In Pakistan, a rally against an Ahmadi mosque

Anti-Ahmadi campaign draws thousands, sparks online reactions.

More than 5,000 people rallied on Sunday against the Ewane Tawheed mosque, which was built by an Ahmadi group in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi. Protesters alleged it was constructed without official authorisation, while the Ahmadiyya community claimed it purchased the land through a registered organisation.

Pakistan’s blasphemy laws prohibit Ahmadis from calling themselves Muslim or referring to their places of worship as mosques.

While many took to the streets, others used the Twitter hashtag #EwaneTawheed to voice their concerns over what they say is the continued persecution of the Ahmadiyya community.

View the story "In Pakistan, a rally against #EwaneTawheed mosque" on Storify

In Pakistan, a rally against #EwaneTawheed mosque

Anti-Ahmadi campaign draws hundreds, sparks online reactions.

yfrog Photo : http://yfrog.com/ocw6vqmoj Shared by

[Image] Jalsa against #Ahmadis in #Rawalpindi http://t.co/kTMSFPMd via @ShirazHassan #EwaneTawheed #Pakistan
— Atif S Ahmad (atifahmads) Sun, Jan 29 2012 04:59:50

Via Twitter, Rizwan Ahmad suggested this story.

@AJStream Over 5000 people gathered in a protest organised by Jamaatud Dawa, Jamati Islami and Sipah-e-Sahaba in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. 1/5
— Rizwan Ahmad (RizzAhmad) Sun, Jan 29 2012 22:57:43

@AJStream The event was advertised all around Rawalpindi as a peacuful event but was used to spread hate and bigotry against Ahmadis. 2/5
— Rizwan Ahmad (RizzAhmad) Sun, Jan 29 2012 22:57:56

Many reacted to the rally against the Ahmadi community in Rawalpindi. The Ahmadiyya Times live-blogged the event. One of the groups that helped organise the rally was Jamaat-ud-Dawah, a banned group blamed for the Mumbai attacks. Below, people on Twitter refer to them with the hashtag #JuD.

#EwaneTawheed #Ahmadis RT@NadeemfParacha: A perquisite to attending today's JuD rally: You must not be a human.
— Aisha Mehmood (Aimeh90) Sun, Jan 29 2012 04:23:06

Stop the ongoing anti-Ahmadi hate campaign in Rawalpindi http://t.co/mNDOfiW9 #EwaneTawheed #Pakistan
— Shoaib Qureshi (Shoaibqureshi17) Sun, Jan 29 2012 12:22:04

A Jalsa to promote hate against #ahmadis and minorities cannot be called a peaceful event. #EwaneTawheed #Pakistan #Rawalpindi ##commonsense
— Rizwan Ahmad (RizzAhmad) Sun, Jan 29 2012 05:04:20

#UN should charge #Pakistan for telling #Ahmadi's to not pray in #Rawalpindi.Defiance of Universal Declaration of Human Rights #EwaneTawheed
— Luqman Ahmad (LAhmad08) Sat, Jan 28 2012 16:09:07

Several netizens pointed out the tensions between Ahmadis and other Pakistanis.

#Pakistan - Its "Islamic Republic" and people are not free to pray to Allah(swt) #Irony #Persecution #Ahmadiyya #EwaneTawheed
— Masood Nasir (MasoodNasir) Sun, Jan 29 2012 10:15:41

Saw thousands encircle #EwaneTawheed to protect #Ahmadis as they offered their prayers. Alas it was just a dream. #Pakistan is no #Egypt
— rafi (morafi) Sun, Jan 29 2012 04:47:31

Popular media's attitude about the persecution of Ahmadis in Satellite Town Rawalpindi is hypocrisy at its worst. #shame #EwaneTawheed
— Imran Jattala (ijattala) Sun, Jan 29 2012 02:28:37

Some urged Pakistanis to speak up for Ahmadis and asked for tolerance.

Dear #Pakisan please give up hypocrisy and #SelectiveMorality. #Ahmadis of satellite town r in great danger, #SpeakUP please! #Persecution
— Atif S Ahmad (atifahmads) Sun, Jan 29 2012 14:38:32

What right do we have to curse Hindu fanatics who brought down Babri mosque, when some of us want to bring down Ahmadi 'places of worship'?
— Nadeem F. Paracha (NadeemfParacha) Sun, Jan 29 2012 10:50:03

When people violently protest the faith of others, it becomes clear who's genuinely lacking faith #EwaneTawheed #Pakistan #ahmadiyya
— Mohammad Ali Zafar (MohammadAliZ) Sun, Jan 29 2012 09:52:36

Thank you to all those who spoke out & took a stand against Mullah rabble inciting violence against Rawalpindi Ahmadi Mosque #EwaneTawheed
— Munir Khan (munir104) Sun, Jan 29 2012 10:05:35

This <a target="_blank" href="http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-the-ongoing-anti-ahmadi-hate-campaign-in-rawalpindi">petition</a> calls for an end to the "anti-Ahmadi hate campaign in Rawalpindi."

Petition: Stop the ongoing anti-Ahmadi hate campaign in Rawalpindi

The hashtag #AwesomePakistaniThings was trending meanwhile. One person noted the hypocrisy of the situation.

#AwesomePakistaniThings banned terrorist organization #JUD is allowed to gather in thousands and threaten peaceful PAKISTANIS #EwaneTawheed
— Naeem Sabir (cybegeek) Sun, Jan 29 2012 07:37:48

#AwesomePakistaniThings Pakistani media silent when 20000+ known #JUD terrorists gather and threaten peaceful Pakistanis #EwaneTawheed
— Naeem Sabir (cybegeek) Sun, Jan 29 2012 07:53:34

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In Pakistan, a rally against an Ahmadi mosque

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