The Saturday guest event spotlighted a discussion between civil servants and interfaith leaders on solving global extremism and protecting international religious freedom.
Source/Credit: The Philadelphia Tribune
By Tribune Staff Report | August 21, 2015
Friday [August 14th] marked the initiation of the 67th Jalsa Salana USA, an annual national Islamic convention hosted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA. The Jalsa is the longest running convention of its kind, catering to both American Muslims across the United States as well as international Muslims from multiple countries. It also attracts upwards of 1,000 non-Muslim guests every year. The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg housed an estimated 8,000 American Muslims from diverse backgrounds — military veterans, businessmen, physicians, political assistants and others gathered to strengthen ties and promote peace.
Gov. Tom Wolf visited the Jalsa on Friday and met with numerous Muslim members of the local and national community. Wolf received briefings on the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s ongoing campaigns of “Muslims for Peace” and “Muslims for Loyalty.” After touring the event, Wolf said, “peace building is something everyone should be doing.”
Friday’s session featured speeches that aimed to increase spirituality and enhance the connection between attendees and the spiritual head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness the Khalifa of Islam, Mirza Masroor Ahmad. His Holiness delivered a number of speeches denouncing extremism and promoting peace in a similar Jalsa in the United Kingdom.
U.S. Rep. Mike Honda, Representative for California’s 17th Congressional District, attended the special guest event on Saturday titled, “Religion, Freedom and Peace.” For his service with the Peace Corps and his global advocacy of religious freedom, Honda received the Ahmadiyya Humanitarian Award. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community seeks to recognize exemplary service efforts and has been dedicated to relief, education and food security worldwide. Its members have worked extensively with Humanity First, an international nonprofit humanitarian relief organization whose global health initiatives and disaster relief efforts were showcased in an exhibition at the event.
The Saturday guest event spotlighted a discussion between civil servants and interfaith leaders on solving global extremism and protecting international religious freedom. The esteemed guests included Honda; Vice Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Dr. Robert George; Acting Director of the office of International Religious Freedom of the U.S. State Department Brian Bachman; and state Rep. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin), among others.
The Jalsa Salana or annual convention ended on Sunday and featured speeches dedicated to strengthening spirituality, fostering ties between faith groups, and helping to promote peace and loyalty.
Read original post here: USA: 67th Jalsa Salana USA convention promotes peace, spirituality
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