Originally published in The Daily Herald
Just last week, some of my Christian and Muslim friends got together to feed the homeless at a neighboring church. This incredible feeling reminded me of how lucky we are to live in a country that believes in religious freedom and security.
I wish this was the case in Pakistan, where I was born and raised, but it isn’t. In 1974, Pakistan passed its Second Amendment declaring Ahmadis non-Muslims, and opened doors to violence and persecution against the Christians, Hindus, and Muslims. Many have left the country for that reason.
On Sept. 7, clerics held rallies to observe the 39th anniversary of the Second Amendment and incite violence against Ahmadis.
Pakistan must reinstitute religious freedom as it was once believed by its founding father, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who stated “You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State.”
