Pakistan seeks to block US-based website of minority Ahmadis

[HasanA]

https://apnews.com/article/religion-pakistan-freedom-of-religion-3fbecffb2b0a1152f8524d6af325a3c2

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan has ordered a U.S.-based website propagating the faith of Pakistan’s minority Ahmadis shut down over allegedly blasphemous content, one of the site’s managers said Thursday.

Harris Zafar said Pakistan’s Telecommunication Authority earlier this month issued a legal notice for him and fellow American Amjad Mahmood Khan, who manages the site, demanding that the site be shut down.

Zafar said the website is based in the U.S., where both he and Khan live and work, and called Pakistan’s action “a brazen act of suppression of freedom of expression and freedom of religion.”

“All content is U.S. based and all activities are in the U.S. as well,” said Zafar. “There is nothing about Pakistan on the site. ”

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority did not immediately respond to an AP request for comment and Zafar and Khan’s website is not available in Pakistan.

Zafar, who lives in Portland, Oregon but has relatives in Pakistan, said in an email to The Associated Press that he and Khan were also threatened with a $3.1 million fine and warned of charges under Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy law, which can carry the death penalty for insulting Islam.

Blasphemy has been a contentious issue in Pakistan where domestic and international human rights groups say blasphemy allegations have often been used to intimidate religious minorities and to settle personal scores.

Pakistan’s parliament declared Ahmadis non-Muslims in 1974. Since then, they have repeatedly been targeted by Islamic extremists in the Muslim-majority nation. An Ahmadi can get 10 years in prison for claiming to be a Muslim.

The legal notice accuses Zafar and Khan, a lawyer, of violating Pakistani laws for hosting and disseminating content on their website related to members the Ahmadi community who are “not allowed to preach or propagate their faith or invite others to accept their faith.”

Zafar said he and Khan were both born in the U.S. and did not flee persecution in Pakistan, though he stressed they “do get involved in helping persecuted Ahmadis in Pakistan and other parts of the world.”

The Ahmadi faith was established on the Indian subcontinent in the 19th century by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, whose followers believe he was the messiah that was promised by the Prophet Muhammad. Pakistan’s parliament declared Ahmadis non-Muslims in 1974. Since then, they have repeatedly been targeted by Islamic extremists in the Muslim-majority nation.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

They arent pulling an elaborate scam. They genuinley believe they are muslims and there is no pretending on their part.

Whatever we feel about them trying to block their websites is ridiculous.

 

[Angrez Pakistani]

Pakistan will only get bad PR in the international community if their authorities keep pulling these stunts. The country needs to grow up.

 

[rockyboy2018]

They arent pulling an elaborate scam. They genuinley believe they are muslims and there is no pretending on their part.

Whatever we feel about them trying to block their websites is ridiculous.

How Ahmedis are different from Shia sect of Muslims in Pakistan? If the Shia sections can practice their religion freely in Pakistan, then why not Ahmadis?
And, what Islam says about non-Muslims living in Muslim dominated countries? Do they have any rights?

 

[DeadlyVenom]

How Ahmedis are different from Shia sect of Muslims in Pakistan? If the Shia sections can practice their religion freely in Pakistan, then why not Ahmadis?

The difference between Ahmadi other sects is that they believe in prophethood after Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The finality of prophethood is a critical belief in mainstream Islam.

 

[Technics 1210]

You cannot claim to be muslim if you do not accpet Mohammed (PBUH) is the seal of Allah's prophets.

End game. Move on.

 

[rockyboy2018]

You cannot claim to be muslim if you do not accpet Mohammed (PBUH) is the seal of Allah's prophets.

End game. Move on.

In that case, shouldn't they be treated just like any other nonmuslim minority like Hindus, Christianity living in Pakistan? I mean, as a Hindu or as a Christian being a Pakistani if they can hold a position based on their merits then why not Ahmadis? For example, Pakistan could not hire the services of that economist even though he is a Pakistani albeit he is a nonmuslim.?

 

[DeadlyVenom]

In that case, shouldn't they be treated just like any other nonmuslim minority like Hindus, Christianity living in Pakistan? I mean, as a Hindu or as a Christian being a Pakistani if they can hold a position based on their merits then why not Ahmadis? For example, Pakistan could not hire the services of that economist even though he is a Pakistani albeit he is a nonmuslim.?

Yeah the treatment is pretty poor. They are heavily discriminated against. It's a shame actually because the community can be a real asset. From my interactions with Ahmadis they exemplify the social characteristics that Muslims should have to a better standard than most.

