Saturday 29^th& Monday 31^stOctober: 100 volunteers at 40 Zone 1 train and tube stations, aiming to raise £20,000

Young Muslims are planning to turn up at London’s rail and underground stations in force – to collect money for the Poppy Appeal.

Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association will again be helping The Royal British Legion as a mark of good citizenship and a testament to the Islamic edict of demonstrating loyalty to your country.

They will also pay tribute to the valuable role Britain played in the fight against fascism – and the continuing need to be ever vigilant to the threat of extremism. The carnage caused by bloody extremists on the underground on 7/7 will give greater resonance to the charity campaign.

More than 100 volunteers from the group will be stationed at over 40 Zone 1 train and tube stations in the city of London on Saturday 29th October and Monday 31st October. They will be hoping to raise more than the £20,000 they collected last year.

This is part of a nationwide campaign by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to contribute to the country in different ways. This has included blood drives where Ahmadi Muslims give blood; charity walks; peace conferences and interfaith meetings.

The Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

"Muslims are obliged to be loyal to the country in which they live. Honouring those who fought to defend and safeguard one’s country is an important principle of Islam and in fact is an important principle of peace – especially when it is carried out with a sincere heart and for the sake of winning God’s pleasure."

Fahim Anwer, President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association which has over 6,000 members in the UK, said:

"We are again delighted and proud to support the Poppy Appeal which provides financial, social and emotional support to millions who have served or who are currently serving in the British Armed Forces, and their dependents.

"As Muslims living in the country it is our duty to honour those who risk life and limb for the protection of all British citizens."

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson said:

"I am thrilled to support this fantastic initiative by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association to raise money for The Royal British Legion. Showing support for this most worthy of causes is absolutely in keeping with the Islamic teachings of empathy, charity, generosity and compassion. I urge everyone to dig deep and give generously to these young Muslims volunteering their time and energy to sell poppies for those that put their lives on the line to protect us all."

Russell Thompson OBE, Director of Fundraising at The Royal British Legion, said:

"Our beneficiaries come from all walks of life, as do our supporters, and we are proud to be an organisation that stands shoulder to shoulder with people of all faiths and backgrounds. We are grateful to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association for collecting for this year’s Poppy Appeal and for supporting those who are serving in Afghanistan today, veterans of past conflict, and their families. The money they raise will make it possible for the Legion to provide our beneficiaries with £1.4million every week in direct welfare support."

In a recent episode of the MTA International Islamic talk show ‘Rah-e-Huda’, the former Minister for Communications in Pakistan, Sherry Rehman, spoke about the ongoing persecution and cruelty inflicted upon Ahmadis in Pakistan. During the broadcast she said:

“If we look at the Ahadith (sayings) of the Holy Prophet pbuh, it is clear that whatever is happening to Ahmadis is completely un-Islamic”

Expressing her disappointment and concern, Sherry Rehman said that because of the long history of persecution borne by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Pakistan there seemed little prospect that its security could be guaranteed by the State in the future. She also said that Article 20 of the Pakistani Constitution granted minorities very comprehensive rights and that because the Government had declared Ahmadis to be a minority they should at least be afforded those rights and protection.

She further commented: “

Once again I will say that these blasphemy laws of ours people justify in the pure name of the Holy Prophet pbuh to inflict persecution upon people and this is completely against the spirit of Islam”

Sherry Rehman went on to say that that the media in Pakistan requires proper regulation. She said that if the media considered itself to be a mature part of civilised society then it should adopt a moral code. In light of this she suggested that a Press Complaints Commission, based on the UK model, ought to be adopted in Pakistan. Moreover, she said, that both the government and media should have faith in such a commission.

It should be noted that although the Government of Pakistan has declared the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat to be a non-Muslim minority sect in Pakistan, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat has never accepted this status. Ahmadi Muslims believe that their founder, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian is the Promised Messiah and Promised Reformer, whose advent was foretold by the Holy Prophet Muhammadpbuh. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat follows the principle of “Love for All, Hatred for None” and believes that every individual has the right to practise his faith or religion with freedom and without any form of compulsion.

On 28th May 2010 two mosques belonging to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Lahore were attacked by terrorists. The mosques were the Baitul Nur Mosque in Model Town and the Darul Zikr Mosque in Ghari Shahu.

In a meticulously planned attack, sectarian terrorists carried out a slaughter of Ahmadi worshippers who had gathered for Friday prayers.Absence of any effective police presence enabled them to succeed in their gory operation, as planned. 94 worshippers died and 125 were injured.The dead include Judge (R) Munir Ahmad Sheikh, the Amir of the Lahore Ahmadiyya community, Major General (R) Nasir Ahmad, president of the Model Town chapter, Mr Mahmud Shad, a missionary, Mr Ejaz Nasrulla, a nephew of Late Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan, former President of the International Court of Justice at Den Haag, Mr Muhammad Aslam Bharwana, a senior railway official and a number of community officials.

