The Ahmadiyya Muslim community, in Bangladesh has been targeted by a series of attacks and persecution recently with violent mobs attacking their places of worship and residences.
These incidents took place in July following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In Panchagarh town a group of attackers vandalized an Ahmadiyya mosque causing damage to property and breaking windows. Similar assaults were reported in parts of the country including the capital city Dhaka.
Expressing concern over these assaults on the Ahmadiyya community Mubarak Hossain, a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at stated; “These attacks are part of a pattern of persecution and discrimination that we have endured for years.”
The Ahmadis, considered a minority sect within Islam have been subjected to hostility and discrimination in Bangladesh where the majority follows Sunni Islam. Extremist Islamist organizations have campaigned to classify Ahmadis as “non-Muslims” and advocate for Ahmadiyya laws.
In 2018 Bangladesh’s parliament passed legislation effectively prohibiting Ahmadis from identifying themselves as Muslims. This move has encouraged groups to intensify their attacks, on Ahmadiyya mosques, homes and establishments.
“The Ahmadis living in Bangladesh are constantly living in fear due, to threats of violence and discrimination ” stated Hossain. “Their basic rights and freedoms are being denied based on their beliefs.”
The recent series of assaults has drawn criticism. In a declaration UN Special Rapporteurs on freedom of religion or belief and minority issues urged the Bangladeshi government to “take steps to safeguard the Ahmadiyya community and uphold their right to freedom of religion or belief.”
“We are greatly concerned about the bias, intimidation and mistreatment experienced by the Ahmadiyya community in Bangladesh ” expressed the experts. “It is imperative for authorities to promptly address this persecution and fulfill the nations responsibilities to safeguard the rights of minorities.”
The UN experts also called on the Bangladeshi government to revoke laws that target Ahmadis and ensure that those responsible for attacks face justice.
Various human rights organizations have echoed these appeals cautioning that the oppression faced by Ahmadis in Bangladesh is indicative of a pattern of increasing intolerance and violence against minorities throughout South Asia.
“The assaults on the Ahmadiyya community highlight a concerning situation for minorities in Bangladesh and neighboring regions ” remarked Meenakshi Ganguly, Director for South Asia, at Human Rights Watch.
Governments have a responsibility to ensure the safety and rights of all their people regardless of their beliefs. With Ahmadis, in Bangladesh living in uncertainty and fear it’s crucial for the global community to stay watchful and urge the Bangladeshi authorities to fulfill their duty in safeguarding freedom and minority rights.
