It has come to my attention that an article was mistakenly published on a website which could create confusion and misunderstanding about the views of Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri and Minhaj-ul-Quran International. This should clarify the matter.
Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri is regarded as the champion of democracy, human rights and women rights who started to promote these concepts back in the '80s. He is regarded as one of the leading figures of the Muslim world who promotes and develops women rights and encourages women to fully participate in every aspect of the society. He has delivered hundreds of public lectures and has written extensively in his works about women rights. Independent featured a photo by Getty images which shows that Minhaj-ul-Quran women league protesting against honour killings, see here.
Dr Qadri is a true believer of democracy and human rights. He has thousands of public lectures and books which not only promote democracy and human rights but has also given an Islamic perspective about this which is evident from the Quran and Hadith. In fact he was himself in Pakistani politics and was elected as a member of parliament in 2002 elections and resigned after 2 years due to lack of democracy in the Government.
Dr Qadri believes that the term Khilafah is simply used for the word 'government' which is based on democracy, justice and human rights. The term 'Islamic State' is only referred to Muslim majority countries which are based on democracy, justice and human rights which is fundamental in Islam.
He clarified that Britain and other western countries were not ‘Dar al-Harb’ (Abode of War) as regarded by some radicals but ‘Dar al-Aman’ (Abode of Peace) where people of every religion and faith have equal rights and opportunities to practise their religions and even launch faith-based TV channels. He added “All these Western countries - Britain, Europe, North America, wherever you are living - since you are enjoying all rights, all freedoms according to the constitution as other non-Muslim communities are enjoying, there is no difference. And I would have no hesitation in saying you are enjoying the rights and freedoms much better than in many other Muslim and Arab countries.”
Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri is regarded as the only hope for minorities in Pakistan and has always fully supported minorities who regularly visit him. He has hundreds of public lectures and books explaining the rights of minorities during the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Dr Qadri was one of the first to open his mosque for a Christian delegation to pray according to their faith. He and his organisation have regularly hosted Christmas events for the past 10 years or more. He has been given peace awards by the minorities of Pakistan for his role to protect them, see here and here.
Dr Qadri believes in equal rights for minorities from any faith, creed or ethnicity. During the bomb attack on Ahmedis (known as Qadianis) in May 2010, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri’s organisation Minhaj-ul-Quran International was one of the first to condemn the attacks which killed civilians, see here, here (Minhaj-ul-Quran UK) and here (on a website by Ahmedis, known as Qadiani).
One of Dr Qadri’s article was published in the daily newspapers The Nation on August 26, 2010 (and here), in which he says “Islamic law holds both Muslims and non-Muslims equal and no superiority or privilege is given to the Muslims on any ground.” And “Islamic state is responsible for the protection and security of minorities.”
