Prime Minister,

Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Dear Mr. Nawaz Sharif,

We bring to your attention a matter of grave injustice. Last month, an 80 year old bookseller, Mr. Abdul Shakoor, was arrested from his bookshop in Rabwah under Pakistan's blasphemy law. Yesterday, he was handed down an 8 year jail sentence with a hefty fine.  His crime: He is an Ahmadi muslim who sold literature belonging to his own Ahmadyya Muslim Community. 

Video showing an inspection of the books found in his shop. Here the police is accompanied by a Muslim cleric who is determining whether the books constitute blasphemy or not: https://www.facebook.com/KiyaAhmadiMuslmanNahi/videos/747232112036337/ 

Here is a video showing his arrest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EB0pybZ5OE

We petition you on this grave breach of Human Rights by the Pakistani judiciary and urge you to provide prompt justice and #FreeShakoorBhai. 

Ahmadi Muslims have been declared non-Muslims by law because the mainstream scholars do not agree with their beliefs.  Thousands have been arrested under the country's anti-Ahmadi laws that have been in place for over four decades.  This injustice must end. We must educate our people that no difference of opinion deserves persecution and brutal state-backed oppression. 

We, therefore, call on you to help release the elderly Ahmadi Muslim wrongly jailed for his beliefs under Pakistan's notorious blasphemy laws. 

Thank you. 

Sincerely, 

Concerned Citizen of Pakistan.