In an alarming and heart-wrenching escalation of state-sponsored persecution, the government of Pakistan has once again come under fire for its active role in fostering an environment of hate and violence against the Ahmadiyya Community. The International Human Rights Committee (IHRC), a global advocate for the protection of vulnerable communities, has raised the alarm, accusing Pakistani authorities of complicity in campaigns designed to dehumanize and marginalize one of the most peaceful sects in Islam.
The Ahmadiyya Community, founded in 1889 by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in Qadian, India, is a beacon of non-violence, interfaith dialogue, and humanitarian service. Despite their commitment to peace, the Ahmadis have long been subjected to a cruel and unrelenting campaign of persecution, with the Pakistani government leading the charge. What began in 1947, with discriminatory laws labeling them as heretics, has now evolved into a state-backed machinery of radicalization, creating an environment where hatred and violence are not only tolerated but encouraged.
At the core of this latest wave of persecution is a disturbing directive from Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, which has mandated a nationwide campaign against “blasphemous content.” Set to launch on March 15, 2025, this campaign, under the guise of religious observance, will see sermons delivered at Friday prayers and events celebrating “Youm Tahafuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat” (the Day for the Protection of the Honor of Prophethood). While this may seem innocuous on the surface, it is a thinly veiled attempt to legitimize accusations of blasphemy—a tool often weaponized against religious minorities, particularly the Ahmadis.
What is truly terrifying, however, is how this campaign extends beyond mere rhetoric into the classrooms. Pakistani schools have been instructed to indoctrinate young minds with the narrative that Ahmadis are enemies of Islam—blasphemers deserving of scorn and punishment. One video shared by IHRC shows students being taught to view Ahmadis as heretics, with the implicit message that violence against them is justified. This dangerous propaganda, instilled at an impressionable age, fosters a generation of children who grow up seeing their fellow human beings as enemies, deserving of persecution.
The situation grows even darker when we consider the dangerous platform given to extremists like Hafiz Saad Rizvi, leader of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), an organization notorious for inciting violence against Ahmadis. Rizvi has openly called for vigilante killings of those accused of blasphemy, even suggesting that if the courts fail to deliver death sentences, individuals should take matters into their own hands. The chilling reference to the murder of Mashal Khan is a stark reminder of the impunity with which these calls for violence are made.
This unchecked extremism is wreaking havoc on the Ahmadiyya community. Mosques have been burned, homes and businesses destroyed, and innocent people thrown into prison based on flimsy, fabricated charges. Fear has become a constant companion for Ahmadis, who live in terror of vigilante violence and the ever-present threat of mob justice.
Pakistan’s constitution, which claims to guarantee freedom of religion, rings hollow in the face of the state-sanctioned persecution of the Ahmadiyya community. Article 260 of the constitution explicitly declares Ahmadis non-Muslims, forbidding them from identifying as such or publicly practicing their faith. This legal framework, combined with draconian blasphemy laws, has created a culture of impunity, where perpetrators of violence against Ahmadis are not held accountable, and the community lives in constant fear.
The persecution of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is not just a tragic chapter in Pakistan’s history—it is part of a global rise in intolerance and religious extremism. When a state actively supports hatred against its people, it undermines the very principles of democracy, justice, and human dignity. The international community cannot afford to remain silent. If we do, we are complicit in the suffering of the Ahmadiyya Muslims.
We must stand in solidarity with the Ahmadiyya community, demanding accountability from the Pakistani government. Their struggle is our struggle—one for justice, equality, and the fundamental right to live without fear.
Let us not turn a blind eye to their suffering. As journalists, activists, and compassionate individuals, we must raise our voices and amplify the stories of those silenced by oppression. We must stand together to denounce the persecution of the Ahmadiyya Muslims and hold accountable those who seek to stoke the flames of hatred. Only then can we ensure that no community, no matter how marginalized, is left to face the storm alone.