UK: National Peace Symposium held at Western Europe’s biggest mosque

The organizers said that their campaigns aims to convey messages of peace to all households in Britain by way of adverts on buses as well as members personally visiting all households in Britain – with more than two million homes already visited to date. 

Picture: Adeel Shah, via TwitPic

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | UK Desk
Source/Credit: Various | Social Media
By Staff Reporter | March 24, 2011

Unity is the key in fight against religious extremism and bigotry: Khalīfa of Islām

Ministers, MPs, diplomats, Mayors – including London Mayor Boris Johnson – religious and civic leaders heard firsthand how Ahmadī Muslims are countering extremism in the UK and the around the globe.

A multicultural and multi-faith gathering of several hundred attended the 9th National Symposium on International Peace, on March 24, 2012.

The National Peace Symposium and awards dinner was organized by the Ahmadiyya Muslim community at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden, Surrey.

The attendees discovered how a nationwide initiative led by Ahmadi Muslims in the UK is seeking to turn back a tide of Islamophobia and making a way for a true agenda of peace, loyalty and good citizenship.

The National Peace Symposium awarded the International Peace Prize to SOS Children’s Villages UK – a charity that has excelled in the field of service to humanity.

The charity works tirelessly to provide life-changing opportunities for tens of thousands of vulnerable children in some of the most difficult and challenging areas of the world.

The Khalifa of Islam, His Holiness Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the spiritual leader of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim community delivered the keynote address.

His Holiness says that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is devoted to peace globally and its members live and practice Islam which is a religion of peace.

“By bringing people of all faiths and of no faith together we demonstrate that we will not allow extremists to divide us,” His holiness had said. “The Qur’an calls for the establishment of peace. It calls on Muslims to act compassionately towards all of mankind.”

Several attendees reported the proceedings via Twitter one-liners giving the world a glimpse into the prestigious gathering.

According to @MertonAndrewLCF, who sent out scores of tweets, His Holiness reminded the Muslims to follow teaching of The Prophet ahead of any worldly political or philosophical theory.

"His Holiness reminding us hearing speeches about peace won't bring it to fruition - set aside personal needs for the common good," another tweet by @MertonAndrewLCF read.

@ShermeenB, also reporting from inside the event said that His Holiness outlined an unambiguous warning about the probability and perils of nuclear war and spoke of the urgency for the world leaders to find a peaceful solution to the looming threats.

Another one the tweeples from inside the event, @SuzanneEvans1, continuously reported about the sentiments inside the hall.

"Very sad to be sitting here listening to wonderful words about peace, knowing Ahmadiyya community is so persecuted by much of Muslim world," @SuzanneEvans1 tweeted.

"Strive for peace to best of your abilities & keep the trickle of hope alive...consequences of 'Holy War' will be devastating 4 yrs 2 come," @SuzanneEvans1 wrote quoting from the Keynote speech by His Holiness. "The Holy Koran does not give permission under any circumstances for terrorism"

His Holiness repeatedly stressed about the war - warning everyone to get serious about the looming disaster.

“As I have stressed on many occasions the flames of war are increasing and unless mankind turns to God and seeks peace we will see these local conflicts engulf the entire world,” Hadhrat Ahmad was reported to have said in a community press release.

Mr Rafiq Hayat, UK President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, said that the community isalso  pleased to outline how the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community proposes to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

“Mosques throughout Britain will mark this splendid occasion as we pay tribute to our monarch and to a nation where freedom of faith is upheld,” Mr. Hayat said

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community is one of the oldest Islamic communities in Britain and is at the vanguard of a peace drive which seeks to expound the true peaceful message of Islam.

Dr. Basharat Nazir, National Spokesperson of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association in the UK, said their campaigns aims to convey messages of peace to all households in Britain by way of adverts on buses as well as members personally visiting all households in Britain – with more than two million homes already visited to date.

In addition to blood donation drives, Dr. Basharat Nazir said, charity events and inter-faith meetings will seek to dispel misconceptions about Islam.

Among those attending the Peace Symposium were Rt Hon Ed Davey MP - Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change; Andrew Stunnell MP, the Minister for Communities, members of the House of Lords, MPs and a number of diplomats.

  -- National Peace Symposium held at Western Europe’s biggest mosque
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  -- Imran Jattala: Follow on Twitter: @IJattala



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