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| The Holy Qura'an Exhibition in Delhi, India was closed after threats of of violence by Muslim clerics. |
Source/Credit: Ahmadiyya Times | Staff
By Imran Jattala | December 3, 2011
After forcing a shut-down of a Qur'an Exhibition through protests and threats of violence by extremist Muslim clerics three thousand miles away at the Constitution Club in Dehli, India, a similar extremist element in the UK, also succeeded with similar devices in blocking Ahmadiyya Muslim Qu’ran Exhibition, due to be held on Saturday (today) at Dewsbury Town Hall.
The Muslim Holy book, the Holy Qur'an, is accepted by all Muslims of the world as the true Word of God, revealed directly to the Holy Founder of Islam, Prophet Mohammed fourteen hundred years ago.
However, over time, many extremists groups have come to regard the authority of the Holy Qur'an secondary to some less credible statements attributed to the Holy Prophet Mohammad, written and compiled nearly three hundred years after the Prophet’s demise.
The alleged week statements are often cited by the extremists’ to support their intolerant views and Jihad with sword to spread Islam, an idea that is clearly contradicted by the Holy Qur'an.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, UK (AMA), which holds the Holy Qur'an as the final authority over all other assertions, had planned the exhibition as a part of their series of informal information events to highlight the true teaching of the Holy Qur'an and Islam about bringing peace and harmony among the communities.
In recent months the UK has seen a barrage of threats of protests and violence by Islamist groups who use faith as basis for their anti-state activities, demands for special treatment and in disrespecting the nation’s war veterans - as exhibited last month in the matter of the poppy appeal protests by some banned Islamist groups.
The Islamist groups claim to defend the Muslim identity and monopoly on interpretation of Islamic teachings.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim community - who disagrees with extremists' tactics and launched a counter-campaign to assert Islam as a religion that teaches peace and loyally - has been repeatedly prevented by various extremist groups from exhibiting the harmonious teachings delivered by the Holy Qur'an.
The irony is, the community members say, they are attacked by the extremists from all sides, not just the Muslim clerics seeking to stop their efforts.
In October an Ahmadiyya book stall and Qur'an Exibition in Cradley Heath market was stormed by several dozen attackers from the English Defence League (EDL), who abused and roughed up volunteers managing the booth.
The EDL attackers, who claim to defend the English identity and their Christian heritage, weren’t "too happy with the Muslim message" of peace, it was reported at the time.
In calling off the Saturday exhibition, Arif Ahmad of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association in Dewsbury said, “The idea of the exhibition was to allow everyone, not just Muslims, to learn more about the Qur’an and Islam in order to help community cohesion.”
But, after discussing with West Yorkshire Police AMA was made aware that they may face disturbances from other Mulsims if the Community went ahead in Dewsbury as planned, it was reported.
Member of Parliament, Simon Revell, who represents Dewsbury and Mirflied, had planned to attend the exhibition, but changed plans after receiving advice he would need police escorts because of the threats.
“As a peaceful community, with a motto of ‘Love for all, hatred for none’, the last thing we wanted is to be involved in any kind of disturbance,” said Ahmad.
The Kirklees Imams & Mosques Advisory Board (KIMAB) - an organization whose validity of existence is yet to be independently ascertained and verified by Ahmadiyya Times - issued a press statement claiming they felt left out when the Qur'an Exhibition was planned.
KIMAB statement said, in part, they are “wary about groups holding Qu’ran or any form of Islamic Exhibitions without their consultation or involvement.”
Based out of Kirklees, KIMAB, who claim they are the representative body and voice of all Muslim denominations and Mosques, asserted they must have control over all matters 'effecting' Muslims.
In representation of “all Muslim denominations” KIMAB claims to speak for, it said, “…we must also recognize the importance of involving and consulting Muslim communities on matters that are holy to them.”
Dr. Basharat Nazir, AMA national spokesperson in the UK does not agree with KIMAB and finds it an obstruction of Islamic message of “loyalty, freedom, equality, respect and peace” promoted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim community.
“The Holy Quran is a book of blessing and guidance for all,” says Dr. Nazir. “Anyone, irrespective of faith is free to exhibit the book of Quran, and we being Muslims and following the Quran must not be stopped from doing it.”
“Ahmadiyya Muslims are promoting the Islamic values of loyalty, freedom, equality, respect and peace,” added Dr. Nazir. “…and we welcome all to support this campaign.”
Dr. Nazir hopes the authorities will not allow extremists to hold any sway over lives in Britain.
“Threats of violence and disturbance are tactics of societies that are restrictive, have no place in Britain, and should not be allowed to prevail in our free society,” Dr. Nazir further added.
-- UK: Extremist group blocks planned Holy Qura'an Exhibition, obstructs Islamic message of peace
-- Ahmadiyya Times
-- By Imran Jattala | Follow on Twitter: @IJattala
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