Persecuted Muslims: 'We will not be cowered'

"Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan have demonstrated the strength of their faith in the face of such violence by remaining true to their Islamic beliefs. We will not be cowered and will not be deterred. We will fight on - not with guns or fists, but with our message 'Love for All, Hatred for None'. [Rafiq Hayat, National President, Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK]

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | UK Desk
Source & Credit: Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, UK
By Press release | Morden | June 3, 2010

More than six thousand will gather at a prayer service on Friday in memory of the 86 Ahmadi Muslims killed in last week’s massacres in Pakistan – 84 lost their lives in attacks on two Lahore mosques on Friday – one of the bloodiest days Pakistan has ever seen – and then on Monday in a separate atrocity a home in Narowal was attacked with two Ahmadis murdered.

Prayers will take place at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in London, led by Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Khalifa (Supreme Head) of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, where several relatives of those murdered – that included one British citizen – will also be attending. A book of condolence has been opened and is being signed by MPs, civic leaders and members of the public.


Ahmadi Muslims are trying to come to terms with the atrocity. And, despite receiving further threats from extremists that they will again be targeted, Ahmadi Muslims have vowed to carry on their campaign to promote the true message of Islam.

Rafiq Hayat, National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK, said:

“We have been targeted for more than 50 years in Pakistan where the Government has played a major role in sanctioning persecution against us due to its specific laws against our community. We pray that these latest atrocities will stir them into action to repeal those laws.

"Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan have demonstrated the strength of their faith in the face of such violence by remaining true to their Islamic beliefs. We will not be cowered and will not be deterred. We will fight on - not with guns or fists, but with our message 'Love for All, Hatred for None'. We remain determined to show the real face of Islam to the world whatever these fanatics do or say. We refuse to let them win.”

Earlier this year, Ahmadi Muslims in Britain launched a major campaign on ‘loyalty, freedom and peace’ highlighting the true teachings of Islam, which included the distribution of a special leaflet to millions of people, and peace messages on buses across the country. As part of that campaign the community is holding a Peace Walk in Birmingham on 13th June to raise tens of thousands of pounds for British charities.


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Dr Basharat Nazir
Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK
Baitul Futuh Mosque, 181 London Road, Morden
Surrey SM4 5PT
Phone: +44 7703 483 384, Email: media@ahmadiyya.org.uk
www.LoveForAllHatredForNone.org