Source : : www.hrcommittee.orgTwitter: Twitter.com/@IHumanRightsC

It is deeply disturbing to hear that many Ahmadis have been charged in Chenab Nagar, Pakistan for distributing an altered version of the Quran.

A baseless case was registered against several Ahmadis on December 6th 2022, at the behest of Hassan Muawiyah, who is a staunch opponent of the Ahmadis. Mr. Muawiyah is the petitioner in many cases against the Ahmadis in Pakistan.

On January 7th 2023, Hassan Muawiyah, along with some of his associates in private cars, illegally detained an Ahmadi Mr. Mubarak Ahmed Sani from his house in Chenab Nagar. Mr. Sani was named in the said FIR. After illegally detaining Mr. Sani, Hassan Muawiyah handed him over to the Chenab Nagar Police Station. Afterwards, the police authorities raided Mr. Sani’s house. Mr. Sani is currently being detained at Saddar Police Station, Chiniot.

The current case which has been registered under section 298-C and 295- B alleges a violation of the Quran Act, whereby the Ahmadis are not allowed to print or publish the Holy Quran. The petitioner, Hasan Muawiyah, has nominated as accused Syed Khalid Ahmad Shah, Mirza Fazl Ahmad, Saleem ud din Ahmed, Hafiz Mubarak Ahmad Sani (Principal, Madrassatul Hifz Rabwah), Rafia Sadaqat Sahiba (Principal, Aisha Academy Rabwah) as well as the printer, publisher, proof-reader, author and composer of the Holy Quran along with all the staff members who might have assisted with the publication process at any stage.

Every individual has the right to freely practice their religion and distribute religious materials without fear of persecution. The case and the charges on these Ahmadis is a clear violation of their fundamental rights and goes against the principles of religious freedom and tolerance.

In present circumstances there is no hope that the State of Pakistan would protect the rights of Ahmadis rather it is evident that the apparatus of the State is being ruthlessly used by the Mullahs with impunity. It would be appropriate that the international community should raise its voice against the abuse of power by the State of Pakistan and make it answerable for its violations of international commitments.

IHRC calls on the Government of Pakistan to release Mr. Sani immediately and drop all frivolous cases concocted by Hassan Muawiya against Ahmadis in Pakistan. We also call upon the international community and human rights groups to stand up against this injustice against Ahmadis in Pakistan and urge the media and government to immediately eliminate targeting Ahmadi Muslims under laws that curb free expression, including religious expression, and bans on their religious texts, online and offline.

On July 13, 2021, UN human rights experts expressed their deep concern over the lack of attention to the serious human rights violations perpetrated against the Ahmadiyya community around the world and called on the international community to step up efforts in bringing an end to the ongoing persecution of Ahmadis.

We once again strongly urge the international community to impress upon the Government of Pakistan to discharge any absurd cases against Ahmadis and release all held in custody and thus honor its responsibility to provide effective protection and freedom of religious practice to Ahmadis and that perpetrators of such vicious actions should be brought to justice, to bring its laws and practices in conformity with international standards as ordained by Article 20 and United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 2, 18 and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Article 25, 26.

Media Links:

https://www.dawn.com/news/1730608/caseagainstfiveformarketing- alteredquran-translation

https://www.thefridaytimes.com/2023/01/09/fiveahmadisbookedfor- distributingalteredversionofquraninchiniot/

https://www.thefridaytimes.com/2023/01/01/2022theyearinhuman- rightsabuses/

https://www.dawn.com/news/1725180/centrepunjabvowaction againstalteredquranpublication

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