute of Peace Ambassador Chaudhry was questioned by Rabwah Times reporter over Pakistan’s persecution of minority Ahmadiyya Muslims. The journalist pointed out Pakistan’s anti-Ahmadiyya laws which are used to prosecute Muslims for the simple crime of using the universal Islamic greeting of ‘Assalam-o-alaikum’. Responding …

Ahmadi man shot dead in Nankana Sahib, Pakistan

An Ahmadi leader was killed Thursday morning after unidentified gunmen opened fire on him and his son. Malik Saleem Latif, who was also a prominent lawyer was on his way to the local court on a motorbike along with his son Advocate Farhan, when the unidentified attackers trailing behind them opened fire. As a result, Latif who was related to Pakistani Nobel Prize winner Dr. Abdus Salam died on the spot while his son survived the attack. Speaking to the …

5 Facts about Dulmial Mosque which was targeted by a Muslim Mob

In December last year, a mob of over 3,000 Muslims attacked a small Mosque in Northern Pakistan. The incident gained worldwide attention as people wondered why would Muslims attack a Mosque? Here’s what you need to know about the Mosque and why it was attacked. 1.  The Mosque locally known as Darul Zikar is located in the village of Dulmial Village in Punjab, Pakistan and has been used as a house of prayer by the local Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. 2. …

Ahmadi child detained and harassed by Pakistan Police

Residents of Pakistani town of Chenab Nagar have asked the Government to open an investigation after a local police officer harassed and detained a young Ahmadi child. Children of local Ahmadiyya Youth Association were holding banners to raise public awareness about traffic rules and road safety when officer Asif charged towards the group standing on the roadside and tore off an unnamed boy’s placard, the officer then pulled the boy away and locked him up in his patrol car. Witnesses …

Indonesia shuts down Ahmadiyya Mosque in Depok

Ahmadis were forced to perform Friday prayers in the courtyard after Indonesian authorities shut down the community’ Mosque in Depok, a satellite city of the capital, Jakarta. On Thursday, February 23rd, Depok’s municipal police sealed Masjid Al-Hidayah which belongs to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The mayor of Depok said this is the seventh time the Mosque has been sealed since 2011 Hundreds of Islamic hard-liners, including members of the notorious Islam Defenders Front (FPI), staged a rally the on Friday …

Pakistani TV Host Aamir Liaquat apologizes for hate speech

One of Pakistan’s most popular television talk show host has apologized for hate speech and “incitement to violence” comments which he made on his TV show back in 2008. During a live interview with Britain-based TV channel Liaquat also pleaded the UK Government to lift the travel ban against him. In Liaquat’s 2008 program followers of the minority Ahmadiyya sect of Islam were declared “worthy of murder” and within 24 hours of the program being aired, a prominent member of …

Pakistan to offer extra college credits to girls who cover their faces

Pakistan’s Minister for Higher Education has announced that girls who cover their faces will be given extra college credits. Minister Syed Raza Ali Gilani made the remarks while speaking at an Education Board meeting on Tuesday. Speaking at the event, Minister Gilani said: We are leaving our religion behind, we are forgetting our culture and ethics. Hence, I have made the hijab compulsory for our women and sisters in colleges The minister added that it was his duty to take …

CEO from Ahmadi community killed in Lahore Bomb attack

A prominent Pakistani CEO has died in a bomb attack which left 10 dead and 30 injured. Moazaam Paracha, who was the CEO of Airlink Communications was visiting an upscale shopping center in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore when the Bomb went off. Paracha was a member of the minority Ahmadiyya community and reportedly owned a restaurant in the same shopping center. A spokesperson for Pakistan’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) said: “It will become clear later whether it was a timed …

Bilawal Bhutto hints at abolishing Pakistan’s anti-Ahmadiyya Laws

Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari dropped hints that he will work towards abolishing Pakistan’s controversial laws against Ahmadi Muslims. The 28-year-old politician admitted that Pakistan had a lot to answer for the way how minorities were being treated in the country. Responding to a question about the role of Pakistan People’s Party in introducing the legislation against Ahmadis in 1974, Bilawal said: We can go into the past and keep talking about what people have done at …

Pakistani Minister voices his support for Blasphemy Laws

Pakistani Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has voiced his support for the country’s controversial Blasphemy laws. He made the comments while speaking at the ‘KhatmeNabuwat’ conference in Golra Sharif on Saturday. Speaking at the conference, Dar said: There would be no change in the blasphemy laws, as Pakistan came into being in the name of Allah and Prophet Muhammad.Pakistan was the only country whose foundation was laid on Islam and Kalma Tayyaba. There would be also no change in KhamteNabuwat laws, …

Pakistanis who Persecute Minorities could be Refused U.S. Visas

U.S. Pres­id­ent Donald Trump’s ex­ec­ut­ive or­der on U.S. refugees and immigration could severely affect Pakistanis who plan on visiting the United States. A draft copy of the executive order published by L.A. Times describes how U.S. visas could be denied to those who engage in “persecution of those who practice other religions”. The order reads: In addition, the United States should not admit those who engage in acts of bigotry and hatred (including “honor” killings, other forms of violence against …

Pakistani-Americans concerned over disappearances of Pakistani activists

Pakistani-Americans have expressed their concern over the recent disappearance of activists and bloggers in Pakistan. Prominent Activist and bloggers known for their controversial political and religious views have gone missing in the past week. Salman Haider, a prominent activist went missing on the evening of January 6th in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. Within hours of his abduction several other activists including Goraya, Aasim Saeed, and Ahmed Raza Naseer also went missing. In a statement AdvoPak director condemned the disappearances …