Attack on Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosque in Kotli Azad, Kashmir
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community condemns, in the strongest terms, the vicious attack on the Ahmadiyya Mosque at Bhabra, Kotli, in Free Kashmir district.
On February 12, 2024, at around 10:45 a.m., a group of 50 to 60 extremists armed with hammers, shovels, sticks and guns launched a brutal assault on the Ahmadi worship centre. The attackers first smashed the CCTV cameras, then proceeded to tear down the four minarets and the mosque's niche, and then entered the interior of the centre, causing damage and havoc to the mosque.
During the attack, they brutally assaulted Wajid Hussain, a young Ahmadi, who was seriously injured. They also injured other worshippers who tried to help Wajid Hussain. They also attacked several Ahmadi women inside a house attached to the mosque, injuring five of them. One of them, Zahida Parveen, was seriously injured. Slogans such as "brothel" and "damned Qadiani dog" were painted on the wall inside the mosque.
Concern of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is gravely concerned about this unspeakable act of violence, which is a clear violation of the fundamental right to religious freedom and poses a serious threat to the security of Ahmadis in the region. This heinous incident follows an escalation of tensions and threats against the Ahmadi faithful in the area. Earlier, on 24 November 2023, several miscreants attacked the Ahmadiyya Mosque in Dollian Jattan, Kotli, and demolished its minarets, pointing to a pattern of targeted persecution against the Ahmadiyya Community in this part of Kashmir.
Despite the efforts of the Ahmadi community to seek justice through legal channels, - including registering the police complaint against the perpetrators - the Ahmadis continue to face obstacles in finding legal representation due to prevailing anti-Ahmadi sentiments.
The spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya Community of Pakistan stated: "Once again, the Ahmadis of Pakistan are facing another day of persecution. The latest incident involves an attack on the Ahmadi place of worship in Bhabra, Kotli A.J.K., which resulted in serious injuries to several worshippers. Shots were also fired causing even more damage. Both men and women of the Ahmadi community were brutally beaten and injured. Following the assault, the attackers smashed the minarets of the place of worship and ransacked the building. This heinous act is not an isolated incident, as extremists have been pressuring the authorities to desecrate this holy site.
Alarmingly, the police arrived on the scene exaggeratedly late, allowing the attackers, between 50 and 60 individuals, to flee. We ask the authorities: where is the rule of law? The state has a duty to protect its citizens, but it is failing in its responsibility. "We urge the authorities to take immediate and decisive action to arrest the perpetrators of this crime and to ensure the safety of the Ahmadis of Kotli Azad, Kashmir," the spokesman said.
These repeated attacks underline the imperative need for justice, and emphasise the necessary implementation of Justice Jilani's 2014 judgement1 to safeguard places of worship for all citizens. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community remains committed to the promotion of peace, tolerance and harmony, and calls for an end to all forms of religious persecution and discrimination. We implore the international community to voice its opposition to this grave injustice, and ensure that the Pakistani government guarantees the safety of all places of worship for its citizens.
Reference:
https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/559e57644.pdf