Pakistanis from the minority Ahmadi community say they are under increasing pressure from authorities and Islamist groups ahead of the Eid al-Adha celebrations on Monday.

The Ahmadiyya sect, considered heretics by fundamentalist groups, has been persecuted for decades in Pakistan but threats and intimidation have risen in recent years.

"Eid is supposed to be a happy occasion, but it's filled with trepidation and threats for us now," Naeem Aslam, an Ahmadi in Chakwal, told AFP.

The Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, to be celebrated on Monday, is marked by the ritual sacrifice of animals often bought days in advance.

Amir Mehmood, a spokesman for the community in the city of Chakwal in Punjab, said police earlier this week placed three senior representatives in "preventive detention" for 30 days, demanding a written order that they would not sacrifice animals.

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Mehmood told AFP that the men were released on Thursday following negotiations and pressure from rights groups, and a verbal commitment to perform the religious rites at their homes -- something he said Ahmadis already do.

"The law allows us to practice our faith in the four walls of our homes. But even that has become an issue recently," Mehmood said.

The government's deputy commissioner office in Punjab said the detention order was given to "maintain law and order" after public complaints.

"This opposition to our performing the sacrifice is something recent that we've seen happening in the last three or four years," Aslam said.

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But their belief that the movement's founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was the "mahdi" or messiah has marked them as blasphemous unbelievers, particularly in Pakistan. There are around 500,000 Amadis in Pakistan according to their community leadership.

The constitution has branded them non-Muslims since 1974, and a 1984 law forbids them from claiming their faith as Islamic or openly practising Islamic rituals.

In a report published last year, the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said there had been a surge in the persecution of Ahmadis in Punjab, adding that the rise of extremist religious groups in recent years had aggravated anti-Ahmadi sentiment.

Pakistani police arrested a man last Sunday accused of killing two Ahmadis hours apart in separate attacks in the eastern Punjab province.

Last month, a mob from the radical anti-blasphemy party Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) gathered outside an Ahmadi place of worship in Jhelum, Punjab, where a TLP leader threatened to hang any member who dared to perform the sacrifice.

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In videos of the incident shared on social media, the frenzied crowd can be seen chanting in support as the police look on.

"Ever since that day men, on motorcycles have been stationed outside the homes of Ahmadis in the area spying to see if we bring home an animal for sacrifice," an Ahmadi leader in the city who asked not to be named told AFP.

"All this intimidation is being done with the tacit approval of the authorities," he said. "This has only further emboldened the extremists."

Ahmadis in the city have also been asked to give written assurances to police that they would "maintain law and order" after several residents registered complaints against them, he added.

Fayyaz Ahmad -- not his real name -- had to hide on his rooftop when police raided his home in the industrial city of Faisalabad last year.

A complaint had been filed against him after his neighbours saw his nephew distributing meat among relatives.

According to Ahmad, police went through his refrigerator to look for evidence of the sacrifice.

"I've lived in this area for 27 years and this was the first time something like this happened," he said.

A viral video last year from the same city showed police in Faisalabad raiding the house of an Ahmadi and recovering three goats.

"As much as I want to perform my religious duty this year, I have to hold back. I can see my neighbours peeping in to see if I have bought a goat," Ahmad said.

Pakistanis from the minority Ahmadi community say they are under increasing pressure from authorities and Islamist groups ahead of the Eid al-Adha celebrations on Monday.

