Police claims that Tahir Iqbal was punished through a “honor killing” for his relationship with a local woman. Others believe he was killed for his religion.
by Massimo Introvigne
Probably the persecuted Ahmadis of Pakistan, with few exceptions, do not read Latin. But they would clearly understand the Latin expression “Quo usque tandem?” “Just for how long?” meaning for how long they should continue to be abused. They live this reality daily.
Tahir Iqbal was the president of the Ahmadiyya community in Chak No. 84 Hashilpur, Bahawalpur District, Punjab. He was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle on March 4, 2024. The official version by the police is that the man was in an extramarital relationship with a local woman whose relatives may have assassinated him in a “honor killing” rather than a religiously motivated one. This version was quickly spread on social media by anti-Ahmadi Sunni radicals, who implied that Iqbal deserved twice to be assassinated, as an Ahmadi and as a man involved in immoral relations.
While the investigation continues, my first comment is that when it comes to the Ahmadis in Pakistan disentangling religious from other motivations of violence against them is never easy. The Ahmadiyya community has condemned the killing and demanded once again justice and protection from the authorities. Human rights activists have expressed shock and grief over the incident and urged the government to ensure the safety and security of the Ahmadiyya community. The assassination of Tahir Iqbal is in fact the latest in a series of attacks against Ahmadis, who have faced violence, harassment, and discrimination for decades.
Whatever its possible composed and complicated motivations, the assassination highlights the vulnerability and marginalization of the Ahmadiyya community, which is legally declared as non-Muslims and barred from practicing their faith openly. The attack also exposes the failure of the Pakistani government to protect the rights and lives of the religious minorities, who face daily threats from extremist groups and discriminatory laws. We hope both that the homicide will be investigated without prejudices and that this new tragedy will be an opportunity for domestic and international voices to call on Pakistan to improve its dismal record on human rights and religious freedom.