Dozens of members of minority Ahmadi community were arrested in Pakistan for allegedly sacrificing animals on Eid-ul Adha as the four million-strong community is deemed non-Muslim under the country's constitution. Watch in for more details!

Dozens of members of minority Ahmadi community arrested in Pakistan

Dozens of members of minority Ahmadi community were arrested in Pakistan for allegedly sacrificing animals on Eid-ul Adha.

The four million-strong community is deemed non-Muslim under the country's constitution.&nbsp;

The Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan, which represents the minority community in the country, strongly protested against the authorities for allegedly preventing Ahmadis from offering their religious rites within the confinement of their homes during Eid.

Notably, contrary to other reports in the media, WION can confirm that no members of Ahmadi community have been killed in the acts of violence and vandalism that erupted in the country over Eid-ul Adha earlier this week.&nbsp;

"At least 36 members of the minority Ahmadi community have been arrested for offering sacrificial animals for slaughter on Eid-ul Adha in the country mostly in Punjab province," Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan official Amir Mahmood told news agency Press Trust of India.&nbsp;

Mahmood accused radical Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) of fanning the hatred and leading acts of vandalism against the Ahmadi community in the country.&nbsp;

"Preventing Ahmadis from offering their religious rites within the confinement of four walls is a grave violation of their human rights as well as a clear violation of the judgements by the Supreme Court of Pakistan," he said.

Mahmood said that Ahmadis are being harassed throughout Pakistan and especially in Punjab, not only by extremists but also by law enforcement agencies.

Mahmood said the police not only detained Ahmadis but also their sacrificial animals.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/ahmadis-in-pakistan-say-intimidated-ahead-of-eid-al-adha-feast-732103">Ahmadis in Pakistan say intimidated ahead of Eid Al-Adha feast</a>

"Instead of protecting Ahmadis from harassment and violence, the police officials are calling in Ahmadiyya leadership in various police stations and are threatening them that if any Ahmadi is found performing the 'Qurbani' or offering Eid prayers, then they are in imminent danger from the TLP," he said.

"It has come to be known that the intelligence agencies have also issued a threat alert on the occasion of Eid against Ahmadis," he said.

Unlike the overwhelming majority of Muslims across the world, Ahmadi Muslims do not subscribe to the conventional teachings of Islam and dispute the finality of prophet Muhammad.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;Mob attacks Christians in Pakistan province, 5 injured

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In 1974, Pakistan's parliament under the premiership of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto passed a law that declared Ahmadis to be non-Muslims, and the country's constitution was amended to define a Muslim as someone who believes in the finality of the Prophet Muhammad.&nbsp;

The law made it a crime punishable by death for Ahmadis to use Islamic greetings, the traditional call to prayer, or to pray in mosques.

Since 1987, the members of the community remains banned from practicing their faith in public.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Dozens of members of minority Ahmadi community were arrested in Pakistan for allegedly sacrificing animals on Eid-ul Adha. The four million-strong community is deemed non-Muslim under the country's constitution.

Dozens of members of minority Ahmadi community were arrested in Pakistan for allegedly sacrificing animals on Eid-ul Adha. The four million-strong community is deemed non-Muslim under the country's constitution. The Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan, which represents the minority community in the country, strongly protested against the authorities for allegedly preventing Ahmadis from offering their religious rites within the confinement of their homes during Eid. Notably, contrary to other reports in the media, WION can confirm that no members of Ahmadi community have been killed in the acts of violence and vandalism that erupted in the country over Eid-ul Adha earlier this week. "At least 36 members of the minority Ahmadi community have been arrested for offering sacrificial animals for slaughter on Eid-ul Adha in the country mostly in Punjab province," Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan official Amir Mahmood told news agency Press Trust of India. Mahmood accused radical Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) of fanning the hatred and leading acts of vandalism against the Ahmadi community in the country. "Preventing Ahmadis from offering their religious rites within the confinement of four walls is a grave violation of their human rights as well as a clear violation of the judgements by the Supreme Court of Pakistan," he said. Mahmood said that Ahmadis are being harassed throughout Pakistan and especially in Punjab, not only by extremists but also by law enforcement agencies. Mahmood said the police not only detained Ahmadis but also their sacrificial animals. Also read | Ahmadis in Pakistan say intimidated ahead of Eid Al-Adha feast "Instead of protecting Ahmadis from harassment and violence, the police officials are calling in Ahmadiyya leadership in various police stations and are threatening them that if any Ahmadi is found performing the 'Qurbani' or offering Eid prayers, then they are in imminent danger from the TLP," he said. "It has come to be known that the intelligence agencies have also issued a threat alert on the occasion of Eid against Ahmadis," he said. Unlike the overwhelming majority of Muslims across the world, Ahmadi Muslims do not subscribe to the conventional teachings of Islam and dispute the finality of prophet Muhammad. Also watch | Mob attacks Christians in Pakistan province, 5 injured × In 1974, Pakistan's parliament under the premiership of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto passed a law that declared Ahmadis to be non-Muslims, and the country's constitution was amended to define a Muslim as someone who believes in the finality of the Prophet Muhammad. The law made it a crime punishable by death for Ahmadis to use Islamic greetings, the traditional call to prayer, or to pray in mosques. Since 1987, the members of the community remains banned from practicing their faith in public. (With inputs from agencies)