 

[Muddaser]

In that case, shouldn't they be treated just like any other nonmuslim minority like Hindus, Christianity living in Pakistan? I mean, as a Hindu or as a Christian being a Pakistani if they can hold a position based on their merits then why not Ahmadis? For example, Pakistan could not hire the services of that economist even though he is a Pakistani albeit he is a nonmuslim.?

Because they want to be considered Muslims where as Pakistan and Pakistanis officially consider them Non Muslim. Thats the issue.

 

[saeedhk]

This is exactly the reason for Pakistan’s poor global image. As I have said before, you can be a murderer, a rapist,and land grabber but to get rid of all the baggage, you only need to say that you are a defender of Islam and People would garland you!

 

[Giannis]

Meh, they need to focus on more important things. They can't change the American constitution, Ahmadis are free to profess their beliefs and proselytize over here just like Mormons, 7th day adventists and Jehovah's witnesses are able to. Mainstream Muslims need to ignore these fringe sects the way Mainstream Christians have been doing, tolerance doesn't mean acceptance.

 

[Pakpak]

Pretty pathetic in all honesty, news like this never helps our image.

 

[srh]

They arent pulling an elaborate scam. They genuinley believe they are muslims and there is no pretending on their part.

Whatever we feel about them trying to block their websites is ridiculous.

"Prophet Mohammad (SAW) is the last prophet" is basic rule of Islam and these guys do not believe in that rule, so they are not muslims. Period.

They continue to call themselves muslims while going against the very basics of Islam. It is either a scam or they are pretty ignorant about the basics of Islam.

 

[TSA321]

From my interactions with Ahmadis they exemplify the social characteristics that Muslims should have to a better standard than most.

Yes, they tend to be a model minority group wherever they are. Simply don't understand the hate they get (compared to other minorities)

 

[miandadrules]

Shameful.

But not surprising. Pakistani’s are taught from birth (by the systems in place) to despise Ahmedi’s for their very existence.

Just like the Pavlovian Dog, this is an all too predictable outcome.

However, if the shoe was on the other foot. Where Pakistan Muslim’s right to identify as they wish was stripped from them, we would hear cries of injustice.

 

[Slog]

Shameful

 

[HasanA]

Pakistanis with actions like have a fixation on Ahmadis. It seems they seem them as a threat. First they were not allowed to do the same namaaz as other Muslims. Then they can’t say Assalamo alaikum, then they cannot recite Kalima then they cannot use the word Allah, then they cannot use the word SAW. All these things will get an Ahmadi jailed in pakistan. Literally . The fringe will use a gun on them if they don’t think justice is being served to their benefit.

It seems ironic that the same Pakistani who says mullah are bad use the same mullah interpretation from Maulana Maudoodi and Zia ul Haq about how they view Ahmadis. It doesn’t look like almost all those who dislike Ahmadi views have learnt their views outside of Madrasa driven blogs and websites it’s like Nazi germany used to ingrain Germans to hate the Jew to the point of total isolation even though Germans themselves didn’t learn anything themselves they just repeated nazi propoganda as “fact” .

All this over less than 10% of a population which unlike others does not do suicide bombings, unlike others does not have lal masjid like madrasas and unlike others does not have any political power.

All this because of their interpretation of a word which doesn’t occur anywhere in 5 pillars of Islam or 6 articles of faith.

Allah said they will protect Islam from mistruth but the reactions many Pakistanis have about Ahmadis are they don’t trust Allah they want to create their own assumptions.

Now pakistan is going all the way to us and asking us to block a website on its shores which caters not to Pakistani audience but US audience. Where only 20,000 Ahmadis probably live out of 290 MILLION Americans

Amazing

 

[Nadeemp]

if they call themselves muslims, then i accept that. I am nobody to say otherwise.

 

[Slim]

I am sorry but why had Pakistan (lol) or Pakistani govt reach to the site owners to block a website? PTA blocks thousands of websites everyday and they have their own massive firewall to do that. They dont need to go and talk to every website to block them. This smells like ** and attention seeking.

 

[angrypathan]

I am sorry but why had Pakistan (lol) or Pakistani govt reach to the site owners to block a website? PTA blocks thousands of websites everyday and they have their own massive firewall to do that. They dont need to go and talk to every website to block them. This smells like ** and attention seeking.

