The Afghan Martyrs — Page 18
by clubs, death by being pushed off a mountain peak, death by severing one limb at a time, death by being submerged in boiling water, death by burial alive, death by strangulation, death by dismemberment of various parts of the body, gouging of eyes, blasting through the barrel of a cannon and lastly death through starvation. These were some of the punishments meted out as a matter of routine. He seemed to enjoy witnessing torment as he would often have the accused punished in his presence. In his book Frank A. Martin has described certain incidents which make one shudder. During the reign of Ameer Abdur Rahman the Shinwari tribe became rebellious. After ruthlessly suppressing the revolt, he ordered that the heads of all notables of the tribe be cut off and then he had a tower erected with the severed heads placed permanently on display at the top. It is worth mentioning that Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, the Promised Messiah (PBUH), wrote a letter in Persian to Ameer Abdur Rahman, who then ruled Kabul. In it he briefly referred to his claims and then, for the defence of Islam against the onslaught by the Christian clergy and some European philosophers who were busy attacking Islam, he invited the Ameer to co-operate with him. He wrote: In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful, Praise be to Him and Blessings upon the Holy Prophet (PBUH). This humble person Ghulam Ahmad, may Allah pardon him, to His Eminence the Ameer, the King of Kabul. After salutation of peace and invoking His Mercy and Blessings 18