Pakistan: Ahmadi community members face arrests, vandalism for animal sacrifice on Eid-ul Adha

India has expressed concern over the killing of 82-year-old <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/controversy-erupts-over-pakistan-governments-decision-to-include-ahmadis-in-minority-commission-296074">Ahmadi</a> man, Mehmood Khan in the northern city of Peshawar. It&nbsp;is the fourth&nbsp;such killing of an Ahmadi, which are considered minorities in Pakistan, and their views heretical in mainstream Islam.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/guarantee-fundamental-rights-to-all-citizens-uk-prime-minister-to-pakistan-342555">Also Read:&nbsp;Guarantee fundamental rights to all citizens: UK Prime Minister to Pakistan</a>

The ministry of external affairs spokesperson Anurag Shrivastava in response to a question said, "This is, unfortunately, a sad reflection of the state of minorities in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-13-year-old-christian-girl-married-off-to-muslim-man-after-being-abducted-339906">Pakistan</a>. Over a period of time, we have seen the space for people from the minority community to practice their religion shrink continuously. Besides, their condition remains deplorable."

"We have been consistently raising the issue of the safety, security and well-being of minority communities with the Government of Pakistan,"&nbsp;Shrivastava added.

Earlier the matter was raised in British Parliament. British conservative MP Imran Ahmad Khan raising the matter of killing said, "We should not ignore humanitarian injustices and plight of persecuted minorities."

Highlighting, "hatred preached in Pakistan, ends up on the streets of Britain",&nbsp;Imran Ahmad who is&nbsp;himself a member of the Ahmadi community said&nbsp;it is in the "interest of our own security" that the British government&nbsp;makes it "clear to Pakistan, that state-supported persecution must end. "

In response to this, the British PM Boris Johnson said he has asked the Pakistan&nbsp;government to "Guarantee Fundamental right" to all the citizens. The matter has been raised by the minister for South Asia and the Commonwealth Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon with Pakistan's Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari.

India has expressed concern over the killing of 82-year-old Ahmadi man, Mehmood Khan in the northern city of Peshawar. It is the fourth such killing of an Ahmadi, which are considered minorities in Pakistan, and their views heretical in mainstream Islam.

India has expressed concern over the killing of 82-year-old Ahmadi man, Mehmood Khan in the northern city of Peshawar. It is the fourth such killing of an Ahmadi, which are considered minorities in Pakistan, and their views heretical in mainstream Islam. Also Read: Guarantee fundamental rights to all citizens: UK Prime Minister to Pakistan The ministry of external affairs spokesperson Anurag Shrivastava in response to a question said, "This is, unfortunately, a sad reflection of the state of minorities in Pakistan. Over a period of time, we have seen the space for people from the minority community to practice their religion shrink continuously. Besides, their condition remains deplorable." "We have been consistently raising the issue of the safety, security and well-being of minority communities with the Government of Pakistan," Shrivastava added. Earlier the matter was raised in British Parliament. British conservative MP Imran Ahmad Khan raising the matter of killing said, "We should not ignore humanitarian injustices and plight of persecuted minorities." Highlighting, "hatred preached in Pakistan, ends up on the streets of Britain", Imran Ahmad who is himself a member of the Ahmadi community said it is in the "interest of our own security" that the British government makes it "clear to Pakistan, that state-supported persecution must end. " In response to this, the British PM Boris Johnson said he has asked the Pakistan government to "Guarantee Fundamental right" to all the citizens. The matter has been raised by the minister for South Asia and the Commonwealth Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon with Pakistan's Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari.

