Demolition of Ahmadiyya mosque in Pakistan by the police forces itself continues unabated

In the early hours of December 8, 2022, yet another Ahmadiyya Mosque was vandalized, not by terrorists or a mob, but by the police forces itself.

The incident took place in Baghbanpura, Gujranwala. Local Police officers arrived in two cars and blocked off the street in front of the Mosque. They also had any nearby lights shut off. The police then proceeded to demolish the minarets at the entrance with an excavator.

IHRC learnt that six months ago, the Ahmadis who worship here were informed that the police had received a request to have the minarets destroyed. Due to this and the general opposition brewing in the area, the Ahmadis decided to cover the minarets with an iron sheet. Despite the fact that the minarets could no longer be seen, the police destroyed the minarets, causing damage to the Ahmadiyya house of worship.

Freedom of religion is a cornerstone of a functioning democracy, and Pakistan has proved day after day how severely it is lacking, in this regard. Regardless of religion, places of worship should be protected and respected.

We request your support, along with your friends and contacts, for a powerful action to call for Freedom of Religion and safeguard of fundamental Human Rights from the Government of Pakistan. The world should pressurise the Government of Pakistan to harness these culprits to save the image of Islam and the image of their own country, which they profess to be an Islamic democratic state.

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 urge the international community to pressure the Government of Pakistan to honor its responsibility to provide protection to all its citizens, ensure freedom of religious practice to Ahmadis, and bring perpetrators of such vicious attacks to justice. The Government of Pakistan must also bring its laws and practices in conformity with international standards as ordained by Article 2, 18 and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Article 25, 26.