500,000 PKR fine, arrest: Why Pakistan’s Ahmadiyya Muslims are barred from celebrating Eid al-Adha

In this picture taken on September 15, 2023, roadblocks are set by security personnel along a street leading to a place of worship of Pakistan's Ahmadiyya community in the Rabwah city of eastern Punjab province in Pakistan.

As Eid al-Adha approaches, Pakistan's Ahmadiyya Muslim community confronts renewed state-imposed restrictions on their religious practices. In Punjab and Sindh provinces, authorities have reportedly coerced Ahmadis into signing affidavits pledging not to perform qurbani (ritual animal sacrifice), even within their homes, under threat of fines up to PKR 500,000.

In multiple districts across Punjab and Sindh, police have reportedly been detaining members of the Ahmadiyya community, subjecting them to harassment and pressure to sign undertakings pledging not to observe Eid al-Adha rituals. The festival is set to be observed on June 7, 2025.

Ahmadis and their persecution

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was founded in 1889 by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in Qadian, India. Ahmadis consider themselves Muslims and adhere to the Five Pillars of Islam and the teachings of the Quran. However, they believe that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, a belief that distinguishes them from mainstream Islamic interpretations.

In 1974, Pakistan's constitution was amended to declare Ahmadis as non-Muslims. This legal classification was further entrenched by Ordinance XX in 1984, which criminalised Ahmadis' religious practices, including referring to themselves as Muslims, using Islamic greetings, or performing Islamic rituals. These laws have institutionalised discrimination, making it challenging for Ahmadis to practice their faith openly.

In June 2024, Amnesty International documented at least 36 incidents of arbitrary arrests and detentions of Ahmadiyyas in Pakistan’s Punjab province. The targeted crackdown was aimed at preventing members of the persecuted community from carrying out the ritual animal sacrifice during Eid.

The current restrictions ahead of Eid al-Adha are part of a broader pattern of state-imposed limitations on Ahmadi religious practices. Authorities in Punjab and Sindh have reportedly detained members of the Ahmadiyya community, compelling them to sign declarations not to observe Eid rituals. Some affidavits include clauses threatening fines for violations, and in certain cases, indemnity bonds have been demanded.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed deep concern over these measures, emphasizing that such actions violate the community's right to freedom of religion.