India joins UK in raising concern over killing of Ahmadi man in Pakistan

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The in-house committee led by Justice S A Bobde on Monday gave a clean chit to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi in a sexual harassment case.&nbsp;

The committee, also comprises Justices Indu Malhotra and Indira Banerjee, said it found no substance in the sexual harassment allegations against CJI Ranjan Gogoi.&nbsp;

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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is ready to see off any attack from the United States, his foreign minister Jorge Arreaza said Monday in Moscow, after a meeting with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-ahmadi-community-faces-growing-discrimination-report-says-216405">Pakistan's Ahmadi community faces growing discrimination: Report</a>

Pakistan's Ahmadi community faces growing institutionalized discrimination fanned by last year's election campaign by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the minority movement said in a report issued on Monday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pilot-says-lightning-caused-deadly-russian-crash-landing-216399">Pilot says lightning caused deadly Russian crash landing</a>

The pilot of a Russian passenger plane that erupted in a ball of fire on the runway of Moscow's busiest airport, killing 41 people, said lightning led to the emergency landing.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-lok-sabha-elections-polling-underway-in-seven-states-in-fifth-phase-216212">Live Lok Sabha phase 5 elections: 61% turn out recorded till 6:30 pm; West Bengal leads with 74%, Jharkhand 64%</a>

Jammu &amp; Kashmir: A petrol bomb was hurled at a polling station in south Kashmir’s Shopian today. No loss of life or injuries reported.&nbsp;

CJI Ranjan Gogoi gets clean chit in sexual harassment case by Supreme Court's in-house panel The in-house committee led by Justice S A Bobde on Monday gave a clean chit to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi in a sexual harassment case.

CJI Ranjan Gogoi gets clean chit in sexual harassment case by Supreme Court's in-house panel The in-house committee led by Justice S A Bobde on Monday gave a clean chit to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi in a sexual harassment case. The committee, also comprises Justices Indu Malhotra and Indira Banerjee, said it found no substance in the sexual harassment allegations against CJI Ranjan Gogoi. If United States opts for war, we will not only fight but win: Venezuela government Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is ready to see off any attack from the United States, his foreign minister Jorge Arreaza said Monday in Moscow, after a meeting with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. Pakistan's Ahmadi community faces growing discrimination: Report Pakistan's Ahmadi community faces growing institutionalized discrimination fanned by last year's election campaign by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the minority movement said in a report issued on Monday. Pilot says lightning caused deadly Russian crash landing The pilot of a Russian passenger plane that erupted in a ball of fire on the runway of Moscow's busiest airport, killing 41 people, said lightning led to the emergency landing. Live Lok Sabha phase 5 elections: 61% turn out recorded till 6:30 pm; West Bengal leads with 74%, Jharkhand 64% Jammu & Kashmir: A petrol bomb was hurled at a polling station in south Kashmir’s Shopian today. No loss of life or injuries reported.

News brief: Big stories of the day

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-summons-pakistan-diplomat-over-broder-situation-215987&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiIvvu_24biAhWIvo8KHY1xDVY4ChAWMAF6BAgQEAI&amp;usg=AOvVaw3RjpoWg00kPWHYIo7KoXnQ">Pakistan's Ahmadi community </a>faces growing institutionalized discrimination fanned by last year's election campaign by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the minority movement said in a report issued on Monday.

Ahmadis, a group that originated in British-controlled India in the 19th century who see themselves as an<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/keep-banned-groups-in-check-during-ramazan-pakistan-interior-ministry-to-provinces-216058&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj1p_7V24biAhUMpY8KHRF4ABgQFjAAegQIBRAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw16ogeBdPCheKgt-22oVtBj"> Islamic movement</a>, are regarded as heretical by orthodox Muslims and forbidden from calling themselves Muslims or using Islamic symbols in their religious practices.

They face discrimination and violence over accusations their faith insults Islam and community leaders say legislative moves in 2018 and anti-Ahmadi rhetoric during the elections has entrenched legalized hate.

