UN experts strongly condemn attacks against Ahmadis in Pakistan

28 May 2010

GENEVA -- Three UN human rights experts* stated that they were “appalled by and strongly condemn today’s targeted killings of at least 70 members of the Ahmadiyyah community in Pakistan.” During Friday prayers, gunmen armed with grenades attacked two mosques of this religious minority in the city of Lahore in Pakistan. While the police responded to the attacks, the gunmen took control of one mosque and reportedly held hundreds of Ahmadi worshippers hostage.

“Members of this religious community have faced continuous threats, discrimination and violent attacks in Pakistan,” the UN experts said. While noting the expressions of condemnation by senior leadership of Pakistan, the Special Rapporteurs emphasized that “the Government must take every step to ensure the security of members of all religious minorities and their places of worship so as to prevent any recurrence of today’s dreadful incident.” This is all the more important since there have been numerous early warning signs which have not been properly heeded, they said.

In Pakistan and elsewhere, Ahmadis have been declared non-Muslims and have been subject to a number of undue restrictions and in many instances institutionalized discrimination. This emboldens opinion makers who wish to fuel hatred and perpetrators of attacks against religious minorities.

“There is a real risk that similar violence might happen again unless advocacy of religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence is adequately addressed,” the UN experts highlighted. The Government must ensure thorough, prompt and impartial investigation, followed by effective prosecutions of all those responsible for the killings.

* Ms. Asma Jahangir, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief; Ms. Gay McDougall, Independent Expert on minority issues; and Mr. Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.