I never really cared for Ahmadis – by Fasi Zaka
I have never really been vocal about rights for Ahmadis, even privately, but my compassion trigger is easily pulled if there are atrocities against Pakistani Hindus and Christians. Part of this can be ascribed to my belief in the prejudice that the Ahmadis are a relatively well-off community, making the Christians and Hindus of Pakistan uniquely guilty of a double crime, first for not being Muslims and second for being poor. These two communities seem especially vulnerable.
I have changed my mind. And it’s not because of the attack in Lahore that killed so many Ahmadis. The whole country, Muslim and non-Muslim, is under attack by the Taliban.
What really helped me see the inhuman treatment of the Ahmadis in Pakistan is the absence of condemnation for it. Nawaz Sharif in his condolence message said Ahmadis were our brothers; it’s been enough to get the Pakistani religious world on his case. While sympathy is not outlawed for Ahmadis, it may as well be.
Those of us with a passport have declared that “I consider Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani to be an impostor prophet and an infidel and also consider his followers, whether belonging to the Lahori, Qadiani or Mirzai groups, to be non-Muslims.” Most of us do not believe that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani was a prophet, but do we have to rub it in? Imagine if the UK put in that sort of column for a prophet of another faith.
We have declared not just that we don’t believe in Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, but added the connotation that he was an imposter. People who follow imposters must be crooks, right? Let’s stop the pretence that they are equal, or human.
But no, we are a peaceful people, right? Of course we are. I read a very poignant anecdote in columnist Mosharraf Zaidi’s article recently; he described how an old friend would never say salaam to him in return. His friend is an Ahmadi, he can go to jail for that. I cringe when I see Pakistanis stumbling over one another to felicitate a white westerner who chooses to say salaam when greeting us in our country. Why not put him in jail too? He could be an atheist, whereas at least the Ahmadis believe in the oneness of God.
But, you see it’s not about that. Ahmadis are a secretive people up to no good. They won’t even tell you they are Ahmadis. But who wouldn’t be secretive if they could go to jail for saying they are Muslim, or responding in kind to a salutation of salaam. Or for that matter having a Quran in their home, the same kind you and I have.
Sunnis don’t believe in the imam of the Shias. What about Barelvis and Bohris? Its time their special treatment ended. If anything we have been too moderate. We need to cut diplomatic relations with Indonesia because they refuse to declare Ahmadis non-Muslim as it may open a Pandora’s Box of declaring other groups the same. Why is the amir of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Munawar Hassan, silent on this? He could address this diplomatic issue, after all he did want to cut off diplomatic relations with many countries over the Facebook fiasco.
Pakistani Ahmadis aren’t allowed to go for Hajj, but Ahmadis from other countries are. Maybe we should cut off relations with Saudi Arabia too. Also, since we Muslims believe in equality, I would suggest all non-Muslim countries make it mandatory that we wear special collars to identify us as Muslim when we visit. Or is that going too far since we haven’t, obviously, in the case of the Ahmadis?
The truth is the bulk of this country doesn’t like Ahmadis. They are Pakistan’s Palestinians. Their humane treatment and acceptance
will decide whether we are a people who can move forward in the future, or if we will become a fragmented warlord state divided on sectarian lines.
And yes, Ahmadis are worse off in Pakistan than Christians and Hindus. We want to forcibly convert Christians and Hindus. But Ahmadis shouldn’t exist. Period.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 15th, 2010.
The writer is a columnist and TV and radio anchor (fasi.zaka@tribune.com.pk)
Fasi – You made some pretty sensible points until you brought in the Palestinian parallel. You either are clueless on the Palestinian issue OR have allowed your irrational exuberance to over explain the treatment of Ahmadis in Pakistan. Hindus and Christians of Pakistan claim to be Hindus and Christians, two different religions compared to Islam. Ahmadis bring in a different of Islam which the main stream doesn’t agree with. Not being Muslims (Hindus and Christians) and claiming to be Muslims (Ahmadis) are two different areas. While I agree with you that throwing that in their face isn’t needed but you paint them as “victims” to a point that it makes the reader want to question the very bases why they are segregated? While the persecution is there, let’s not forget their top brass and how affluent it is.
Again, I do not support pain and suffering of any human being on the bases of religious difference. I ask you to stick to balanced reasoning and because flirting too far with the left can be dangerously misleading.
Ali, I guess there is a similarity between Palestinians and Ahmedis. Aren’t both discriminated against on the basis of their religious beliefs? Also, how will you define mainstream? A bunch of illiterate retards in 1974 deciding Ahmedis are non-Muslim? Reminds me of what one Jordanian once said about us that Pakistanis think that Islam came into being on 14th August, 1947. Why haven’t other Muslim countries declared them non-Muslims? In fact is there any precedence during Khilafah or pre-khilafah era when anyone claiming to be a Muslim was declared non-Muslim? I also do not agree that top brass of Ahmedis is affluent – With Aga Khanis yes it but with Ahmedis I do not think so. Haven’t you ever wonder that why Aga Khanis have never been touched despite having visibly different religious practices as compared to Majority sunni muslims?
The truth my friend is our country which was supposed to a model state for Muslim population of United India is socially being taken over by religious fanatics who initially were even against the very idea of Pakistan. My family migrated to Pakistan in 47 but there are many of our relatives who stayed back. While talking to one of them once during Moharram he jokingly said “hey why don’t you starting visiting us during Moharram. You will feel much safer here”. I hung my head in shame.
Very well said!!! Thank you for sharing.
Fasi zaki- The article you have written is excellent