Ep 10. Outlawed in Pakistan

Outlawed in Pakistan is the tenth episode of the thirty-first season of the acclaimed investigative journalism series Frontline. This episode focuses on the plight of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Pakistan, who are considered to be non-Muslims by Pakistan's constitution and face severe persecution as a result.

The episode starts by setting the scene with footage of Pakistan's bustling streets and mosques, and introducing the Ahmadiyya community as a peaceful religious minority that has been persecuted for decades. The host of the show then introduces the main narrative of the episode - the story of a young Ahmadi Muslim named Rana Ahmad, who has fled Pakistan to seek asylum in Germany due to the threats and violence she faced as an Ahmadi.

The rest of the episode unfolds as a series of interviews with Rana, her family, and various experts on Pakistan's human rights situation. Through these interviews, the audience learns about the severe discrimination faced by Ahmadis in Pakistan - they are not allowed to call themselves Muslims, cannot pray in mosques, and are often subjected to violence and hate speech. The episode also exposes how Pakistan's blasphemy laws are used to target Ahmadis, with even the slightest expression of their faith considered to be blasphemy.

The host takes the audience through Rana's personal journey as she grew up in Pakistan, facing discrimination and violence from an early age. We hear about the day she was shot by gunmen for speaking out against Pakistan's blasphemy laws, and how her own father refused to visit her in the hospital afterwards, for fear of being targeted himself. Rana also talks about the difficulty of reconciling her faith with the attitudes of many Pakistanis towards her community, and the moment she realized she had to leave the country for her own safety.

Interspersed with Rana's story are interviews with various human rights experts, including a lawyer who has defended many blasphemy cases, and a journalist who has written extensively on the Ahmadi community in Pakistan. They provide context and analysis for the situation faced by Ahmadis, and more broadly, the human rights situation in Pakistan.

The episode also covers the role of social media in spreading hate speech and inciting violence against Ahmadis. The host meets with a Pakistani social media activist who runs an online campaign to counter hate speech against Ahmadis, and shows how his efforts have led to some small changes in attitude towards the community.

Towards the end of the episode, the focus returns to Rana's story as she recounts her journey to Germany, where she has been granted asylum. The audience hears about the challenges of starting a new life in a foreign country, as well as the emotional toll of leaving behind family and friends. However, despite everything she has been through, Rana remains optimistic about the future, and is working towards helping other Ahmadi refugees.

Overall, Outlawed in Pakistan is a powerful and moving episode that sheds light on a little-known human rights issue in Pakistan. The personal story of Rana Ahmad is both heartbreaking and inspiring, while the expert analysis and interviews provide vital context and insight into the wider situation. It's a testament to the power of investigative journalism in exposing human rights abuses and giving a voice to the voiceless.