Pakistani non-Muslims forced to pay Islamic tax

(June 4, 2009) Bara-based Lashkar-e-Islam, an Islamic militant group has imposed jazia, an Islamic tax, to the non-Muslim communities, including Sikhs, Hindus and Christians living in Khyber Agency, a tribal agency of North West Frontier Post near Afghanistan’s border and which is under the control of militants. Sources said that the group had asked the non-Muslim communities in Bara, Chora, Karamna, Bazaar Zakhakhel and Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency to pay jazia or leave the agency, said the News Agency on June 3^rd. They received the warning on May 31^st following which the community agreed to pay the tax instead of leaving the area, where they are living for decades. The minority communities had many meetings with the local militant group but they were not ready to give any concession to the minority community. They were told that they are not Muslims, so they have to pay jazia. Media reports say that only women, children and handicapped persons had been exempted from paying the tax, while other members of the communities would be bound to pay Rs1,000 (US$12.5) per head annually. Jazia is an Islamic tax which is being imposed by an Islamic state to its non-Muslim subjects. Though Pakistan is an Islamic state, the state has never imposed jazia to its religious minorities. Some radical Muslim religious leaders have been demanded for it but this undemocratic demand never gets public support.