They're not trying to block it, like they do for example with sites that host explicit videos, they're trying to get the owners of the site to take it off the web. Which is hilarious, since the owners live in the US, and host the site in the US, which as any Pakistani legal expert would know completely falls under the jurisdiction of the Pakistani Telecommunication Authority

 

[Slim]

They're not trying to block it, like they do for example with sites that host explicit videos, they're trying to get the owners of the site to take it off the web. Which is hilarious, since the owners live in the US, and host the site in the US, which as any Pakistani legal expert would know completely falls under the jurisdiction of the Pakistani Telecommunication Authority

That is so dumb if its actually true but i doubt its true.

 

[rockyboy2018]

Yeah the treatment is pretty poor. They are heavily discriminated against. It's a shame actually because the community can be a real asset. From my interactions with Ahmadis, they exemplify the social characteristics that Muslims should have to a better standard than most.

One day I was listening to one of Musharraf's interviews and he termed them as the intellectual cream of the country. And the only Nobel prize winner from Pakistan came from that religious clan is quite an interesting case study. And, he did not take up any foreign citizenship in exchange for Pakistani citizenship - seems like a hardcore Pakistani.

Your religious faith is very a personal one and you will be judged accordingly on the day of judgment.
But that does not mean you should waste their talent and expertise.

 

[saeedhk]

One day I was listening to one of Musharraf's interviews and he termed them as the intellectual cream of the country. And the only Nobel prize winner from Pakistan came from that religious clan is quite an interesting case study. And, he did not take up any foreign citizenship in exchange for Pakistani citizenship - seems like a hardcore Pakistani.

Your religious faith is very a personal one and you will be judged accordingly on the day of judgment.
But that does not mean you should waste their talent and expertise.

Among all the minority groups in Pakistan, they have the highest education attainment. It is also true for the diaspora living in the UK, Germany and elsewhere.

Abdus Salam will forever be remembered for his unwavering loyalty to Pakistan.

 

[Technics 1210]

Among all the minority groups in Pakistan, they have the highest education attainment. It is also true for the diaspora living in the UK, Germany and elsewhere.

Abdus Salam will forever be remembered for his unwavering loyalty to Pakistan.

Is this why you legged it to HK to seek asylum?

 

[Tubs]

They arent pulling an elaborate scam. They genuinley believe they are muslims and there is no pretending on their part.

Whatever we feel about them trying to block their websites is ridiculous.

Someone who gets it. So many people think they're 'pretending to be Muslim' to weaken Islam, or something. Very embarrassing and highlights the conspiratorial tendency in Pakistan (and the rest of South Asia). I wish they were just left alone.

 

[saeedhk]

Is this why you legged it to HK to seek asylum?

How is it relevant to the discussion?

 

[Technics 1210]

How is it relevant to the discussion?

I though so. No answer.

Yet according to you Pakistan is relevant in every thread.

 

[Tubs]

How is it relevant to the discussion?

When he has no argument, he resorts to cheap debate tactics.

 

[saeedhk]

I though so. No answer.

Yet according to you Pakistan is relevant in every thread.

When the thread and the forum itself is about Pakistan, who should I talk about? Uganda? You tell me, what is the link between this thread and HK?

 

[Technics 1210]

When the thread and the forum itself is about Pakistan, who should I talk about? Uganda? You tell me, what is the link between this thread and HK?

Look, you take every opportunity to have a dig at Pakistan even in a thread that is nothing to do with Pakistan, such as generic wearing masks during C19 pandemic.

Now stop crying when I ask you why you seeked asylum in HK.

Where's your bravado now?

 

[Rana]

Not sure how they think they stand a chance against the Ahmadi lawyers and freedom rights activists in the US.

 

[saeedhk]

Look, you take every opportunity to have a dig at Pakistan even in a thread that is nothing to do with Pakistan, such as generic wearing masks during C19 pandemic.

Now stop crying when I ask you why you seeked asylum in HK.

Where's your bravado now?

I am shivering! Read again! It was about conspiracy theories and pointed out how we are the biggest CTs.

 

[Technics 1210]

I am shivering! Read again! It was about conspiracy theories and pointed out how we are the biggest CTs.

Is this all you got? Conspiracy!? I bet you don't even know what the word conspiracy means. I would ask you to Google, oh wait, China censors you to do that too.

You never dare speak up against China, but can against Pakistan. This is freedom in a nutshell.

Ho ho ho.

 

[saeedhk]

Is this all you got? Conspiracy!? I bet you don't even know what the word conspiracy means. I would ask you to Google, oh wait, China censors you to do that too.

You never dare speak up against China, but can against Pakistan. This is freedom in a nutshell.

Ho ho ho.

It was about conspiracy theories right?