THE ATTACK

The attacks were timed to be simultaneous. Two or three attackers targeted the Model Town mosque while a larger contingent attacked the bigger Garhi Shahu mosque. The terrorists killed or injured the few community guards and stormed the main assembly halls. When inside, the attackers used hand grenades and sprayed bullets indiscriminately on the worshippers. At Garhi Shahu they availed plenty of time to expend their ammunition. Many more casualties occurred when they blew themselves up.

The police arrived in due course and apparently took their time to ensure a safe and smooth intervention. As a result, little timely rescue and evacuation efforts were made which resulted in death of many injured due to bleeding. According to media reports two police officers were injured slightly at the initial stage at the Garhi Shahu site.

Two terrorists were apprehended by Ahmadi youth in Model Town mosque, stopping them from blowing themselves up. This contained the damage. They were handed over to the police.

According to press reports, three heads of suicide bombers were recovered from the Garhi Shahu mosque.

THE BURIAL

Most of the dead, when alive, had opted to be buried in Rabwah, therefore soon after the attack, over 90 graves were dug up in the town’s graveyard. The dead were buried after their funeral prayers in groups. The program of a joint big burial ceremony was abandoned for security concerns.

Rabwah wears a sad look. Markets, trade centres and shops remained closed, as the dead bodies kept arriving from Lahore. Funeral ceremonies still continue.

THE AFTERMATH

3 Days After the attack on the Mosques in Lahore Pakistan, Attackers stormed the Jinnah Hospital where doctors were treating the injured from the Mosque attacks on Friday, the attack on Jinnah Hospital left 6 dead authorities believe it the attackers attempted to free the militant who was being treated there.

INSPIRATIONAL MURDER

Just days after the Lahore attacks another Ahmadi, Mr Nehmatullah of District Narowal, Pakistan was today martyred due to being an Ahmadi.It appears that this pre-meditated murder was directly inspired by the Lahore attacks.He was attacked with a knife and died soon after.

One of the sons of Mr Nehmatullah recognised the assailant as he tried to flee and thus the assailant also attacked him with a knife. The son of Mr Nehmatullah survived and has been moved to a hospital where he is being treated. The extent of his injuries is not yet known.

The village in which the deceased lived is populated with three Ahmadi families. After hearing recently in a Friday sermon that Ahmadis were ‘Wajibul Qatl’ the assailant was allegedly openly preaching that he would murder Ahmadis. The term ‘Wajibul Qatl’ is being used increasingly in Pakistan in regard to Ahmadis and translates as deserving to be killed.

Following the Lahore attacks on Friday the assailant also allegedly said openly that he would personally make sure that no Ahmadi was left alive in his village.

THE AFTEFFECT

This incident shows again that Ahmadis are facing a time of great uncertainty and danger in Pakistan. The International Community and Media are all urged to take action to help safeguard and protect the lives of Ahmadi Muslims

The community, however, did not take to the street, take out processions or stage a protest in Rabwah. It is not the practice with Ahmadis. Instead, they have turned to God and continue to pray for themselves and the countrymen in general. They were guided by a statement from their supreme leader, the Khalifa tul Masih V: “The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat is a peace loving true Muslim Jamat. Thus there will be no improper reaction from any Ahmadi. Our salvation lies in our supplication to God Almighty and we believe that He has, and always will, help us”.

As for the terrorists, Tehrik Taliban Punjab has claimed the responsibility. It is confirmed by those who survived the massacre in Garhi Shahu that the terrorists faced no resistance from the police during their attack, and had sufficient time to even examine the dead bodies in the main hall and kill those who were still alive. They shouted slogan of Khatme Nabuwat Zinda bad, (Long live End of Prophethood). According to eye witnesses, four of them managed to escape after the carnage.

The federal government and human rights concerns have confirmed that the provincial government had been informed of terrorist threat to the Ahmadiyya community. The Ahmadiyya headquarters had kept the provincial and federal governments regularly informed of the activities and open threats of the anti-Ahmadiyya clerics, and warned against the sort of tragedy that eventually materialized in Lahore.

Almost a month ago the Governor of Punjab made a public statement that the province is on knife-edge as extremists take hold, and he accused politicians of backing banned groups as minorities suffer violence and intimidation. The Federal Interior Minister also said that his ministry had warned the Punjab government of possible terrorist attacks.

Rabwah Arrest

Five days thereafter, the people of Rabwah caught a man red-handed who was carrying a great deal of arms, ammunition and hand grenades in the town. They placed him in the custody of the police.

Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK offers offers condolences with head of Ahmadiyya Jamaat

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK, Mr Wajid Shamsul Hasan visited His Holiness, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad at the Fazl Mosque in London on 2nd June 2010 to offer his condolences for the terrorist attacks that took place at two Ahmadi Mosques in Lahore on May 28.

During the forty minute meeting the prevailing political situation in Pakistan was discussed. His Holiness commented that all the attacks taking place in Pakistan were a direct result of mixing religion with politics. He expressed a hope that some leaders in Pakistan would stand up to the fanatical extremists who were the cause of so much pain and suffering in the country.