December 14, 2024
By Xari Jalil
LAHORE
Frequent attacks on the Ahmadi community motivated by religious hate, have become grim reminders of the extent to which the community’s basic human rights are violated, said the International Desk for Human Rights which advocates for the rights of Ahmadis globally, and highlights incidents of persecution and human rights abuses in countries like Pakistan, in its statement on Saturday, while responding to the murder of an Ahmadi man in Naukot in Sindh’s Mirpurkhas district.
According to reports this has been the second murder in December, with the previous one in Rawalpindi, where a man was axed to death by a religious fanatic.
The IDHR highlighted the need for urgent action from both the State and the international community for justice, and the protection of lives of vulnerable communities, and stated that the ongoing cycle of hate-fueled violence must end.
The IDHR while condemning the attacks and murders of Ahmadis specified that they were nothing new and such killings have been happening over decades, but have been met with insufficient action by state authorities.
‘The lack of accountability and consistent failure to bring perpetrators to justice emboldens those who propagate hate and violence. This disturbing trend reflects a systemic failure to protect minority
communities in Pakistan, contravening both national and international obligations,’ stated HRCP.
Demands
As a response to the killing in Naukot, the Ahmadi community has made demands. The International Human Rights Desk, has urgently called on State authorities to:
1. Take immediate action to dismantle extremist networks that incite hatred and violence against Ahmadis.
2. Ensure perpetrators are held accountable under the law, with swift and transparent investigations.
3. Guarantee the protection of vulnerable communities, fulfilling its obligations under international human rights frameworks.
The human rights watchdog has observed that the Ahmadi community has been facing violence with ‘resilience’ and a ‘commitment to peace’. “However no community should be forced to endure such violence and systemic discrimination.”
Murder in Naukot
On December 2024, Ameer Hassan Mardani, a 40-year-old member of the Ahmadiyya Community in Naukot in Mirpurkhas district, was returning home after prayers in the morning when two unidentified motorcyclists came to him and asked him his name.
Once he identified himself they opened fire at him, hitting him in the chest. He succumbed to his wounds and died on the spot. Ameer Hassan lived in the Fazal Bhambhro area of Naukot. He is survived by his wife, three daughters, and two sons, the youngest of whom is only eight months old.
Hassan was known as a peaceful individual and served as an office bearer of the community in his
locality. Despite having no personal enmity or grudges with anyone, he had in the recent past
been the target of religious hostility due to his faith.