Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at and civil society members yesterday condemned the May 28 bomb attacks on two Ahmadi mosques in Lahore, Pakistan, that killed 85 people.

They also demanded punishment to the attackers and steps to ensure security of the people of Ahamadiyya community across the world, especially in Pakistan.

The demands were placed at a press conference at the national headquarters of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Bangladesh in the city.

Prof Meer Mubashsher Ali, nayeeb-e-amir of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, urged the international community to take necessary steps to stop such barbaric attacks on them.

Strongly criticising the Pakistan government for declaring the Ahmadi Muslims of the country ‘Non-Muslim’ in 1974, he urged the international community to take necessary measures to repeal the law to uphold freedom of religion.

A global charter must be formulated to curb such violence in future, he added.

Noted writer and columnist Shahrier Kabir said the international human rights organisations should raise their voice to ensure the right to freedom of religion.

He also called for putting an end to the culture of impunity to prevent such attacks. “If we cannot get rid of the culture of impunity, it would not be possible to ensure security of lives.”

Prof Parveen Hasan of the department of Islamic history and culture of Dhaka University laid emphasis on the formulation of a law to end religion-based discrimination.

Abdul Awal Khan Choudhury, missionary-in-charge of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Bangladesh, and Sharif A Kafi, executive director of Bangladesh Development Partnership Centre also spoke.

Source: www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=141587