"Ahmadis have no religious freedoms in Pakistan and recent actions taken by the authorities mean that the situation is going to deteriorate even further and make it impossible for Ahmadis to carry on with their everyday lives," spokesman Saleen ud Din said in a statement.

Religious discrimination has long been a problem in Pakistan, a mainly Sunni Muslim state of more than 200 million people, with attacks against Shi'ites, Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs in recent years.

Ahmadis have faced particular pressure since a 1974 constitutional amendment which declared them non-Muslim and a ruling a decade later by military ruler General Zia ul Haq explicitly forbidding them from calling themselves Muslim.

Two major events underlined in the report are a High Court verdict requiring citizens to declare their religion when applying for identity documents, which rights activists said specifically targeted the Ahmadi community.

The other was electioneering by Pakistan's main parties, including the party of Prime Minister Imran Khan, in which they have supported religious laws and anti-Ahmadi groups to curry favor with the religious right.

The Ahmadi community, in a statement on the report, accused Khan of fanning "the flames of religious hatred against Ahmadis".

Khan's office did not respond to request for comment.

The Ahmadis consider themselves Muslims. But their recognition of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who founded the sect in 1889, as a "subordinate prophet" is viewed by many Sunnis as a breach of the Islamic tenet that the Prophet Mohammad was God's last direct messenger.

The report said 62 Ahmadis were booked under discriminatory religious laws in 2017 and that more than 2,500 anti-Ahmadi news items appeared in Pakistan's Urdu-language newspapers.

In May, a mob attacked a 100-year-old Ahmadi mosque in eastern Pakistan, spurred by the words of a cleric.

"Ahmadis have no religious freedoms in Pakistan and recent actions taken by the authorities (will) ... make it impossible for Ahmadis to carry on with their everyday lives," Din said.

"It is not just extremists who carry out hate campaigns against Ahmadis, but the political class also fan these flames too."

Pakistan's Ahmadi community faces growing institutionalized discrimination fanned by last year's election campaign by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the minority movement said in a report issued on Monday.

Pakistan's Ahmadi community faces growing institutionalized discrimination fanned by last year's election campaign by Prime Minister Imran Khan, the minority movement said in a report issued on Monday. Ahmadis, a group that originated in British-controlled India in the 19th century who see themselves as an Islamic movement, are regarded as heretical by orthodox Muslims and forbidden from calling themselves Muslims or using Islamic symbols in their religious practices. They face discrimination and violence over accusations their faith insults Islam and community leaders say legislative moves in 2018 and anti-Ahmadi rhetoric during the elections has entrenched legalized hate. "Ahmadis have no religious freedoms in Pakistan and recent actions taken by the authorities mean that the situation is going to deteriorate even further and make it impossible for Ahmadis to carry on with their everyday lives," spokesman Saleen ud Din said in a statement. Religious discrimination has long been a problem in Pakistan, a mainly Sunni Muslim state of more than 200 million people, with attacks against Shi'ites, Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs in recent years. Ahmadis have faced particular pressure since a 1974 constitutional amendment which declared them non-Muslim and a ruling a decade later by military ruler General Zia ul Haq explicitly forbidding them from calling themselves Muslim. Two major events underlined in the report are a High Court verdict requiring citizens to declare their religion when applying for identity documents, which rights activists said specifically targeted the Ahmadi community. The other was electioneering by Pakistan's main parties, including the party of Prime Minister Imran Khan, in which they have supported religious laws and anti-Ahmadi groups to curry favor with the religious right. The Ahmadi community, in a statement on the report, accused Khan of fanning "the flames of religious hatred against Ahmadis". Khan's office did not respond to request for comment. The Ahmadis consider themselves Muslims. But their recognition of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who founded the sect in 1889, as a "subordinate prophet" is viewed by many Sunnis as a breach of the Islamic tenet that the Prophet Mohammad was God's last direct messenger. The report said 62 Ahmadis were booked under discriminatory religious laws in 2017 and that more than 2,500 anti-Ahmadi news items appeared in Pakistan's Urdu-language newspapers. In May, a mob attacked a 100-year-old Ahmadi mosque in eastern Pakistan, spurred by the words of a cleric. "Ahmadis have no religious freedoms in Pakistan and recent actions taken by the authorities (will) ... make it impossible for Ahmadis to carry on with their everyday lives," Din said. "It is not just extremists who carry out hate campaigns against Ahmadis, but the political class also fan these flames too."

