LONDON BUSES CARRY ISLAMIC MESSAGE OF PEACE

The campaign comes at a time when Islamophobia is seen to be on the increase, following the planned Islam4UK demonstration march through Wootton Bassett.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | UK Desk
Source & Credit: Community Newswire
By Bethan Hill | November 2010

Buses in London are carrying Islamic messages of peace and respect, as part of a national campaign launched today to reassert the peaceful principles of the faith.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community has launched the campaign in an attempt to counter the extremists who have used Islam for political reasons.

Some 100 buses in the capital city will carry the message "Muslims for loyalty, freedom and peace".
Ahmadi Muslims will also be taking part in a national doorstep campaign, handing out leaflets that explain the true principles of Islam.

The leaflets emphasise the community's motto of "Love for all, hatred for none" and explain the key beliefs behind the religion. These include equal rights for all and protecting the sanctity of life.

The leaflets read: "Islam emphasises the sanctity of life and unequivocally rejects violence and terrorism in any form (including suicide bombings) and for any reason."

The doorstep campaign is expected to last for up to six months, with inner city areas to be targeted first. The community is aiming to reach 10% of the population with its message, calling on nearly three million households in the initial phase of the campaign.

Shahid Malik, MP for Dewsbury and Mirfield said the campaign was "promoting an understanding and exploration of Islam within wider British society."

The campaign comes at a time when Islamophobia is seen to be on the increase, following the planned Islam4UK demonstration march through Wootton Bassett.

The British Social Attitudes survey, the results of which were released earlier this month, found that only a quarter of the population felt positive about Islam, while 55% would be opposed to a large mosque being built in their area.

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."

For more information on the campaign, visit www.loveforallhatredfornone.org, a website launched in support of the community's aims.
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