American Muslim Proud, Grateful for Our Nation

To The Editor:
As an American Ahmadi Muslim of Pakistani descent, I take special meaning from Independence Day. On May 28 in Pakistan, terrorists attacked two mosques belonging to the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, killing 94 and injuring hundreds. Long persecuted for our belief in Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as the Messiah, members of my community in Pakistan live and practice in secret under penalty of arrest and death.
Not only does Pakistan constitutionally sponsor this terrorism, but Pakistani clerics canvas every major media outlet, commending the murders of Ahmadi Muslims, Christians and Jews. In a nation that once was, and still is, home to much of my family, it is unfathomable that such grave injustices thrive.
America’s forefathers founded our great nation in part to escape religious persecution. As we celebrated our 234th Independence Day, I stood among my fellow Americans proud and grateful that our nation held fast to its original ideals of freedom. I hope one day that those bound by injustice will experience the true beauty of freedom.
NUSRAT QADIR
Morristown