There are around fifteen million Ahmadiyya Muslims worldwide, constituting around one percent of the world’s Muslim population. Around four million Ahmadiyya Muslims live in Pakistan.

“Pakistan: 36 members of persecuted Ahmadi community arrested for animal sacrifice on Eid al-Adha,” by Aveek Banerjee, India TV, June 18, 2024:

Islamabad: The Ahmadi community in Pakistan has been reeling under relentless persecution from authorities and radical Islam groups, which was once again highlighted when 36 members of the community were arrested in the country on charges of sacrificing animals on Eid-al-Adha, as they are recognised as non-Muslims in Pakistan. Animal sacrifice is a routine practice in Pakistan during Eid, but is banned for Ahmadis.

The Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan, which represents the minority community in the country, accused authorities of preventing Ahmadis from offering their religious rites within the confinement of their homes during Eid and detaining people with their sacrificial animals, citing grave violations of human rights.

“At least 36 members of the minority Ahmadi community have been arrested for offering sacrificial animals for slaughter on Eid-ul Adha in the country mostly in Punjab province,” Amir Mahmood, an official of the organisation, told news agency PTI. “Preventing Ahmadis from offering their religious rites within the confinement of four walls is a grave violation of their human rights as well as a clear violation of the judgements by the Supreme Court of Pakistan,” he added.

‘Police joining hands with extremists’ Mahmood alleged that the radical Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbiak Pakistan (TLP) has been fanning hatred against Ahmadis and pressuring police to stop members of the minority community from performing their religious rituals. Members of the community were being harassed particularly in the Punjab province by extremists and law enforcement officials alike, he said.

According to the official, Ahmadis were even stopped from offering Eid prayers on Monday and the police are calling in Ahmadiyya leadership in various police stations and threatening them with “immediate danger” from the TLP in case any Ahmadi is found performing the ‘Qurbani’ or offering Eid prayers….