Times of Ahmad: UK: Yorkshire Peace Conference organised by Ahmadiyya Muslim Women's Association

All guests were presented with a gift bag with some information and literature about the Ahmadiyya Community. The meeting concluded with a silent prayer followed by lunch.

Times of Ahmad | News Watch | UK Desk
Source/Credit: AMWA Yorkshire
By Arif Ahmad | March 10, 2018

“It was a beautiful experience - can't wait for the next one”

A Yorkshire Peace Conference entitled Women – Inspiration, Equality and Leadership was organised by the Yorkshire Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Association (AMWA) in Baitus Samad Mosque, Lower Fitzwilliam Street, Huddersfield, on Sunday 11 March 2018.

Over 20 guests including The Mayor of Kirklees, Councillor Christine Iredale, Angela Williams, Assistant Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police and Detective Chief Inspector Fiona Gaffney attended. They were joined by various charity and faith representatives from throughout the region.

Mrs Khalida Maryam, the local Huddersfield South President of AMWA, delivered the welcome address and explained the activities of Yorkshire AMWA and their contributions towards raising the status of women and their duties to humanity.

The main presentation was made by Mrs Rashda Ahmad, Regional Outreach Co-ordinator for Yorkshire AMWA. She stressed the importance of women’s rights in Islam and how women have been demonstrating leadership for centuries. She also stated that Islam provides guidance for a peaceful and ideal society. Ahmadiyya Muslim Women are working actively to show how they feel empowered by the teachings of Islam and the Holy Quran.

Dr Amtul Shafee, Regional President of Yorkshire AMWA stated that The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community believes that the Messiah as prophesised in many scriptures came in the form of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in India in 1835 and it is they who are doing their best to promote peace, love and harmony in the world. As moderate Muslims who believe in the Messiah the community continues to advocate the equality, education and empowerment of women.

The current Caliph (spiritual leader) of the Ahmadiyya Community, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, has stated that educating women is the key to preventing the spread of radicalisation. Islam requires all Muslims to be loyal and law abiding to the country they are residing in and the motto of the Ahmadiyya Community is Love For All Hatred For None.

Mrs Nasira Ghuman, regional representative of the UK based Charity Humanity First, presented a report on the current worldwide activities of the Charity emphasising the fundraising and volunteering efforts of women and young girls to support such activities as the “Water For Life”, “Gift of Sight” and “Feed a Village” projects.

Angela Williams spoke her about her own struggles and difficulties in the police force over the last 27 years. She acknowledged that there is better gender equality and more women have joined the police force. However she stated that that there was much more work that needed to be done to address the issues that women police officers still face.

Miss Asha Iqbal Founder of Generation Reform, a not-for-profit organisation that tackles mental health stigmas in black and minority ethnic communities, spoke about her own personal experiences of abuse and self-harm and how she was able to overcome these difficulties and is now able to help others with open conversations.

The Mayor of Kirklees, Councilor Christine Iredale, talked about her nominated charity, Dementia Awareness, and how her mother had been the inspiration for the work that she does.

Some of the other guests who attended or spoke at the function included:-

Maxine Edwards – Representing WomenCentre
Nicola Barber – Community Fundraiser at Kirkwood Hospice
Tracey King from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Dewsbury
Eileen Webb from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Huddersfield
Helen Henson from Destitute Asylum Seekers Huddersfield (DASH)
Eileen Marchant MBE – retired magistrate
Reverend Christina Walker – Representing Fairtrade Batley and Spen

The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks from Mrs Autia Manan, the local Outreach Secretary from Huddersfield South of the AMWA.

The meeting was presided over by Dr Amtul Shafee, Regional President of Yorkshire AMWA who stressed the importance of women’s education and thanked the guests for taking the time to attend the Peace Conference.

All guests were presented with a gift bag with some information and literature about the Ahmadiyya Community. The meeting concluded with a silent prayer followed by lunch.

A selection of comments from the guests:-

“Thank you for sending me the photograph I had a lovely day yesterday it was a real inspiration listening to all the speakers. I hope you will let me know if you have any other events because I would love to come”

“Thank you so much for inviting me to the Yorkshire Peace Conference
It was lovely to meet everyone and listen to the inspirational speakers”

“Was such a great event with some very inspirational women”

“It was a beautiful experience - can't wait for the next one”

“Thank you for inviting me. I had a lovely and informative time”

“Was so inspired by today and got to meet some lovely ladies”

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