48th session Working Group Universal Periodic Review : Persecution of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Egypt

Submission

Persecution of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light in Egypt

Since their implantation in Egypt in 2012, members of a new religious movement in Islam, self-named “The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light,” have been the victims of state repression, social hostility, death threats by extremist imams for being considered heretics.

Arrests, inhuman treatment during police interrogations and their detention, prosecution threats on blasphemy charges and disruption of public order were the common characteristics of the persecution in most cases.

What is the community of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light?

The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light is a Shia-derivative new religious movement founded in 1999 that finds its roots in Twelver Shia Islam. It has no relations with the Sunni-derivative Ahmadiyya Community founded in the 19th century by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad that is heavily persecuted in Pakistan.

The religious movement originated from the teachings of Imam Ahmad al-Hassan in Iraq but Egypt plays an important role in its history.

The faith community is headed by Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq, an American-Egyptian citizen held by his followers to be the awaited Riser of the family of Mohammed, an eschatological figure who will rule the world on behalf of God. He currently lives in UK where he has founded a community of about 300 members.

Reasons of the persecution: divergent beliefs

The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light has beliefs differing from mainstream Shia and Sunni Islam and has therefore been the target of discrimination, violence, and oppression in several countries, including in Egypt. Despite the country’s constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion, their members find themselves marginalized and persecuted for peacefully practicing their faith.

In short, the members of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light believe that

the real Kaaba is not in Mecca (but in Petra, Jordan),
fixed times for prayer are not necessary,
headscarves are not mandatory from women,
alcohol can be freely drunk if with moderation,
LGBTQ people should not be judged or persecuted,
all previous prophets made theological mistakes.

These and many other reasons exposed in their own sacred scriptures “The Goal of the Wise” explain why they are considered heretics, heavily persecuted in all Muslim majority countries and forced to flee their country of origin in search of a safe haven in Europe and North America.

They are also severely attacked for taking the 6-pointed star of David as a symbol of their faith. This has resulted in them being accused of being zionists and agents of Israel.

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