OPINION:
Human Right’s Day was established by the United Nations to commemorate the day the U.N. General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human rights. Sadly, as we all know, human rights are not universal in the world. One place in which they are not recognized is Pakistan.
Last week a raid was conducted by the special anti-terrorism police force in Pakistan on the peace-loving Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s headquarters. There, four people were arrested and nine were charged under the country’s anti-blasphemy laws. These are laws that imprison anyone the authorities believe to be “posing” as Muslims or, by their own interpretation, insulting the Prophet Muhammad. Ahmadi Muslims are the main victims of these heinous laws; they have been disenfranchised, imprisoned, tortured and murdered, all simply due to their interpretation of Islam.
I would urge Pakistan to treat all of its citizens equally. In the worlds of the Prophet Muhammad “like for your brother what you like for yourself.”
NAMEER BHATTI
Member, Muslim Writers Guild of America
Blue Bell, Pa.
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