Medieval Religions (12/0114)

In many ways Pakistan is a failed state - a country defined by religion (Islam) having been established only in 1947 as Britain finally withdrew from India and abandoned its aims of empire. 

The problem with a religious state are pretty obvious - just look at North Korea where the Communist Kim dynasty has become the country's state religion or Saudi Arabia which is one of the most intolerant and repressive countries in the world.

And here's an example of state religion gone mad as a British-Pakistani man, Masood Ahmad, was arrested and locked up on charges of blasphemy, for the heinous 'crime' of reading from the Koran - which he is banned from doing because he has been branded as a heretic.

Now in secular countries, where there is a separation of religion from the state, such things are impossible in the 21st century, but in certain fundamentalist Muslim countries this kind of barbaric medieval treatment is allowed - because religious nut jobs make up the rules to suit themselves regardless of what are regarded as people's civil or human rights in other parts of the world.

All this business of who was God's last prophet is so boring and ridiculous - apart from the Ahmadi Muslims, I think I'm correct in saying that the followers of Bahia have their own prophet who came long after Mohammed - and the Mormon religion believes that their founder, Joseph Smith, was acting under the God's command as well.  

So, what's the big deal about Masood Ahmad reading from the Koran - he's not exactly hurting anyone and locking a 72-year old man in jail for such a thing is as ridiculous as it sounds. 

Jefferson Davies, the President of the Confederate States fighting to retain slavery as a way of life in the south, was correct you know - his abhorrent views on slavery were supported in the Bible.

But that still didn't make him right.        

Family of Masood Ahmad want help after Pakistan arrest

By Athar Ahmad

BBC Asian Network

Masood Ahmad's family fear for his health inside a Pakistani prison

The family of a British man arrested in Pakistan for "posing as a Muslim" are calling for the government to help bring their father back to the UK.

Masood Ahmad was jailed in November on blasphemy charges after being secretly filmed reading from the Koran.

The dual Pakistani-British national, 72, belongs to the minority Ahmadiyya sect, considered heretics in Pakistan.

They were declared non-Muslim in 1974 by the Pakistan government and have restricted religious practices.

This is because of theological differences with mainstream Islam.

Secretly filmed

One of the restrictions on their religious freedom is that they cannot publicly quote from the Koran.

Two men posing as patients visited Mr Ahmad at his clinic in Lahore, before asking questions about religion.

They used a mobile phone to secretly film him reading the Koran and then called the police to have him arrested.

Ahmadis can be jailed for up to three years in Pakistan for referring to their faith as Islam, preaching or "outraging the religious feelings of Muslims".

Mr Ahmad's daughter Aasiya and son Abbas said the family just wanted him home

Mr Ahmad's daughter, Aasiya, who lives in Glasgow, said she was distressed by what had happened.

She said: "My father didn't hurt anybody. We just want him out of jail and with us here where he can practice his faith freely."

Mr Ahmad had several operations to remove a tumour in 2010 and his family is concerned that his health will deteriorate in prison.

His lawyers have applied for bail due to his age and illness, but have been unsuccessful on three occasions.

Humanitarian reason

The Foreign Office do not usually get involved in cases between dual Pakistani-British nationals and authorities in Pakistan but according to advice given to individuals detained there, it "may make an exception to this rule".

WHO ARE THE AHMADIS?

• An Islamic sect founded in India in 1889, Ahmadi Muslims believe their own founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who died in 1908, was a prophet
• This contradicts traditional Muslims who believe the last prophet was the Prophet Muhammad, who died in 632
• Most Ahmadi followers live in the Indian sub-continent
• Ahmadis have been the subject of sectarian attacks and persecution in Pakistan and elsewhere
• In May 2010, more than 90 people were killed after an attack on two Ahmadi mosques in the city of Lahore
• In 1974 the Pakistani government declared the sect non-Muslim
• Ahmadi Muslims are led by their fifth Caliph, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, who is based in Southfields, west London

Mr Ahmad's son, Abbas, said he wanted the British government to put further pressure on the Pakistani authorities.

"They say because he has dual nationality, they have limited access for these kinds of things. For us, his children are here, he's a British citizen. We are taxpayers, he's paid tax.

"My father is 72 and he's never harmed anybody. Anyone can read the Koran - a Muslim, a Christian, anyone. We just want the government to help."

In response, a spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "We cannot get British nationals out of prison or detention, nor get special treatment for them because they are British.

"We urge the government of Pakistan to guarantee the fundamental rights of all its citizens."

The spokesman added: "We engage at a senior level on the issue of the mistreatment of religious groups, including Ahmadis.

"We will continue to provide consular assistance to both Mr Ahmad and his family".

In an interview with the BBC from his prison last month, Mr Ahmad said he felt targeted prior to his arrest and was concerned about how his children were coping.

Mr Ahmad's family is trying to stay hopeful that he will soon be released from prison.

Aasiya Firdous said: "We are trying to do our best and stay strong for each other. We knock on every door we can. We are just looking for the good and trying to stay positive."