Kotli Azad Kashmir, February 12, 2024 – The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community condemns in the strongest terms the vicious attack on the Ahmadiyya Mosque in Bhabra, Kotli district, Azad Kashmir. On February 12, 2024, at around 10:45 AM, a group of 50 to 60 extremists armed with hammers, shovels, sticks, and weapons, launched a brutal assault on the Ahmadi worship place.
The assailants first vandalized the building by destroying the CCTV cameras and then proceeded to demolish the four minarets and the niche of the mosque. Subsequently, they entered the worship place, wreaking havoc and causing damage to the premises. During the attack, they brutally assaulted Mr. Wajid Hussain, a young Ahmadi man, leaving him seriously injured. They also caused injuries to other Ahmadi men who went in to rescue Mr. Wajid Hussain. Additionally, they targeted Ahmadi women inside the attached house, resulting in injuries to five women, including serious injuries to Zahida Parveen. They also wall chalked ‘Brothel’ & ‘Qadiani cursed dog’ inside the mosque.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is deeply concerned about this reprehensible act of violence, which is a clear violation of the fundamental rights of religious freedom and poses a threat to the safety and security of Ahmadis in the region.
This heinous incident comes in the wake of escalating tensions and threats against Ahmadis in the area. Previously, on November 24, 2023, miscreants attacked the Ahmadi worship place in Dollian Jattan, Kotli, and demolished its minarets, indicating a pattern of targeted persecution against the Ahmadiyya community in Kotli Azad Kashmir.
Despite the Ahmadiyya community’s efforts to seek justice through legal channels, including registering a police case against the perpetrators, they continue to face obstacles in finding legal representation due to the prevailing anti-Ahmadi sentiments.
The spokesperson of the Ahmadiyya Community in Pakistan said; “Another day of persecution for Ahmadis in Pakistan. Latest is the attack on the Ahmadiyya worship place in Bhabra, Kotli A.J.K. Today’s attack has resulted in the injuries of several Ahmadis. Gun firing was also carried out. Both Ahmadi men & women were severely beaten & wounded. The culprits after severely injuring both Ahmadi men & women destroyed the minarets of the worship place while ransacked the entire building. This incident is not an isolated incident. Extremists were pressurizing the authorities to desecrate this worship place. As per the reports the police also reached the place of worship so late that the group of attackers consisting of 60-65 people fled. We ask the authorities where is writ of the state. The state is duty bound to protect its citizens and yet it has failed miserably.”
We urge the authorities to take immediate and decisive action to apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous crime and ensure the safety and security of Ahmadis in Kotli Azad Kashmir, the Spokesperson said.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community remains committed to promoting peace, tolerance, and harmony, and calls for an end to all forms of religious persecution and discrimination. We implore the global community to voice their opposition to this serious injustice and make sure that the Pakistani government assures the safety of all religious places for its citizens.