Pakistan's Ahmadi community faces growing discrimination: Report

Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at hundreds of hardline Islamists who attacked <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/after-criticizing-vote-us-charts-careful-course-on-bangladesh-196510">minority Muslims</a> in northern Bangladesh, leaving at least 25 people injured, officials said Wednesday.

The clashes erupted Tuesday night after days of tensions over a planned convention of the Ahmadi Muslim minority community in the town of Ahmadnagar. Majority Sunni Muslim groups demanded the event be cancelled.

Hardline Islamists do not consider the Ahmadis to be Muslim and have called for them to be banned. The 100,000 Ahmadis in Bangladesh have faced repeated attacks and are often barred from establishing mosques. The group is banned in Pakistan.

Police said several Sunni groups have been holding protests against the Ahmadis' local convention, scheduled to start in just over a week.

"Some 700-800 men wielding sticks and batons marched towards Ahmadnagar and clashed with the Ahmadis," local police chief Abu Akkas said.

Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to "maintain law and order", he told AFP, adding that at least 20 police and five Ahmadis were injured.

Ahmadi community spokesman Ahmad Tabshir Choudhury said at least seven of the Muslim minority were injured, three critically.

The last few decades have seen a number of attacks targeting Ahmadi Muslims in Bangladesh.

In 1999, a bomb ripped through an Ahmadi mosque in the southern city of Khulna, killing at least eight worshippers.

In 2015 a suicide blast by a suspected Islamist extremist at an Ahmadi mosque in the northwestern town of Bagmara wounded three people.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, but the authorities blamed the homegrown militant group Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), which is accused of killing scores of religious minorities including Hindus, Christians, Sufi Muslims and Shiites.

Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at hundreds of hardline Islamists who attacked minority Muslims in northern Bangladesh, leaving at least 25 people injured, officials said Wednesday.

Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at hundreds of hardline Islamists who attacked minority Muslims in northern Bangladesh, leaving at least 25 people injured, officials said Wednesday. The clashes erupted Tuesday night after days of tensions over a planned convention of the Ahmadi Muslim minority community in the town of Ahmadnagar. Majority Sunni Muslim groups demanded the event be cancelled. Hardline Islamists do not consider the Ahmadis to be Muslim and have called for them to be banned. The 100,000 Ahmadis in Bangladesh have faced repeated attacks and are often barred from establishing mosques. The group is banned in Pakistan. Police said several Sunni groups have been holding protests against the Ahmadis' local convention, scheduled to start in just over a week. "Some 700-800 men wielding sticks and batons marched towards Ahmadnagar and clashed with the Ahmadis," local police chief Abu Akkas said. Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to "maintain law and order", he told AFP, adding that at least 20 police and five Ahmadis were injured. Ahmadi community spokesman Ahmad Tabshir Choudhury said at least seven of the Muslim minority were injured, three critically. The last few decades have seen a number of attacks targeting Ahmadi Muslims in Bangladesh. In 1999, a bomb ripped through an Ahmadi mosque in the southern city of Khulna, killing at least eight worshippers. In 2015 a suicide blast by a suspected Islamist extremist at an Ahmadi mosque in the northwestern town of Bagmara wounded three people. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, but the authorities blamed the homegrown militant group Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), which is accused of killing scores of religious minorities including Hindus, Christians, Sufi Muslims and Shiites.

Bangladesh: 25 people injured after hardline Islamists attack minority Muslims

A Pakistani court ruled on Friday that all citizens must declare their religion when applying for identity documents, a move human rights advocates say is another blow for the country&#39;s persecuted minority communities.

The ruling will pile further pressure on the Ahmadi community, who are not allowed to call themselves Muslim or use Islamic symbols in their religious practices, a crime punishable under Pakistan&#39;s blasphemy laws.

The Islamabad High Court ruled that citizens who disguised their religious affiliation were guilty of betraying the state and ordered that anyone applying for government jobs should declare their faith.

&quot;The Government of Pakistan shall take special measure ensuring availability of correct particulars of all the citizens,&quot; Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui said in the judgement.

&quot;It should not be possible for any citizen to hide his/her real identity and recognition.&quot;

If no appeal is launched, the court&#39;s directives will have to be followed.

The vast majority of Pakistan&#39;s 208 million people are Muslims, with minorities accounting for about 3 per cent of the population, according to a 1998 census.

