The Afghan Martyrs — Page 147
In this regard the Promised Messiah (PBUH) says: "Muslims have not so far forgotten the era when at the hands of the Sikhs they were in a blazing oven. Through their tyranny and cruelty the Muslims did suffer a lot but their faith suffered a great deal more. Not only on discharge of religious obligations but even on announcing Azan some were put to death. " (Ishtahar 10th July 1900) On page 1127 of the Encyclopedia of Sikh Literature we read: "The hatred for Muslims in the minds of the Sikhs was indeed profound. Muslim men, women and children were killed without hesitation. Their villages were "totally annihilated, their women were molested and thousands of mosques were demolished. " After the tyrannical rule of the Sikhs, on the establishment of British rule on the 1st of November 1858, a proclamation was issued from Allahabad on behalf of Queen Victoria. It read as follows: "We proclaim that it is our pleasure and Royal Command that on the basis of his religious belief no one of our subjects will either be eligible for preferential treatment or be harassed or deprived of a peaceful existence. Instead, in the eyes of the law all are equal and without distinction deserve protection. " In these conditions, unlike Sikhs before them, the British Government did not hold that Muslims deserved death and instead granted them full religious freedom the Promised Messiah (PBUH), said: 147