Pakistan: Registration procedures and documents of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at in Canada, the US and the UK
1. Canada
The National General Secretary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at (AMJ) in Canada provided to the Research Directorate the information contained in this section.
1.1 Verification of Affiliation and Registration
Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community arriving in Canada must fill out a "Member Information Form" and provide two credible references from Canada (AMJ 19 Dec. 2012). The form asks for information such as name, address, member code, whether the person is Ahmadi by birth or a convert, date and country of conversion, information about the spouse and other family members and references (ibid. n.d.a). These references must be well known to the AMJ (ibid. 19 Dec. 2012). The form must be endorsed by the president of the applicant's local branch in Canada by checking the information in the form and contacting the references (ibid.). As of January 2013, there are 70 branches in Canada (ibid. 4 Jan. 2013). The local president must also establish, through an interview with the applicant and conversation with references, whether he or she is an Ahmadi by birth or a convert (ibid. 19 Dec. 2012). Once he is satisfied, the local president forwards the form to the National President or Amir [located in Maple, Ontario (ibid. 4 Jan. 2013)] who, in turn, double-checks the verification carried out by the local president (ibid. 19 Dec. 2012). If everything is in order, the applicant is registered with the community and is eligible to receive a verification letter, if needed (ibid.).
In the case that the applicant can not provide satisfactory references, or he or she is not known to any well-known member or an official of the AMJ in Canada, then the case is referred to the AMJ headquarters in Rabwah, Pakistan, for further verification (ibid.). The headquarters checks the name of the person in the database and if no information is found, the case is sent to the president of the local branch where the person resided in Pakistan (ibid. 4 Jan. 2013). The local president in Pakistan then tries to verify that the person is Ahmadi and participated in the local community (ibid.). If the verification is positive, the applicant is registered and a letter is issued; if not, no verification letter is issued (ibid. 19 Dec. 2012). Processing times for verifying membership vary, ranging between one week, if done locally, and three months, if verification is needed from the headquarters in Pakistan (ibid. 4 Jan. 2013). There have been instances where it takes more time, depending on the case (ibid.).
1.2 Registration Process for Persons Who Convert in Canada
All converts into the AMJ are required to fill out a bai'at, or oath of allegiance, called the "Declaration of Initiation" (ibid. 19 Dec. 2012). The form includes information such as name, address, date of birth, nationality, profession, Muslim name, family members, the name of the person who introduced the convert to the community, and names of the local missionary and missionary in charge (ibid. n.d.b). The form must be verified by the president of the local branch, the regional missionary, the missionary in charge, and the person introducing the new convert (ibid. 19 Dec. 2012). The form is then "processed and upon approval," the person is enrolled in the membership database; however, confirmation of conversion is normally issued after one or two years, depending on one's satisfactory participation and involvement in the AMJ (ibid.). The confirmation letter indicates the date of conversion and clearly outlines that it took place in Canada (ibid.).
1.3 Documentation that Proves Membership in the AMJ
Once membership is confirmed, the applicant is enrolled in a database, is assigned a unique identification code, and is issued a membership card (ibid.). All members of the AMJ in Canada have the membership card, which contains his or her name, name of branch in Canada, and the identification code (ibid.). However, for immigration purposes or for refugee determination procedures, the AMJ issues a specially formatted letter signed by an authorized representative (ibid.). This letter is computer generated on a special watermark paper, has a unique reference number (ibid.), and the names and dates of birth of the applicant and his or her family members and the relationship with the person in question (ibid. n.d.c). This letter is valid only when it has all these characteristics (ibid. 19 Dec. 2012).
The National General Secretary of the AMJ in Canada finally indicated that every country has the authority to carry out its own verification process of a person claiming to be an Ahmadi (ibid. 4 Jan. 2013). While the verification process may involve consultations with AMJ branches in other countries, including Pakistan (depending on the individual in question), the final verification letter issued for immigration-related procedures can only be issued by the AMJ national branch where the immigration case takes place and not by other AMJ branches in other countries (ibid).
2. United Kingdom
In correspondence sent to the Research Directorate on 22 December 2012, the Vice President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association (AMA) in the UK provided the information for this section.
2.1 Verification of Affiliation
For the purposes of membership authentication and verification of affiliation, Ahmadis arriving in the UK must fill out a "Particulars of the Ahmadi Applicant" form, which requires information such as name, address in Pakistan, marital status, spouse's name, name of parents, positions held in the community, reasons for and date of leaving Pakistan, and present address. Male applicants are required to provide a passport-size photograph and, where applicable, an official UK Home Office document with the UK Border Agency number. In some cases, an interview is carried out with the applicant to obtain further information.
