Ahmadis face persecution in Pakistan. They’re not deemed real Muslims, so they endure “arbitrary arrests and detentions” and accusations of blasphemy. Described over a decade ago as “the lightning rod that attracts the most hatred,” Ahmadis are reviled by their Sunni Muslim coreligionists, right along with Christians in Pakistan.
The hardline Islamic supremacists won, as they usually do, as Pakistan’s Supreme Court withdrew part of the ruling in favor of Ahmadis. Islamic supremacists bully their way to what they want even in the West, where they demand respect and tolerance but give neither.
“Pakistan’s top court withdraws part of ruling about Ahmadis’ rights after Islamists vowed protests,” Associated Press, August 22, 2024:
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday removed a controversial part of its recent verdict concerning minority Ahmadis, apparently yielding to criticism from religious groups and clerics who had threatened nationwide protests.
The ruling was quickly praised by Islamists who had earlier sought the resignation of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Qazi Faez Esa, for his alleged support for the minority Ahmadi community.
Pakistan’s Parliament declared Ahmadis non-Muslims in 1974. Since then, they have been repeatedly targeted by Islamic extremists, drawing condemnation from domestic and international human rights groups.
The controversy began in February when the court overturned the conviction of Mubarak Sani, a member of the Ahmadi community who had been convicted by another court in 2021 on charges of insulting Islam.
Initially the Supreme Court ruling went unnoticed but last month Zaheerul Islam, a deputy chief of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan party, was arrested after he issued a call for the killing of the chief justice over his alleged support for the Ahmadis….
Mike says
Islamic supremacists don’t seem to understand that respect is not something that you can simply demand, it’s something that you have to earn.
JonMC says
Given how successful they are at demanding respect and reacting violently when not given it, I’m not sure that statement holds up if only because we in the west (or at least our elites) are too spineless to insist that respect be earned..