Additional Name(s): Usman Ahmad
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Pakistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Ahmadiyya
Date of Detainment: September/29/2020
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Blasphemy (Religious Texts) Online Activity Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Conversion Hate Speech
Malik Usman Ahmad
Extra Bio Info:
Malik Usman Ahmad is detained for blasphemy.
On September 29, 2020, authorities arrested Ahmad after accusing him of sharing perceived blasphemous materials. He was charged with several offenses, including "inciting interfaith hatred" (Sec. 11 Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016), "desecrating the Qur'an" (Sec. 295-B PPC), and "posing as Muslim" (Sec. 298-C PPC).
On June 29, 2021, the trial court added "intending to outrage religious feelings" (Sec. 295-A PPC) and "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC) to the charges against Ahmad.
In October 2023, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention released an opinion on Ahmad's detention, calling for his immediate release.
Related Cases: Rohan Ahmad, Hafiz Tariq Shehzad
Sources:
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"Pakistan: UN Declares Detention of Three Muslim Men a Violation of International Law" Freedom Now
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"Opinion No. 35/2023 concerning Rohan Ahmad, Usman Ahmad and Tariq Ahmad Shehzad (Pakistan)" UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Pakistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Ahmadiyya
Date of Detainment: May/26/2020
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Blasphemy (Religious Texts) Distributing Religious Materials Online Activity Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Conversion Hate Speech
Rohan Ahmad
Extra Bio Info:
Rohan Ahmad is detained for blasphemy.
On May 26, 2020, authorities arrested Ahmad after he was accused of sharing on WhatsApp religious materials perceived as blasphemous. Ahmad was charged with several offenses, including "inciting interfaith hatred" (Sec. 11 Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016), "desecrating the Qur'an" (Sec. 295-B PPC), and "posing as Muslim" (Sec. 298-C PPC).
On June 29, 2021, the trial court added "intending to outrage religious feelings" (Sec. 295-A PPC) and "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC) to the charges against Ahmad.
In October 2023, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention released an opinion on Ahmad's detention, calling for his immediate release.
Related Cases: Malik Usman Ahmad, Hafiz Tariq Shehzad
Sources:
-
"Pakistan: UN Declares Detention of Three Muslim Men a Violation of International Law" Freedom Now
-
"Opinion No. 35/2023 concerning Rohan Ahmad, Usman Ahmad and Tariq Ahmad Shehzad (Pakistan)" UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
Gender: Male
Current Location: Camp Jail, Lahore
Perpetrator: Pakistan
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Ahmadiyya
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: September/29/2020
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Religious Figures) Blasphemy (Religious Texts) Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Blasphemy Conversion Hate Speech
Malik Zaheer Ahmad
Extra Bio Info:
Malik Zaheer Ahmad is detained for blasphemy.
On September 29, 2020, authorities initially arrested Ahmad in relation to a blasphemy-related incident.
On February 23, 2021, Ahmad was granted bail. However, on February 27, 2021, the day he was supposed to be released from prison, authorities arrested him in relation to another blasphemy case that he reportedly had no connection to.
On July 15, 2021, the trial court announced that Ahmad had been charged with "inciting interfaith hatred" (Sec. 11 Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016), "intending to outrage religious feelings" (Sec. 295-A PPC), "desecrating the Qur'an" (Sec. 295-B PPC), "insulting the Prophet Muhammad" (Sec. 295-C PPC), and "posing as Muslim" (Sec. 298-C PPC).