Dr. Mehdi Ali Qamar, a U.S. citizen and cardiologist, traveled from Columbus, Ohio to provide free cardiac care to the needy
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA today mourns the tragic passing of American physician and humanitarian, Dr. Mehdi Ali Qamar. On May 26, 2014, Dr. Qamar, a 50-year old U.S. citizen and married father of three, was on Day 2 of a three-week medical mission in Rabwah, Pakistan, when militant extremists gunned him down in front of his wife and
two-year-old son. Dr. Qamar was murdered because he was a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
In 1974, Pakistan passed a constitutional amendment declaring Ahmadi Muslims to be “non-Muslim.” In 1984, Pakistan passed anti-blasphemy and anti-Ahmadi laws criminalizing religious practices of Ahmadi Muslims, which are punishable by fine, imprisonment or capital punishment. To date, militant extremists have murdered hundreds of Ahmadi
Muslims in Pakistan with impunity.
“Today, Dr. Mehdi Ali Qamar, an American physician on a humanitarian mission has fallen victim to an unspeakable act of terrorism,” said Dr. Nasim Rehmatullah, National Vice President of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA. “Pakistan’s state-facilitated persecution of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has emboldened militant extremists to engage in horrific acts of violence against Ahmadi Muslims and other religious minorities. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community implores Pakistan to abide by international human rights commitments, repeal all hate-filled anti-blasphemy and anti-Ahmadi laws and provide adequate security and police protections for vulnerable religious communities. ”
As Muslims who believe in the Messiah, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community will continue to respond to premeditated crimes against humanity with peace, education, and prayers—as it has for over 125 years. As the world’s single largest Muslim community with a spiritual leader, we strive to demonstrate Islam’s true teachings of moderation, tolerance, and love. We express our deepest condolences to Dr. Mehdi Ali Qamar’s wife, children, and extended family, and hope the perpetrators are swiftly held accountable.