Pakistanis from the minority Ahmadi community say they are under increasing pressure from authorities and Islamist groups ahead of the Eid al-Adha celebrations on Monday. The Ahmadiyya sect, considered heretics by fundamentalist groups, has been persecuted for decades in Pakistan but threats and intimidation have risen in recent years. "Eid is supposed to be a happy occasion, but it's filled with trepidation and threats for us now," Naeem Aslam, an Ahmadi in Chakwal, told AFP. The Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, to be celebrated on Monday, is marked by the ritual sacrifice of animals often bought days in advance. Amir Mehmood, a spokesman for the community in the city of Chakwal in Punjab, said police earlier this week placed three senior representatives in "preventive detention" for 30 days, demanding a written order that they would not sacrifice animals. Also Read | Global leaders gather in Switzerland to pave way for Russia-Ukraine peace Mehmood told AFP that the men were released on Thursday following negotiations and pressure from rights groups, and a verbal commitment to perform the religious rites at their homes -- something he said Ahmadis already do. "The law allows us to practice our faith in the four walls of our homes. But even that has become an issue recently," Mehmood said. The government's deputy commissioner office in Punjab said the detention order was given to "maintain law and order" after public complaints. "This opposition to our performing the sacrifice is something recent that we've seen happening in the last three or four years," Aslam said. Also Read | Azerbaijan President Aliyev invites PM Modi for COP29 Summit in November But their belief that the movement's founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was the "mahdi" or messiah has marked them as blasphemous unbelievers, particularly in Pakistan. There are around 500,000 Amadis in Pakistan according to their community leadership. The constitution has branded them non-Muslims since 1974, and a 1984 law forbids them from claiming their faith as Islamic or openly practising Islamic rituals. In a report published last year, the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said there had been a surge in the persecution of Ahmadis in Punjab, adding that the rise of extremist religious groups in recent years had aggravated anti-Ahmadi sentiment. Pakistani police arrested a man last Sunday accused of killing two Ahmadis hours apart in separate attacks in the eastern Punjab province. Last month, a mob from the radical anti-blasphemy party Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) gathered outside an Ahmadi place of worship in Jhelum, Punjab, where a TLP leader threatened to hang any member who dared to perform the sacrifice. Watch | New agenda for upcoming US elections? Supreme Court strikes down Trump-era ban on gun bump stocks × In videos of the incident shared on social media, the frenzied crowd can be seen chanting in support as the police look on. "Ever since that day men, on motorcycles have been stationed outside the homes of Ahmadis in the area spying to see if we bring home an animal for sacrifice," an Ahmadi leader in the city who asked not to be named told AFP. "All this intimidation is being done with the tacit approval of the authorities," he said. "This has only further emboldened the extremists." Ahmadis in the city have also been asked to give written assurances to police that they would "maintain law and order" after several residents registered complaints against them, he added. Fayyaz Ahmad -- not his real name -- had to hide on his rooftop when police raided his home in the industrial city of Faisalabad last year. A complaint had been filed against him after his neighbours saw his nephew distributing meat among relatives. According to Ahmad, police went through his refrigerator to look for evidence of the sacrifice. "I've lived in this area for 27 years and this was the first time something like this happened," he said. A viral video last year from the same city showed police in Faisalabad raiding the house of an Ahmadi and recovering three goats. "As much as I want to perform my religious duty this year, I have to hold back. I can see my neighbours peeping in to see if I have bought a goat," Ahmad said.

Ahmadis in Pakistan say intimidated ahead of Eid Al-Adha feast

Controversy surrounds over the inclusion of Ahmadis in Pakistan’s minority commission. A TV channel ran a story claiming Ahmadis were to be made part of the commission as they are a minority.

Following the story, radical Islamists took to twitter and started trending against the community.

Twitter trends were made declaring Ahmadis as traitors. Pakistan's religious affairs minister was forced to clarify that no such proposal was under consideration.

Another federal minister Ali Muhammad Khan called for the beheading of all those who were involved in the blasphemy of the prophet, a tweet he did without naming the Ahmadi community.

Ali Muhammad also later posted a video statement in a tweet. The religious affairs ministry has now recommended to not make Ahmadis part of the minority commission.

Controversy surrounds over the inclusion of Ahmadis in Pakistan’s minority commission. A TV channel ran a story claiming Ahmadis were to be made part of the commission as they are a minority.

Controversy surrounds over the inclusion of Ahmadis in Pakistan’s minority commission. A TV channel ran a story claiming Ahmadis were to be made part of the commission as they are a minority. Following the story, radical Islamists took to twitter and started trending against the community. Twitter trends were made declaring Ahmadis as traitors. Pakistan's religious affairs minister was forced to clarify that no such proposal was under consideration. Another federal minister Ali Muhammad Khan called for the beheading of all those who were involved in the blasphemy of the prophet, a tweet he did without naming the Ahmadi community. Ali Muhammad also later posted a video statement in a tweet. The religious affairs ministry has now recommended to not make Ahmadis part of the minority commission.

Controversy erupts over Pakistan government's decision to include Ahmadis in minority commission

Growing extremism and religious intolerance are leading to thousands of Christians, Ahmadis and Hindus reportedly fleeing Pakistan.

Government inaction in countering religious harassment by Islamic groups has caused considerable heartburn. Even atheists are being targeted.

The Ahmadiyya community is an endangered community in Pakistan in spite of being an Islamic sect, and has been a target of death threats openly.

