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Pakistan

Pakistan’s appointment of new Military Chief sparks religious controversy

Appointment of a new military chief in the largely Muslim country of Pakistan has sparked a religious controversy. The new chief, Lieutenant General Qamar Javed Bajwa who is replacing General Raheel Sharif, has been labeled an ‘Ahmadi’ by the country’s right-wing religious nationalists. The controversy began on November 22nd, when Pakistani Senator, Sajid Meer, published a video on facebook in which he suggested that one of the four Generals being considered for the position of Army Chief had Ahmadi family …

Openly gay Ambassador welcomed to Scandinavia’s largest Mosque

In what seems to be a first-of-its-kind visit, an openly Gay Ambassador joined Muslims at Scandinavia’s largest Mosque for an open dialogue. Artur Wilczynski, who is the Canadian Ambassador to Norway was welcomed to Bait-un-Nasr Mosque in Oslo, Norway by members of the local Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Built in 2011, it is the largest mosque among Scandinavian nations. Wilczynski, who was born in Poland is one of the first openly Gay Canadian diplomats. He was appointed as Canadian Ambassador to …

A Pakistani’s American Thanksgiving

As Thanksgiving Day approaches, I am reminded of the many reasons why I am thankful. The concept of gratitude in the US began for us five and a half years back when we left Pakistan and came to America. The very first time I stepped on US soil, it felt like my mother took me in her arms. America became our new adopted homeland because life in Pakistan for us became too dangerous. The horrific day came upon us on …

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 …

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 …

Former Pakistani President congratulates US President-Elect Donald Trump

Former President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf has issued a statement congratulating Donald Trump on being elected the 45th President of the United States. Musharraf, who also served as the Chief of Pakistan’s Armed Forces issued the statement through his Facebook page. Pervez Musharraf said, “I congratulate President-Elect Donald Trump on his historic election as the President of the United States. I wish him much success in leading the way to renew the ties of United States with her time-tested allies …

Ahmadis who could not vote in Pakistan, vote for the first time in the U.S.

For some Americans heading to the polls is an annual ritual for others a new experience. Hundreds of newly naturalized Americans who have sought refuge in the U.S voted for the first time on Tuesday. Followers of the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam have been unable to participate in the electoral process of Pakistan for over three decades. The intensely persecuted community has been declared “non-Muslim” by the Pakistani constitution, Millions of Ahmadis have been unable to register as Muslim voters, …

How Ahmadis are braving educational apartheid of Pakistan

It was a relatively cool evening in Rabwah, a few days ago. I was there on an invitation to attend an enthralling seminar on “The shroud of Turin”, held in a state of the art Auditorium of Nusrat Jehan College for girls. My host was the exuberant Faateh Bajwa, deputy director of Ahmadiyya community’s central education Department, referred to as Nazarat Taleem. After the seminar, I was shown around, and I must confess I was dumbstruck by the sprawling campus, …

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 …

‘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 …

PEMRA dismisses Ahmadis’ complaint against TV Channels after mob storms office

Pakistan’s Electronic Media Authority (PEMRA) has come under fire after two TV channels aired ‘hateful’ content against the minority Ahmadiyya community. Pakistan’s NEO TV and Channel-92 labeled Ahmadis as ‘Blasphemers’ and ‘Traitors’ in their TV show, Harf-e-Raz, and Subh-e-Noor which were aired in the first week of September. Following the airing of the programs representatives of Ahmadiyya community filed complaints against the two TV channels with PEMRA. The complaint filed by Ahmadiyya representatives stated that “The programs were provocative against …

White House invites Taliban sympathizer to speak at Interfaith Campus Challenge

The U.S. Department of Education and the White House invited a Taliban sympathizer to speak at PICSCC ( President’s Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge). The PICSCC was introduced by President Obama in 2011 to build bridges of understanding across communities by bringing together people from different religious and non-religious backgrounds. This year, the two-day challenge was held at Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. which saw speakers from dozens of countries and various organizations come together and discuss various issues …