UNITED KINGDOM: AHMADI MUSLIMS LAUNCH NEW PEACE CAMPAIGN IN BRITAIN

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Ahmadiyya Times | News Desk | UK
Source: Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK | Press & Media Desk
Posted by News staff | January 18, 2010

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community calls for peace in words and deeds

One of Britain’s oldest established and peaceful Muslim communities is launching a national doorstep and publicity campaign to reassert true Islamic principles of peace and to counter the extremists who hijack the faith for political ends.

The Rt Hon John Denham MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has expressed support for the campaign and Minister Shahid Malik MP, commended the Ahmadiyya Muslim community for “promoting an understanding and exploration of Islam within wider British society.”

The campaign will be launched with a message of loyalty, freedom and peace on 100 buses in Central London on Monday 18 January followed by further coverage in newspapers across the UK. Ahmadi Muslims will be personally calling on nearly three million households and presenting people with a leaflet that highlights Islam’s commitment to fundamental values of loyalty, freedom, equality, respect and peace.

The nationwide grassroots campaign, supported by a new website LoveForAllHatredForNone.org seeks to change the perception of Islam by clarifying its true teachings and emphasising the need for these to be put in practice by all Muslims.

This drive to promote peace has been repeatedly emphasised by the worldwide leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, His Holiness Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, who has said:“A true Muslim can never raise his voice in hatred against his fellow citizens, nor for that matter against the ruling authority or government of the time... he should remain loyal and fully abide by the laws of the land of which he is a subject.”

The campaign comes at a time when Islamophobia is at a height ‐ a recent survey by an independent agency had found that a quarter of respondents had described Islam as the ‘worst religion’ on earth.

Mr Rafiq Hayat, the National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK said: “The true peaceful Islam is poles apart from the hatred that is preached by a minority. Such extremists do not represent Islam yet, through the media, their words and deeds have a damaging impact on Muslims and non‐Muslims every day.

“By emphasising the values highlighted in this campaign we hope to facilitate a better understanding of Islam so that people are able judge for themselves the actions of those who claim to speak and act in its good name. Islam stresses the promotion of peace in words and deeds.”

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community’s track record of promoting peace was further acknowledged by Minister Shahid Malik MP who said that the Community “…can be proud of their commitment in championing the themes of ‘loyalty, freedom, equality, respect’ and ‘peace’ – themes which help build stronger, more cohesive communities.”

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, established in 195 countries with 160 million followers, is renowned for its interfaith activities and humanitarian efforts that reflect its motto of 'Love for All, Hatred for None.'

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