Eid prayers blocked? Shocking restrictions on Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan spark outrage

Community representatives alleged that police officials forcibly evacuated Ahmadi places of worship and sealed several premises across different districts, including Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, and Sargodha, citing government directives.

In several instances, worshippers were reportedly removed from prayer sites and congregational prayers were prevented.

In Gujranwala, local administration is said to have imposed a blanket restriction on Eid prayers by members of the community. In Sialkot, police reportedly intervened at six separate locations.

In Faisalabad, a place of worship was evacuated, while in Sargodha, multiple prayer centres were cleared and subsequently locked to prevent re-entry, according to reports.

Ahmadiyya Community Pakistan spokesperson Amir Mahmood described the actions as a “grave violation” of fundamental rights, reported The Friday Times.

He argued that the restrictions contravene Article 20 of the Constitution of Pakistan, which guarantees freedom to profess and practise religion, as well as Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

He also referenced a January 12, 2022 Supreme Court ruling (Cr1.P.916-L/2021), in which a bench led by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan affirmed the right of Ahmadis to practise their faith within the privacy of their homes.

The situation has drawn concern amid ongoing debates over religious freedom and minority rights in the country.