Ghulam Ahmad Malik and Family Must Stay

Ghulam Ahmad Malik, his wife Khalida Parveen and their three children Arsalan Ahmad Malik (18), Farhan Ahmad Malik (24) and Nazia Ghulam Malik (22) are Ahmadi Muslims from Pakistan who came to Britain on 19th September 2001 escaping religious persecution. They are presently living in Nottingham.

The Ahmadiyya minority is a religious sect who claim that their founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is the Promised Messiah and a prophet. They adhere to the Islamic faith and consider themselves to be Muslims however, their belief in Ahmad's prophetic status contravenes orthodox Islam which contends that Mohammed was the last prophet. This has resulted in their persecution. Since the 1970's a series of laws have been passed in Pakistan aimed at restricting the religious freedoms of Ahmadis. In 1974 they were declared "non-Muslims" during the administration of President Z.A. Bhutto. State repression continued in 1984 when an ordinance on un-Islamic activities made Ahmadis liable to prosecution for a number of "offenses" including, calling themselves Muslims, preaching, using an Islamic greeting or calling their place of worship a Mosque. In 1986 the penal code was amended to allow for the death penalty as punishment for breaking the ordinances. In 1991 the death penalty became mandatory for these offenses. http://www.hrw.org/reports/1993/pakistan/

Repressive legislation continued to be passed and Ahmadi's have suffered from violent reprisals as a result. By July 1987 more than 2,000 Ahmadi's had been charged with offenses under these laws which not only violate a persons right to practice their religion freely but as the US state department notes, "encouraged an atmosphere of religious intolerance which has led to acts of violence directed at Ahmadis" and other religious minorities.

Anti-Ahmadi feeling runs at dangerously high levels and is not prevented by the police. In June 1987 an Ahmadi lawyer and community leader was shot and killed. In July 1992 anti-Ahmadi feeling resulted in the murder of one Ahmadi awaiting trial under these laws. In 1999 the home of an Ahmadi religious leader in the Punjab was looted and burned after he was accused of planning to build an Ahmadi house of worship. The Police did nothing to stop the crowd from damaging his property and instead registered a blasphemy case against him and his two sons. http://www.hrw.org.wr2k1/asia/pakistan.html  

Persecution and violent attacks on the Ahmadi community persist. In 2000 five people were killed and seven injured when an Ahmadi prayer meeting was fired on.
For more information on the persecution of Ahmadi Muslims go to http://www.thepersecution.org/

Mr. Malik trained as an engineer and worked in Lahore where the family home was. He also owned agricultural land in Dulmial in the Chakwal District where he founded the Farhan Education Society of which he was President. The Society ran a school named the Farhan Model School.

Their house was also used for religious meetings.

For many years this family faced persecution due to their religious beliefs which came to a head in 1998. The family were targeted by three fundamentalist Muslim groups, the Sipah-I-Sahaba-I-Pakistan (SSP), the Jamaat-I-Islami (JI) and the Khatami Nabouhat. The family received threatening phone calls including death threats, crowds stood outside their home throwing stones and all family members were harassed when they left the house. Mr. Malik on several occasions registered complaints with the Ghalib Market police station but no action was ever taken. He also reported the matter to his local councillors several times but again no result came from this, the police not even registering his complaints. In December 1999 Mr. Malik had a heart attack which he believes was brought on by the strain and tension he was under. 

In June 2001 Mr. Malik and his eldest son Farhan visited the UK on business but had to return quickly in response to a phone call from his wife about the harassment of her and their two younger children. An attempt was made to kidnap his younger son Arsalan. Mr. Malik also learned that the Farhan school in Dulmial had been ransacked by Sunni Muslims. From July - September 2001 he was in contact with his local Nazim (mayor) about the situation and the latter got his complaints registered with the Ghalib Market police. In the meantime Muslim groups had contacted the Nazim and accused Mr. Malik of preaching his faith. The Nazim who was sympathetic to the family's situation, informed Mr. Malik that proceedings had begun to prosecute him under the blasphemy laws. In 1991 the death punishment was made mandatory for blasphemy and in 1993 The Supreme Court had rejected the Ahmadiyya's claim to religious freedom and stated that their theological position could be considered blasphemous.

The family had tried to move to Dulmial but their persecution continued. Because of the information received from the Nazim the family felt they had no alternative but to leave Pakistan and seek asylum in the UK. They left behind them a six-bedroom house and a prosperous lifestyle. Mr. Malik fears that if he returned blasphemy charges would be brought against him and he could be imprisoned and even executed. 

While living in Nottingham Mr. Malik has completed several courses at the local college. His health is now poor and he has to use a wheelchair. He has developed respiratory failure and is on a ventilator at night. His consultant Dr Kinnear of Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham says of his condition,

"If he did not use a ventilator, he would rapidly deteriorate and his life would be at risk. I think it is imperative that he continues this treatment and I do not think that it would be possible for him if he were to return to Pakistan".

The Malik family are Ahmadis and are supported by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK which was established in 1914; if sent back to Pakistan they would again face persecution and Mr. Malik could lose his life. They should be allowed to stay and practice their religion in safety. They also have much to contribute.

     What you can do to help
Fax/write to the Home Secretary David Blunkett, using the model letter 'Attached', which you can copy/amend/write your own.

Fax no: 020 7273 3965 from outside the UK + 44 20 7273 3965

Or write to:

David Blunkett
Home Secretary
Home Office
50 Queen Anne's Gate
London SW1H 9AT

Please take time to send a copy of anything sent to:
Malik Family Campaign
c/o NCADC
Cambridge House
131 Camberwell Road
London SE5 0HF
Enquiries/further information:
Allison Bennett
Phone: 020 7701 5197
ncadc-london@ncadc.org.uk