The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 137
THE PROMISED MESSIAH AND MAHDI in arson and murder. The Bhutto Government did nothing to protect innocent Ahmadi citizens. Bhutto and his government declared. Ahmadis to be non-Muslim 'for purposes of Law and Constitution'. . Bhutto made himself the champion of this Anti Ahmadiyya. Movement. He did this to make himself a hero to the masses and win cheap popularity. But this popularity did not help him. He was ousted by a military coup d'etat by General Zia-ul-Huq. Later he was hanged. . The latest occurrence of discrimination and organized. persecution was set into motion by the former President of Pakistan,. General Zia-ul-Huq. On 26th of April 1984, he promulgated an ordinance with the heading and purpose of 'prohibiting Ahmadis from indulging in Anti-Islamic activities'. . By provision of this ordinance, Ahmadis (members of. Ahmadiyya community) are forbidden to use Islamic titles like calling their place of worship a Mosque (Masjid). They are forbidden to use Muslim call for prayer (Azan). An Ahmadi is forbidden to profess himself a Muslim or call his faith Islam or to propagate his faith. . If any one breaks these laws, he is to be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years and shall be liable to fine (amount not specified). . As stated earlier, the purpose of this ordinance is to prevent. Anti-Islamic activities of Ahmadis. Is it Anti-Islamic to use the. Muslim call for prayers, to call a mosque a mosque, to profess that one is a Muslim because one believes in Islam and to propagate it? It is a most strange logic. . This ordinance violates fundamental human rights and civilized law of any country. It offends the Universal Declaration of. Human Rights. It is clearly against the principles of Islam which uphold the freedom of conscience and clearly state that there is no compulsion in religion. Islam upholds human rights to the extent which far exceeds that which is put forward by other religions. . Since the promulgation of this ordinance in 1984, the. Ahmadiyya Community in Pakistan has been severely persecuted first 137