Excommunicated by the second amendment to Pakistan&#39;s Constitution in 1974, the Ahmadiyyas have faced a severe backlash over the initial changes made regarding Khatm-e-Nabuwat (finality of prophethood) in the Elections Reforms Bill passed in October.

According to the Pakistan Penal Code, an Ahmadi can be imprisoned for reading the Koran or even using Islamic titles, says a report published in the Asia Times.

The daily quotes Ahmadiyya spokesperson Saleem Uddin, as saying that the Ahmadis have been made scapegoats since the state of Pakistan was created in 1947, and added that people have forgotten the community&#39;s contribution in creating the country post-partition.

Atheists are another category of Pakistani citizens who are at huge risk, so much so that many of them have now deactivated their profiles over fears of being abducted. They also do not see their homes or the internet as safe spaces where they can share ideas.

Local atheists can pass off as Muslims, but Hindus and Christians are visible targets, as can be seen by the recent suicide bomb attack inside the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta.

Threats by Muslim radicals have prompted innumerable Christians to flee Pakistan and look for asylum elsewhere.

The fate of Hindus is no different according to the Asia Times article. They too are seeking shelter abroad.

PML-N Senator Ramesh Kumar was quoted, as saying, &quot;around 5,000 Hindus leave Pakistan every year&quot; because of the extensive persecution. This includes forced marriages and kidnapping for ransom, as well as attacks on Hindu temples.

&quot;Hatred against Hindus, primarily driven from the ideology of Two-Nation Theory, is deeply injected in the veins of raw minds through distorted history and fabricated tales taught in books,&quot; the daily quotes Pakistani human rights activist Kapil Dev, as saying.

Calls for filtering out religion and distorted versions of history promoting hatred against Hindus are being made more frequently.

Activists want to counter radical Islamist perspectives with a secular narrative, but Ibn Abdur Rehman, secretary-general of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, doesn&#39;t see it happening anytime soon.

He told Asia Times. &quot;The state has surrendered to the radical Islamists and plans on gradually taking away every last bit of freedom from its citizens.&quot;&nbsp;

Government inaction in countering religious harassment by Islamic groups has caused considerable heartburn.

Growing extremism and religious intolerance are leading to thousands of Christians, Ahmadis and Hindus reportedly fleeing Pakistan. Government inaction in countering religious harassment by Islamic groups has caused considerable heartburn. Even atheists are being targeted. The Ahmadiyya community is an endangered community in Pakistan in spite of being an Islamic sect, and has been a target of death threats openly. Excommunicated by the second amendment to Pakistan's Constitution in 1974, the Ahmadiyyas have faced a severe backlash over the initial changes made regarding Khatm-e-Nabuwat (finality of prophethood) in the Elections Reforms Bill passed in October. According to the Pakistan Penal Code, an Ahmadi can be imprisoned for reading the Koran or even using Islamic titles, says a report published in the Asia Times. The daily quotes Ahmadiyya spokesperson Saleem Uddin, as saying that the Ahmadis have been made scapegoats since the state of Pakistan was created in 1947, and added that people have forgotten the community's contribution in creating the country post-partition. Atheists are another category of Pakistani citizens who are at huge risk, so much so that many of them have now deactivated their profiles over fears of being abducted. They also do not see their homes or the internet as safe spaces where they can share ideas. Local atheists can pass off as Muslims, but Hindus and Christians are visible targets, as can be seen by the recent suicide bomb attack inside the Bethel Memorial Methodist Church in Quetta. Threats by Muslim radicals have prompted innumerable Christians to flee Pakistan and look for asylum elsewhere. The fate of Hindus is no different according to the Asia Times article. They too are seeking shelter abroad. PML-N Senator Ramesh Kumar was quoted, as saying, "around 5,000 Hindus leave Pakistan every year" because of the extensive persecution. This includes forced marriages and kidnapping for ransom, as well as attacks on Hindu temples. "Hatred against Hindus, primarily driven from the ideology of Two-Nation Theory, is deeply injected in the veins of raw minds through distorted history and fabricated tales taught in books," the daily quotes Pakistani human rights activist Kapil Dev, as saying. Calls for filtering out religion and distorted versions of history promoting hatred against Hindus are being made more frequently. Activists want to counter radical Islamist perspectives with a secular narrative, but Ibn Abdur Rehman, secretary-general of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, doesn't see it happening anytime soon. He told Asia Times. "The state has surrendered to the radical Islamists and plans on gradually taking away every last bit of freedom from its citizens."

Pakistan's minorities fleeing because of religious intolerance

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