Source: Indian Express
People from the Ahmadiyya community will now be listed as Muslims in the census. They have been recognised as a sect of Islam, a religion whose orthodoxy has gone to great lengths to keep the community out of its fold. The small community, scattered in Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, UP, Bihar, Odisha, Telangana and Kerala, had found legal recognition as an Islamic sect in 1970. But with Islamic clerics deeming the Ahmadis heretics and successive governments found it prudent to not list people from the community as Muslims.
The Ahmadis have faced persecution from votaries of hardline Islam since the sect’s inception. It originated in the late 19th century in Qadian in what is today Gurdaspur district in Punjab. Its founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmed, claimed to be a messiah who would bring salvation to Muslims, Christians and Hindus. His claims to spiritual authority brought him into conflict with Islamic clerics and his followers were denounced as apostates. They have faced persecution in the Islamic world. Pakistan deemed people from the community to be outside the pale of Islam in 1974, following which there were riots for nearly six months in the country. In recent years, the community has faced violence in Bangladesh. The Ahmadis are deemed a “deviant sect” in Indonesia and persecuted in Saudi Arabia.
Categories: Asia, India, Indian Media, Indian Press
A great news if previously Ahmadiyya was listed under non Muslims. It should be eye opener for Muslim countries including Pakistan. Current era demands separation between religion and state. Religion is matter between man and God. State should never interfere in it. Founder of Pakistan preached the same thing. Later religious clergy revolted against his vision and started playing havoc with Ahmadis.
Secular voices against Ahmadiyya atrocities keep on arising in Pakistan but get nailed due to Mullah fear. Hats off to Modi Government who upheld the flag of absolute justice and fairness to all its citizens and refused to scum to the Mullah pressure. This is real secularism. Well done India keep it up.
By the way few years back Germany also recognized Ahmadiyya as Muslim at state level.