The Ahmadi community has been a target of mob violence and attacks since legislation categorised the sect as non-Muslim in 1974 and have been vilified as blasphemers by leaders of new ultra-religious political party Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan.

The judge &quot;is not only attacking everybody&#39;s religious freedom in Pakistan but he is also focusing on one particular sect, which is the Ahmadis,&quot; said Human Rights Watch representative Saroop Ijaz.

&quot;A judgement like this would enable and incite violence.&quot;

The order was issued as a result of a petition brought forward by Tehreek-e-Labaik in connection with a change in wording to an electoral law. The amendment sought to replace a religious oath with a simple declaration, which Tehreek-e-Labaik said was blasphemy.

The government blamed the change on a clerical error and swiftly restored the original format.

Last year, Tehreek-e-Labaik shut down the nation&#39;s capital for nearly three weeks with protests against the change.

Seven people were killed and nearly 200 wounded in a failed police bid to disperse protesters, leading the government to give way to their demand that a minister accused of blasphemy resign.

Insulting the Prophet Mohammad is punishable by death in Pakistan and even a rumour of blasphemy can spark mob violence.

&quot;All his (the judge&#39;s) specific instructions are about ensuring and finding out who is an Ahmadi,&quot; human rights lawyer Jibran Nasir told Reuters, adding that the order would automatically provide the government with specific lists about who belongs to which minority group.

&quot;Every day they are being institutionally reminded that they are a minority,&quot; he added. &quot;It is a bigoted order.&quot;

Pakistan&#39;s minority Shi&#39;ite Muslims regularly come under attack by Islamist groups. Members of its small Hindu and Christian communities have also sometimes been accused of blasphemy.

The ruling will pile further pressure on the Ahmadi community, who are not allowed to call themselves Muslim or use Islamic symbols in their religious practices, a crime punishable under Pakistan's blasphemy laws

A Pakistani court ruled on Friday that all citizens must declare their religion when applying for identity documents, a move human rights advocates say is another blow for the country's persecuted minority communities. The ruling will pile further pressure on the Ahmadi community, who are not allowed to call themselves Muslim or use Islamic symbols in their religious practices, a crime punishable under Pakistan's blasphemy laws. The Islamabad High Court ruled that citizens who disguised their religious affiliation were guilty of betraying the state and ordered that anyone applying for government jobs should declare their faith. "The Government of Pakistan shall take special measure ensuring availability of correct particulars of all the citizens," Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui said in the judgement. "It should not be possible for any citizen to hide his/her real identity and recognition." If no appeal is launched, the court's directives will have to be followed. The vast majority of Pakistan's 208 million people are Muslims, with minorities accounting for about 3 per cent of the population, according to a 1998 census. The Ahmadi community has been a target of mob violence and attacks since legislation categorised the sect as non-Muslim in 1974 and have been vilified as blasphemers by leaders of new ultra-religious political party Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan. The judge "is not only attacking everybody's religious freedom in Pakistan but he is also focusing on one particular sect, which is the Ahmadis," said Human Rights Watch representative Saroop Ijaz. "A judgement like this would enable and incite violence." The order was issued as a result of a petition brought forward by Tehreek-e-Labaik in connection with a change in wording to an electoral law. The amendment sought to replace a religious oath with a simple declaration, which Tehreek-e-Labaik said was blasphemy. The government blamed the change on a clerical error and swiftly restored the original format. Last year, Tehreek-e-Labaik shut down the nation's capital for nearly three weeks with protests against the change. Seven people were killed and nearly 200 wounded in a failed police bid to disperse protesters, leading the government to give way to their demand that a minister accused of blasphemy resign. Insulting the Prophet Mohammad is punishable by death in Pakistan and even a rumour of blasphemy can spark mob violence. "All his (the judge's) specific instructions are about ensuring and finding out who is an Ahmadi," human rights lawyer Jibran Nasir told Reuters, adding that the order would automatically provide the government with specific lists about who belongs to which minority group. "Every day they are being institutionally reminded that they are a minority," he added. "It is a bigoted order." Pakistan's minority Shi'ite Muslims regularly come under attack by Islamist groups. Members of its small Hindu and Christian communities have also sometimes been accused of blasphemy.

In blow to minorities, Pakistani court orders citizens to declare religion