Return-Path: Received: from host.oil.ca ([206.186.236.1]) by mailin03.sul.t-online.com with esmtp id 13r2aW-1gtbhwc; Wed, 1 Nov 2000 19:26:16 +0100 Received: (from majordom@localhost) by host.oil.ca (8.9.3/8.9.3) id LAA18176 for amnesty-l.list; Wed, 1 Nov 2000 11:22:23 -0500 X-Authentication-Warning: host.oil.ca: majordom set sender to owner-amnesty-l@oil.ca using -f Received: from fox.amnesty.org (fox.amnesty.org [194.131.159.110]) by host.oil.ca (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id LAA18173 for ; Wed, 1 Nov 2000 11:22:14 -0500 From: ai-news@amnesty.org Subject: Pakistan: Killng of Ahmadis must not go unpunished To: amnesty-l@oil.ca Message-ID: Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2000 17:03:45 +0000 X-MIMETrack: Serialize by Router on fox/I.S./Amnesty International(Release 5.0.5 |September 22, 2000) at 01/11/2000 17:08:19 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Sender: owner-amnesty-l@oil.ca Precedence: bulk Reply-To: owner-amnesty-l@host.oil.ca * News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International * 1 November 2000 ASA 33/013/2000 208/00 Amnesty International fears that once again attacks on the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan will go uninvestigated and unpunished leading to the impression that such violence is condoned by the authorities. On 30 October, five members of the Ahmadiyya community were killed by several unidentified gunmen as they left their mosque after early morning prayers in Ghatialian village, near Sialkot, Punjab province. Among the victims was a 16 year-old boy. Ten others were injured. To Amnesty International's knowledge, no one has been arrested in connection with the attack. The killing on 30 October was preceded by tension in the village over religious issues. In 1999, a truce had been reached between Ahmadis and non-Ahmadis but Islamist groups had continued to instigate random violence. The local authorities reportedly took no action to halt intermittant attacks on Ahmadis. Ahmadis are considered heretical by orthodox Muslims in Pakistan. The Ahmadiyya community was declared non-Muslim in 1974 and a number of laws were subsequently passed which makes it a criminal offence for Ahmadis to profess, practice and preach their faith. Dozens of Ahmadis have been charged under religious sections of the Pakistan Penal Code. In Sialkot district alone, criminal cases based on religion were brought against 23 Ahmadis in the current year. Some 20 Ahmadis have been killed over the last seven years by those who oppose their faith. Religious organizations advocating violence against Ahmadis are permitted to function openly. Vernacular media spreading the message of hate and violence of such organizations are not restrained by the authorities. Amnesty International has consistently appealed to successive governments of Pakistan to abolish relevant laws which criminalize acts constituting the exercise of the right to freedom of religion; to protect Ahmadis against attacks; and to ensure that killings of Ahmadis are investigated and the perpetrators punished. "If the government consistently fails to investigate attacks and killings of members of religious minorities, the impression will be created that taking the law into one's hands and killing is acceptable behaviour. The Government of Pakistan must publicly condemn such abuse and ensure that all steps are taken to restore the trust of minorities that they are safe in Pakistan," Amnesty International said. "Chief Executive Parvez Musharraf said in October 1999 that the protection of minorities was a priority for his government. Now is the time to prove that these were not empty words." **************************************************************** You may repost this message onto other sources provided the main text is not altered in any way and both the header crediting Amnesty International and this footer remain intact. Only the list subscription message may be removed. **************************************************************** To subscribe to amnesty-L, send a message to with "subscribe amnesty-L" in the message body. To unsubscribe, send a message to with "unsubscribe amnesty-L" in the message body. If you have problem signing off, contact . handles only messages concerning list administration. Past and current Amnesty news services can be found at . Visit for information about Amnesty International and for other AI publications. Contact amnestyis@amnesty.org if you need to get in touch with the International Secretariat of Amnesty International.