Statement of Hadhrat Khalifa-Tul Masih V (ATBA), Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

NEW YORK, May 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In  response  to  the  terrorist  attacks  that  took  place  at  two  Ahmadi  mosques  in Lahore  earlier today, His  Holiness, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad has issued the following statement:

"The terrorist attacks that occurred today at two of our mosques in Lahore were completely barbaric and alien to all forms of humanity.

"These attacks took place in mosques which are places of worship and at the time of the Friday prayers which all Muslims know is a holy and sacred time. No true Muslims could ever countenance  such  attacks,  such  cruelty  and  such  barbaric behaviour. No form of terrorism has any place in Islam and thus those who were behind these attacks may justify their acts in its name, but let it be clear they are Muslim only in name and never in deed.

"The situation in Pakistan is extremely grave. For decades Ahmadi Muslims have not been able to live in peace, in fact they live their lives in constant danger. In 1974 Ahmadi Muslims were declared 'non-Muslim' by the Government of Pakistan and then ten years later the infamous Ordinance XX   was adopted which criminalised all forms of Ahmadi worship and the practice of its faith.

"These laws effectively legitimised the exclusion and persecution of our Jamaat in Pakistan.  Ever  since,  extremists  have  taken  advantage  and  targeted  Ahmadis. Despite this  cruelty Ahmadis  have remained  loyal citizens  of Pakistan  and  have never shown any form of civil disobedience.

"At this time we do not know the full extent of what has happened. However it is clear that dozens of Ahmadis have been killed and many others have been injured. I pray that Allah may grant patience to all those who have been left bereaved and grant an elevated status in Paradise to those who have been martyred. May God restore to health those who have been injured.

"The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat is a peace loving true Muslim Jamaat. Thus there will be no  improper reaction  from  any  Ahmadi.   Our  salvation  lies   in  our supplications to God Almighty and we believe that He has, and always will, help us.  No  terrorist  and  no  government  can  ever  stop  the  progress  of  our  Jamaat because it is a Divine organisation.

"May Allah protect all good natured people from the evil acts of those opposed to peace."

SOURCE Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA