Members of the Ahmadiyya community around the country could not freely celebrate the festivities and traditional rituals associated with Eidul Azha, particularly the ritual sacrifice of animals, with at least 14 Ahmadis either detained or arrested, including a 15-year-old boy, and eight sacrificial animals bought by Ahmadi families for the event stolen.
Several Ahmadi families also reported that they were harassed by what they described were members of religious groups. The extremists and many others argue that under the law, Ahmadis have been declared as non-Muslims and are thus barred from adopting public acts which resemble acts performed by Muslims.
Reports accumulated from across Pakistan showed that the police lodged four cases against ten people for sacrificing animals and ended up arresting at least eight Ahmadis across the country.
A further six Ahmadis were detained without being booked, including a 15-year-old boy, but no case was registered against them.
Police also confiscated animals and even took away from a freezer the meat of an animal that had been sacrificed.
The action followed warnings issued by district police officers warning Ahmadiyya community members living within their respective remits against participating in the sacrifice of animals or risk arrests in the greater public interest.
Harassment
Apart from facing legal action, several Ahmadi families reported harassment by members of religious groups.
Demonstrations by members of religious groups were reported outside nine houses where Ahmadi families lived.
Moreover, eight animals bought for sacrifice were stolen from Ahmadi homes.
Another three Ahmadi families said they were forced by members of religious groups to sell their animals.
One of the religious groups involved in harassing Ahmadis was identified as the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP). Members of the group gathered outside the residences of Ahmadis to harass and threaten them in the presence of police forces so they may not celebrate Eidul Azha.
Campaign
Prior to Eidul Azha, the district bas associations in several areas of the country, including the federal capital of Islamabad and the provincial capital of Lahore, apart from those in Gojra, wrote to the police, urging them to uphold the rule of law and to take strict measures ensuring that Ahmadis may not perform the ritual of animal sacrifice on the occasion of Eid.
Their campaigning was not restricted to urging officials or in the streets. On social media, messages were circulated urging people to keep an eye out and report any Ahmadis caught performing animal sacrifices.
Persecution of the Ahmadi community is going unchecked in the country, where often the minarets of their worship place are desecrated in the presence of police. Even their graves were desecrated by miscreants in broad daylight, and no one paid heed to ensure their basic right to live.
Several Ahmadi families also reported that they were harassed by what they described were members of religious groups. The extremists and many others argue that under the law, Ahmadis have been declared as non-Muslims and are thus barred from adopting public acts which resemble acts performed by Muslims.
Reports accumulated from across Pakistan showed that the police lodged four cases against ten people for sacrificing animals and ended up arresting at least eight Ahmadis across the country.
A further six Ahmadis were detained without being booked, including a 15-year-old boy, but no case was registered against them.
Police also confiscated animals and even took away from a freezer the meat of an animal that had been sacrificed.
The action followed warnings issued by district police officers warning Ahmadiyya community members living within their respective remits against participating in the sacrifice of animals or risk arrests in the greater public interest.
Harassment
Apart from facing legal action, several Ahmadi families reported harassment by members of religious groups.
Demonstrations by members of religious groups were reported outside nine houses where Ahmadi families lived.
Moreover, eight animals bought for sacrifice were stolen from Ahmadi homes.
Another three Ahmadi families said they were forced by members of religious groups to sell their animals.
One of the religious groups involved in harassing Ahmadis was identified as the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP). Members of the group gathered outside the residences of Ahmadis to harass and threaten them in the presence of police forces so they may not celebrate Eidul Azha.
Campaign
Prior to Eidul Azha, the district bas associations in several areas of the country, including the federal capital of Islamabad and the provincial capital of Lahore, apart from those in Gojra, wrote to the police, urging them to uphold the rule of law and to take strict measures ensuring that Ahmadis may not perform the ritual of animal sacrifice on the occasion of Eid.
Their campaigning was not restricted to urging officials or in the streets. On social media, messages were circulated urging people to keep an eye out and report any Ahmadis caught performing animal sacrifices.
Persecution of the Ahmadi community is going unchecked in the country, where often the minarets of their worship place are desecrated in the presence of police. Even their graves were desecrated by miscreants in broad daylight, and no one paid heed to ensure their basic right to live.