United Nations experts expressed serious concerns over the increasing discrimination and violence faced by Pakistan’s Ahmadiyya community. On Thursday, the experts highlighted a troubling escalation of extrajudicial killings, attacks on places of worship, and arbitrary arrests targeting Ahmadis. Despite the Ahmadiyya community’s longstanding persecution, recent years have seen a disturbing rise in threats and intimidation.

“We are alarmed by ongoing reports of violence and discrimination against the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan,” stated the experts, including special rapporteurs on extrajudicial executions, freedom of expression, and freedom of religion. They stressed the urgent need for measures to combat these violent acts and the broader atmosphere of hatred fueling them.

Growing Violence Against Ahmadi Community

The UN experts pointed to several grave incidents over recent months. Among these was the extrajudicial killing of two Ahmadis in Saad Ullah Pur on July 8, 2024, and the assassination of the president of the Ahmadiyya community in Bahawalpur district on March 4, 2024.

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Additionally, the experts reported an alarming number of attacks on Ahmadi places of worship and cemeteries since the beginning of the year, some resulting in severe injuries to worshippers. “The Ahmadiyya community, their places of worship, and cemeteries must be given effective protection from attacks and vandalism,” they emphasized. They also raised concerns about arbitrary arrests of Ahmadi worshippers during religious holidays, aimed at obstructing their participation in religious practices.

Legal and Constitutional Challenges

The plight of the Ahmadiyya community is compounded by Pakistan’s legal framework. The 1974 constitutional amendment declared Ahmadis non-Muslims, and a 1984 law prohibits them from claiming Islamic faith or practicing Islamic rituals openly. This legal discrimination has fostered an environment where judicial harassment and societal violence against Ahmadis are normalized.

The UN experts have called for respect for Ahmadis’ right to peacefully manifest their beliefs, warning that judicial harassment only serves to perpetuate violence. They welcomed the recent resolution by the National Assembly urging the protection of religious minorities but cautioned that such measures are insufficient without addressing structural issues like blasphemy laws and discriminatory legal provisions.

Path Forward for Ahmadi Rights

In light of Pakistan’s upcoming second review under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the experts urged the government to implement recommendations from the 2017 review. These recommendations include repealing or amending blasphemy laws to align with ICCPR standards and prosecuting those who incite or engage in violence based on blasphemy allegations.

“We stand ready and willing to support the Pakistani Government in the effective implementation of its obligations under the ICCPR and other international human rights instruments,” the experts stated. The UN experts’ concerns reflect the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to protect the Ahmadiyya community and ensure their safety and rights in Pakistan.