Statement from International Human Rights Committee who report the FOURTH INCIDENT IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS OF VIOLENT DESECRATION OF AHMADI GRAVES IN GUJRANWALA, PAKISTAN
It is revolting to let the world know that the government and the police force in Pakistan have descended into such humiliating acts as desecrating the graves of Ahmadi Muslims. The government sponsored persecution of Ahmadis is rampant and the life of Ahmadis is made hell by denying them all their basic civic and human rights. The government and their functionaries will not leave Ahmadis alone even after they are buried and the sanctity of the dead is violated.
IHRC has been informed that just days before the auspicious occasion of Eid, on the night between July 6 & 7 two different graveyards in Talwandi Khajurwali, District Gujranwala were raided by the police accompanied with non-officials, where they desecrated 53 Ahmadi graves.
By perpetrating this vicious act, the police officials in district Gujranwala have yet again lead the desecration of Ahmadi graves. This is 4th incident of such nature in Gujranwala and is a part of a growing list of recent desecration of graves by the Punjab Police.
The Persecution carried out against the Ahmadiyya Community in Pakistan is not only limited to those who are alive, but the Ahmadis that have passed away are also not safe in their graves; so, from cradle to grave.
The illegal act taken by the police of district Gujranwala, against the Ahmadiyya Community in Pakistan is not only an act of violation of basic Human Rights, but also an act that has further darkened the face of Pakistan in the eyes of the International Community.
The world community must take serious notice of such disturbing acts of aberrant behavior against humanity. These must be condemned and stopped. These are unacceptable acts of violence and criminal in nature.
On July 13, 2021, UN human rights experts expressed their deep concern over the lack of attention to the serious human rights violations perpetrated against the Ahmadiyya community around the world and called on the international community to step up efforts in bringing an end to the ongoing persecution of Ahmadis.
We strongly urge the international community to impress upon the Government of Pakistan to honour its responsibility to provide effective protection and freedom of religious practice to Ahmadis and that perpetrators of such vicious attacks should be brought to justice, to bring its laws and practices in conformity with international standards as ordained by Article 20 and United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 2, 18 and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Article 25,
IHRC/IR/080722/1 08 July 2022
Web: www.hrcommittee.org – Address: International Human Rights Committee – 22 Deer Park Rd, London, SW19 3TL