Upon submission, the form is sent to the headquarters in Rabwah (Chenab Nagar), Pakistan, for verification. The information is verified by the local official Ahmadi community leadership where the applicant resided in Pakistan. Upon verification, the form is sent back to the headquarters in Rabwah. From Rabwah, the form is sent to the AMA in the UK through the executive director of Public Affairs by the executive director of Foreign Missions in Rabwah and the executive in-charge of the UK chapter of the Director of Foreign Missions in London. Information on financial donations made by the applicant are not confirmed nor verified. The process can take an average of three months from the time the AMA receives the form from the applicant, and in rare cases, it can take up to six months. Rare cases include instances where the applicant changed address while in Pakistan or because of mistaken identity, which can be caused by transliteration of the name. In "rare and exceptional cases," the AMA may confirm than an applicant is an Ahmadi only with the authority and evidence of a well-known and "reliable" member of the AMA residing in the UK. In this case, any confirmation spells out the source upon whom the AMA relied for evidence.
2.2 Registration Process for New Members and Converts
In order to register with the AMA, new members are required to complete a Tajneed form (Member Information Form), which provides access to prayer centres, mosques, a private audience with the head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim community, and participation in the community's activities. The form is almost identical to the ones used in other countries, only with some regional variations. The information fields include full name, date of birth, father's name, address in the UK, date of arrival in the UK, telephone numbers, community branch where the applicant resides, nationality, immigration status, profession, if Ahmadi by birth or date and country of bai'at, references, and verification section by the branch president. The form must be signed by the applicant, endorsed by a close friend or relative, and recommended by the AMA president of the community where the applicant lives. The applicant must disclose any periods of residence abroad and the AMA will seek reports from these countries as well.
If the registration takes place during the verification process, a separate report from the headquarters in Rabwah will not be necessary. Otherwise, the AMA requests, from the local community where he resided in Pakistan, corroboration of the information provided by the applicant in the Tajneed form, as well as information on his or her character, moral background, and any disciplinary action taken against him or her. The report is sent back by the national president or, in the case of Pakistan, the executive of the Directorate of Public Affairs, through the executive in-charge of the UK chapter of the Director of Foreign Missions in London and the executive director of Foreign Missions in Rabwah (AMA 22 Dec. 2012). The process can take from one week to three months, or longer depending on the case (ibid.; AMJ 4 Jan. 2013).
The registration process for converts includes the completion of a bai'at form, where the convert aggress to comply with the conditions of the initiation. This form is endorsed by the person who introduced the convert, and by the regional missionary in the UK where the convert resides. As of December 2012, there are 11 regional missionaries in the UK. The bai'at form is retained by the AMA in the UK for at least one year for local converts, and two years for converts coming from other countries. The waiting period is set to discourage those who wish to become Ahmadis for immigration or marital purposes. After the waiting period, the convert is allowed to fill out the Member Information Form and become registered in the AMA.
2.3 Documentation that Proves Membership with the AMA
The data contained in the Member Information Form is entered in the Ahmadiyya Information Management System (AIMS) which automatically generates a unique AIMS number. Also, the new member is invited to the administrative office in the London district of Morden where a photo is taken. The member is given a photo-identification card that contains the name of the member, the name of the branch where the member resides, and the AIMS number. Cards for members under the age of 15 do not contain a photograph. The AIMS card is identical to the ones issued in Canada and the US and other countries that use the AIMS platform. However, possession of a card does not necessarily means that the member retains membership as factors such as a disciplinary process can affect their status. The computer database indicates whether a member retains membership, or in some rare cases, if that membership presents any restrictions.
For immigration purposes, the AMA can issue a letter reproducing the information on the applicant received from the headquarters in Rabwah. The letter contains a file reference number, the name of the applicant, date of birth, nationality, and UK Border Agency's reference number. The letter is signed by the Secretary Umur A'ama UK (General or Public Affairs Department), although sometimes it can be signed also by another person within that department or by one of the five national vice presidents of the AMA. The letter is issued to the applicant's solicitor and a copy can be provided to the asylum seeker for his records. Letters for converts are issued after at least two years of initiation and it will contain the exact date and place of initiation in the UK.
The representative of AMA indicated that the forms mentioned in this section "should be identical" to Canadian forms, except for the name of the country in the header.
3. United States
Information on the AMJ in the US could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. However, the representative of the AMJ in Canada indicated that verification and registration processes are "very similar in other countries" (AMJ 19 Dec. 2012).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK (AMA). 22 December 2012. Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by the Vice President.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at (AMJ) in Canada. 4 January 2013. Telephone interview with the National General Secretary.
_____. 19 December 2012. Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by the National General Secretary.
_____. N.d.a. "Member Information Form." Sent to the Research Directorate by the National General Secretary, 19 December 2012.
_____. N.d.b. "Declaration of Initiation." Sent to the Research Directorate by the National General Secretary, 19 December 2012.
_____. N.d.c. Sample of membership verification letter. Sent to the Research Directorate by the National General Secretary, 19 December 2012.
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Representatives of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at in the United States could not provide information within the time constraints of this Response.
Internet sites, including: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the United Kingdom; Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the Unites States; Amnesty International; Australia Refugee Review Tribunal; Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation; ecoi.net; United Kingdom – Border Agency; United Nations – ReliefWeb, Refworld.