Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Persecution of Ahmadis

23 November 2020 · 1 other contributor

Opened by Imran Ahmad Khan Lab Wakefield

Foreign AffairsReligion & Faith

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Imran Ahmad Khan raised concerns about persecution of ahmadis in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • Ahmadis face hate and persecution worldwide, with Pakistan being the epicenter since 1974 when the government declared them non-Muslim.
  • Pakistan enacted Ordinance XX in 1984, criminalizing Ahmadi practice of Islam and imposing severe penalties including imprisonment or death.
  • The UK government commits to spending 39.5 million over five years through the Aawaz II programme to support civil society organisations working on religious freedom issues in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Imran Ahmad Khan Lab Wakefield

Ahmadis, a peace-loving community, are subjected to hate and persecution worldwide, with the epicenter being Pakistan. In 1974, Pakistan's government declared Ahmadis non-Muslims under pressure from extremist groups, leading to increased state-sponsored discrimination. Since then, draconian measures have been enacted, including Ordinance XX in 1984 which criminalizes Ahmadi practice of Islam and mandates imprisonment or the death penalty for offenders. This has forced many Ahmadis into exile and continues to fuel violence against them, as evidenced by recent murders like Dr Tahir's and desecration of graves. Additionally, Pakistani media and political figures openly declare hatred towards Ahmadis, normalizing violence against this minority group.

Other contributors (1)
  • John Spellar Lab Warley

    Commends the Ahmadi community's contributions to UK society through charitable and community work.

Government Response

Nigel Adams

The Minister acknowledges the persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan, condemning recent murders and violence against them. He highlights government efforts to promote freedom of religion globally, including regular communications with Pakistani authorities about these issues. The UK’s Aawaz II programme will spend £39.5 million over five years supporting civil society organisations working on religious freedom issues in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The minister also discusses the due diligence process for funding recipients to prevent discrimination, urging Pakistan to protect minority rights. Additionally, he mentions plans for an online harms bill targeting harmful content that fuels hate speech.

Get updates like this by email
▸ Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy