The High Commission of Canada to Pakistan fired back after receiving a message calling Ahmadis “non-Muslims” on social media.

On 23rd August 2016 the twitter account of the Canadian High Commission shared a picture and wrote: “Acting High Commissioner Stuart Savage delighted to visit Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.”

The picture of the acting High Commissioner was followed by another tweet in which the HC compared the area of Faisal Mosque, Islamabad to that of the Bait-un-Nur Mosque, Calgary. The Bait-un-Nur Mosque covers an area of 4,500 square meters, while Pakistan’s Faisal Mosque cover a whopping 5,000 square meters.

Faisal Mosque, Islamabad, Pakistan: 5000 sq.m. – Baitan Nur mosque, Calgary, Canada: 4500 sq.m. #BiggestMosque pic.twitter.com/k9zr3JCnXC — Canada in Pakistan (@CanHCPakistan) August 23, 2016

A Canadian-Pakistani responded to the tweet by saying “Qadianis are declared non-Muslims by courts and Muslims. U must respect court judgment?”

The Canadian High Commission answered back saying:

Canada remains concerned by the persecution of the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan

@Asmatkhan787 Canada remains concerned by the persecution of the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan — Canada in Pakistan (@CanHCPakistan) August 24, 2016

@Asmatkhan787 "Qadinis R enjoying more happy life in Pakistan as compared to Canada" On what basis do you make this statement? — Canada in Pakistan (@CanHCPakistan) August 24, 2016

@Asmatkhan787 Persecution on religion illegal in Canada. Ppl can complain eg to Can Human Rights Commission https://t.co/U7UsRKT12p & police — Canada in Pakistan (@CanHCPakistan) August 24, 2016

The Bait-un-Noor Mosque opened in 2008 and was built by the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam. The sect is practically banned in Pakistan and its followers face severe persecution. Many Ahmadis have sought refugee protection in Canada due to the increasing violence in Pakistan.