The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief has criticized Pakistan for its treatment of Ahmadiyya Muslims.

In a report submitted before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 5th, Special Rapporteur, Ahmed Shaheed said:

Ahmadis have been subject to systematic persecution by means of State-sanctioned discrimination and other repressive measures, including the closing of their businesses, schools and places of worship and the imprisonment of those who violate the restrictive laws imposed on the community.

Special Rapporteur Shaheed further declared that:

Discriminatory measures include the denial of equal rights of citizenship, including in standing for public office. Adherents of the faith are subject to an ongoing campaign of threats and intimidation and acts of violence and terrorism, with little or no protection from the authorities.

Pan-African Union for Science and Technology also reiterated the concerns of the Special Rapporteur and recounted that Christians and Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan were considered second-class citizens.

Responding to the report, Pakistan’s envoy to the UN claimed that the Special Rapporteur’s observations on the Ahmadiyya minority in the country were “grossly exaggerated” and “inaccurate”.

They Pakistani envoy insisted that Ahmadis enjoyed equal rights and had risen to high ranks in public and private sectors.

????????UN Rights expert condemns Pakistan over "systematic persecution" of Ahmadis https://t.co/kTBEeoZ1lh ????????Pakistan responds by saying that UN expert's observations on the #Ahmadiyya minority in the country are "grossly exaggerated" and "inaccurate" pic.twitter.com/E6vVxkvncn — Rabwah Times (@RabwahTimes) March 11, 2019

In a separate event on March 1st, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations also hinted at Pakistan’s persecution of Ahmadis and said: