Bangladeshis Rally Against Minority Sect in Show of Hard-Line Force
Tens of thousands demand that the Ahmadiya community be declared infidels, highlighting tensions ahead of upcoming elections.
DHAKA: Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Bangladesh’s capital on Saturday to demand that followers of a tiny Muslim sect be declared infidels, showcasing a growing hard-line sentiment ahead of general elections scheduled for February.
The Ahmadiya community, which originates from a branch of Sufism founded in 19th-century India, has long faced persecution in Bangladesh, predominantly a Muslim-majority nation.Since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government last year in a student-led revolution, hard-line Islamist groups suppressed under her autocratic rule have resurged.
These groups aim to make political gains in the upcoming elections and have increasingly targeted the Ahmadiya community.
Reports of mob attacks against sect members emerged throughout the country after the change in leadership.On Saturday, demonstrators in Dhaka included political leaders and prominent Islamic scholars from countries such as India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
Protesters displayed banners calling for legislation to outlaw the sect and wore shirts proclaiming that Ahmadiyas must be declared infidels.
Hard-line clerics frequently denounce them as heretics, arguing that their belief in a prophet after Muhammad constitutes blasphemy.Mohammad Mamun Sheikh, 50, stated, "Ahmadiyas hold a completely different view from ours, and that’s why they are not us".
He emphasized that while Ahmadiyas can reside in Bangladesh like followers of other religions, they should not be considered Muslims.
A 15-year-old boy attending the rally said his teacher encouraged him to participate, stating that "Ahmadiyas are polluting our religion".Ahmad Tabshir Choudhury, a spokesperson for the Ahmadiya community in Bangladesh, dismissed the theological arguments against them.
He claimed that religion is being exploited as a political tool.
Ahmadiyas comprise less than one percent of Bangladesh’s population.
Choudhury argued that if their community made up even ten percent, political parties would treat them differently.Despite fears of attacks and harassment, members of the Ahmadiya community remain resolute in their faith.
They assert that they will not abandon their beliefs under pressure.
The rally signifies the deep-seated tensions within Bangladesh's religious landscape as it prepares for significant political shifts.
The Ahmadiya community, which originates from a branch of Sufism founded in 19th-century India, has long faced persecution in Bangladesh, predominantly a Muslim-majority nation.Since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government last year in a student-led revolution, hard-line Islamist groups suppressed under her autocratic rule have resurged.
These groups aim to make political gains in the upcoming elections and have increasingly targeted the Ahmadiya community.
Reports of mob attacks against sect members emerged throughout the country after the change in leadership.On Saturday, demonstrators in Dhaka included political leaders and prominent Islamic scholars from countries such as India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
Protesters displayed banners calling for legislation to outlaw the sect and wore shirts proclaiming that Ahmadiyas must be declared infidels.
Hard-line clerics frequently denounce them as heretics, arguing that their belief in a prophet after Muhammad constitutes blasphemy.Mohammad Mamun Sheikh, 50, stated, "Ahmadiyas hold a completely different view from ours, and that’s why they are not us".
He emphasized that while Ahmadiyas can reside in Bangladesh like followers of other religions, they should not be considered Muslims.
A 15-year-old boy attending the rally said his teacher encouraged him to participate, stating that "Ahmadiyas are polluting our religion".Ahmad Tabshir Choudhury, a spokesperson for the Ahmadiya community in Bangladesh, dismissed the theological arguments against them.
He claimed that religion is being exploited as a political tool.
Ahmadiyas comprise less than one percent of Bangladesh’s population.
Choudhury argued that if their community made up even ten percent, political parties would treat them differently.Despite fears of attacks and harassment, members of the Ahmadiya community remain resolute in their faith.
They assert that they will not abandon their beliefs under pressure.
The rally signifies the deep-seated tensions within Bangladesh's religious landscape as it prepares for significant political shifts.
