Note: The following press release was provided by Mahir Osman, Secretary of Public Affairs, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community – Metro Detroit
Calls on U.S. Government and International Human Rights NGOs to Swiftly Condemn Hate-Filled Rhetoric Against Muslims and Jews
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA categorically condemns the hate-filled and false statements made on GEO TV’s ‘Subah Pakistan’ program.
The hate-filled ‘Subah Pakistan’ program [the program] broadcasted in Pakistan on GEO Television and by subscription in the United States of America on December 22, 2014. Hosted by the infamous hate preacher Amir Liaqat Hussein, who has a history of promoting terrorism, the program claimed that “Ahmadi Muslims and Jews are the enemies of Pakistan” [and] “the culprits behind the Peshawar Attack.”
This demonstrably false language promotes national and international anti-Ahmadi hatred and anti-Semitism. The program additionally alleged that Ahmadi Muslims are the “common enemy of all sects of Islam” and are “enemies of Pakistan responsible for various terrorism plots against Pakistanis.”
In an attempt to further incite hatred against Ahmadi Muslims, the program falsely alleged that Ahmadi Muslims commit blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad. This is a particularly incendiary statement both because it is false and also because Pakistan enforces the death penalty for blasphemy. Tragically, extremists in Pakistan have murdered innocent civilians on multiple occasions on the mere accusation of blasphemy.
Moreover, in 2008 hate preacher Amir Liaqat Hussein declared on his program that Ahmadi Muslims are “Wajibul Qatl,” i.e. that “it is obligatory to kill [Ahmadis].” In the coming days, extremists in Pakistan confessed to murdering two prominent Ahmadi Muslim leaders in response to Liaqat’s demand. Therefore, to prevent further violence against Pakistan’s religious minorities, it is crucial that Pakistani, American, and the international community condemn the program’s hate speech and demand a retraction of the program’s false and defamatory statements.
While Ahmadi Muslims have faced ongoing persecution in Pakistan only for their faith, the Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness the Khalifa of Islam, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, has repeatedly guided Ahmadi Muslims to serve the people of Pakistan and pray for the nation’s uplift. Following the Peshawar school attack, His Holiness declared in his internationally broadcast Friday Sermon:
“We Ahmadi Muslims sympathize and love humanity and so wherever mankind suffers in any way it leaves us grieved and pained. In this instance those killed were our fellow Muslim brothers and our countrymen and so our grief is even more. Our hearts are filled with love and compassion for them.”
“This hate speech and calls to violence against Ahmadi Muslims, and in this case also Jews, is condemnable and unfortunately nothing new in Pakistan,” said Dr. Nasim Rehmatullah, National Vice President of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA. “Pakistan has permitted hate speech against religious minorities with impunity, which empowers extremists, sows the seeds of terrorism, and continues to put Pakistan’s religious minorities in grave danger.”
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community ask the Pakistani Government to hold accountable those responsible for these anti-Ahmadi and anti-Semitic statements, and to protect the rights of Pakistan’s vulnerable religious minorities.
About Ahmadiyya Muslim Community:
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a dynamic, reformist and fast-growing international movement within Islam. Founded in 1889, the Community spans more than 206 countries with membership exceeding 160 million. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, established in 1920, is among the oldest American-Muslim organizations.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the only Islamic organization to believe that the long- awaited messiah has come in the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) of Qadian, India. Ahmad claimed to be the metaphorical second coming of Jesus of Nazareth and the divine guide, whose advent was foretold by the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad. The Community believes that God sent Ahmad, like Jesus, to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed and reinstitute morality, justice and peace. Ahmad’s advent has brought about an unprecedented era of Islamic revival and moderation. He divested Muslims of fanatical beliefs and practices by vigorously championing Islam’s true and essential teachings.
About Sarah Hovis