2015 Jhelum attacks

2015 Jhelum attacks

Jhelum District, Pakistan
Location Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan
Date 20-21 November 2015
Attack type
 Arson
Deaths 0

On the Friday evening of 20 November 2015, a large mob, in an alleged case of blasphemy, torched down a chipboard factory, in Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan. Ahmadi Muslim employees were accused of allegedly desecrating the Quran. The following day, rioters gathered in Kala Gujran, a town bordering Jhelum, and set ablaze an Ahmadiyya mosque and a number of homes belonging to Ahmadi Muslims. Although no casualties have been reported, Ahmadi Muslims have been arrested, against whom a blasphemy case has been registered.[1][2]

Background

The Ahmadiyya movement was started in 1889 and follows the teachings of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad who they believe was sent by God as a prophet and the Promised Messiah and Imam Mehdi prophesied in Islam "to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed and re-institute morality, justice and peace." It is estimated there are between 3 – 4 million Ahmadis in Pakistan.[3]

The Ahmadiyya Muslims have previously been targeted by Sunni groups, while they have also suffered discrimination in Pakistan in the past, most significantly during the Lahore riots of 1953.[4] They were declared non-Muslim in Pakistan in 1973 by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and were legally banned from identifying themselves as such in 1984 during General Zia-ul-Haq's Islamization as per Ordinance XX, despite Ahmadis calling themselves Muslim and following the rituals of Islam.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Mob torches factory in Pakistan following blasphemy accusation". Yahoo News. November 22, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Ahmadi place of worship set ablaze in Jhelum, riots erupt after blasphemy allegations". November 21, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  3. ↑ the CNN Wire Staff. "At least 80 killed in Lahore attacks". CNN.com. Archived from the original on 30 May 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-29.
  4. ↑ "Deaths in Pakistan mosques raids". Al Jazeera English. 28 May 2010. Archived from the original on 29 May 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  5. ↑ "Lahore hospital comes under attack from gunmen". BBC. 1 June 2010. Archived from the original on 2 June 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
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