Conference at Western Europe's Largest Mosque to Underline Need for International Religious Freedom

LONDON, March 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Against a backdrop of ongoing fighting in Syria and Iraq and domestic terror in Paris and Copenhagen, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK is hosting a national symposium to address the key issue of religious freedom.

One thousand delegates will meet at Western Europe's largest Mosque in Morden, South London at the event. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community spans more than 200 countries and counts tens of millions of followers.

The 12^th National Peace Symposium unites representatives of different faiths, Government Ministers and diplomats from more than 12 countries to inspire a concerted effort for lasting peace.

His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, worldwide leader of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, will deliver the keynote address. He has repeatedly called for religious freedom for all and emphasised the need for respect of all faiths.

Since its establishment the Ahmadiyya Muslim community has consistently condemned all violence in the name of Islam, in line with its underlying philosophy of Love for All Hatred for None.

His Holiness has said:

"We believe that there is no place in Islam for the atrocities which are occurring every day in Iraq and Syria and the violence which has taken place here in Europe."

UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion, Professor Heiner Bielefeldt, will be a special guest speaker at the event, and will speak on the religious freedom in the light of recent atrocities in Europe.

Speaking on the announcement of the event, Rafiq Hayat, National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK said:

"I am delighted to be welcoming a thousand delegates from around the world to Western Europe's largest mosque in the cause of peace and religious freedom. The Symposium is part of our wider efforts to build on our philosophy of Love for All Hatred for None, which is the true meaning of Islam."

Other attendees at the symposium will include Baroness Berridge (Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for International Religious Freedom or Belief), Lord Avebury (Vice-Chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights Group), Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Minister for Communities) and the Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC MP, former Attorney General.

Notes to Editors: 

1. The Ahmadiyya Muslim community is established in more than 200 countries, numbering tens of million of followers. The community was founded in Qadian, India in 1889 by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, whose mission was to revive the peaceful teachings of Islam.
   
2. The Ahmadiyya Muslim community is now the largest organised Muslim community globally and makes an active contribution to civic life having:
   
   • Built over 15,000 mosques
   • Built over 500 schools and over 30 hospitals
   • Translated the Holy Qur'an into over 70 languages
   • Established the world's first global satellite Muslim television channel (MTA International)
     
3. For all media enquiries, please contact Basharat Nazir at +44-7703-483-384 or email media@ahmadiyya.org.uk
   
4. Photography from previous events is available upon request.