On Jan. 13, President Biden issued a proclamation on protecting religious freedom worldwide, including the rights of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Just two days earlier, however, nine Ahmadi Muslims were murdered in an unprovoked terrorist attack at a mosque in Burkina Faso in West Africa.
As an Ahmadi Muslim living in the United States, I am deeply saddened by this event of discriminatory violence. Acts of terror and violence are condemned in Islam. The Quran once again states, “Whosoever killed a person — unless it be for killing a person or for creating disorder in the land — it shall be as if he had killed all mankind.” [5:33].
Muslims around the world must renounce terrorism and attacks on religious freedom. Violence cannot be justified on the basis of religion. The Holy Quran states, “And who is more unjust than he who prohibits the name of Allah being glorified in Allah’s temples and seeks to ruin them? … For them is disgrace in this world; and theirs shall be a great punishment in the next” [2:115]
Governments and nations must preserve the right of free religious association, and it is societies’ job to make sure that men who commit acts of terror should be brought to justice.
Zohaib Lughmani
Woodinville
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