Terrorising the Ahmadiyyas again

Attacks against religious minorities and sects are a gross violation of the fundamental freedom of faith and expression enshrined in the constitution. This much is obvious and has been repeated ad nauseam, by many, including the present writer. In fact, it is easy to be cynical with the frequent use of the word 'enshrinement' and see it in the sense of an entombmentof something no longer alive, and hence irrelevant. It may be rather more useful to talk in less lofty terms.

One aspect of the latest attack is indeed quite mundane and, at the same time, a stark reminder of what is at stake. The police are seen to be lending a helping hand to the fundamentalists. The photograph published in The Daily Star shows policemen putting up a signboard which says: "This is a place of worship for Kadianis. No Muslim should mistake it for a mosque." This was not the first time that the police have helped define the Ahmadiyya place of worship. It was in fact a mirror image of police action a few months ago in similar circumstances around another Ahmadiyya mosque. This was precisely what the fundamentalists wanted: to declare the sect non-Muslim. And the police obliged.

The government has not declared the Ahmadiyyas non-Muslim. The action of the four-party coalition government in prohibiting the production and distribution of Ahmadiyya publications is reprehensible and is under legal challenge. But no action has yet been taken to declare them infidels. By siding with the bigoted mob, the police have gone where, the government has not, mercifully, treaded. This is an outrageous violation of the rule of law by its keepers. Senior police officers have either given a nod to such action or have remained silent where silence was not called for. Perhaps the government owes the country an explanation of how such violation of normal rules of conduct in a matter of great national significance continues to be tolerated.

The absence of such an explanation can easily suggest acquiescence.