Switzerland: Friday prayers start 29th Ahmadiyya Muslim Annual Convention

It was peaceful here on Friday morning in a small ‘tent city’ which the organizers have set up near their mosque they had established five years ago in Häusern.

The Friday Prayer: Opening event of the 29th Annual Meeting of the
Ahmadiyya Movement in Häusern in Wigoltingen. (Picture:: Reto Martin)

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | EU Desk
Source/Credit: Thurgauer Zeitung
By Esther Simon | September 24, 2011
Adopted from a crude translation generated by Google-Translate

The Ahmadiyya Movement holds the 29th Annual Convention and the organizers expect about a thousand visitors.

In Häusern area of Wigoltingen, consisting of about a dozen houses, a few tents have been added since yesterday.

Of the approximately 400,000 Muslims living in Switzerland, there are several thousand that belong to the "Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam," and they are very active.

The annual convention which began in Häusern yesterday is one of the highlights in their community activities.


Peaceful tent city

It was peaceful here on Friday morning in a small ‘tent city’ which the organizers have set up near their mosque they had established five years ago in Häusern.

The organizers expect about a thousand visitors from all over Switzerland and neighboring countries to the meeting which is marked by speeches and prayers and lasts until Sunday.

The evidence of the diverse origins of the participants is noticeable from the plates on the cars that are parked on the neighboring lawn adjacent to the mosque.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Movement has devoted itself to the cause of peace.

Some marquees are designated for the women and children and the other are for the men.

The women have their separate program.

"The women are as active as men," says Zahid (meaning "one who prays") Butt, spokesman for the 29th Annual Convntion in Häusern, not without pride.

Beginning with the Friday Sermon

The convention began with the Friday prayers and the Friday sermon of Hazrat Khalīfatul Masīh was relayed from a live broadcast via the MTA International setup in one of the marquee.

Walid Tariq Tarnutzer is president of the movement who was once called Walter and had grown as a Protestant Grisons.

Butt is from Solothurn who believes integration requires a lot of hard work.

"We want to serve the country. Where we live, we serve," says Butt.

The movement also places high value on good neighborly relations with the people of the town who have become accustomed to the mosque and the regular meeting. However, no one wants to express itself.

Ms Sonja Wiesmann, mayor, is expected to participate on Saturday.

"Doors open" 

Zahid Butt is pleased that a large number from Wigoltingen have supported.

"Our doors are open. We want people to ask the critical questions. We have the answers."

Even for this large conference, the organizers have deliberately bought all the foods from this area and only the meat slaughtered according to religious rules comes from out of town.

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