Rabwah Times

Germany’s largest Islamic convention underway in Karlsruhe

Karlsruhe, a German city close to the French border is hosting Germany’s largest annual Islamic convention this weekend. Over 35,000 Muslims are expected to attend the Jalsa Salana, the 41st annual convention of Germany’s Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Thousands of Muslims have traveled from all over Europe to hear the keynote speaker, The Khalifa of Islam, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad. Ahead of the convention, the Khalifa laid the foundation of two Mosques, One in the German town of Frankenthal and …

Suicide bombers target Christian Colony in Pakistan

Four suicide bombers with arms and ammunition attacked a Christian Colony in Pakistan’s Northwestern city of Peshawar. Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a breakaway Taliban faction, claimed responsibility for the attack. The colony which houses around 30 Christian families was attacked early Friday morning. Local police official Shaukat Khan said four suicide bombers entered the Christian colony. One of them went into a church, but no one was there at the time. Police and security forces arrived at the scene after which an exchange …

Ghanian Journalist awarded Chevening Scholarship

Ghanian Journalist Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng has been awarded the Chevening Scholarship that will allow him to study International Journalism at UK’s Brunel University. Chevening is the UK government’s international awards scheme aimed at developing future global leaders. Ibrahim who is an Ahmadi Muslim by faith is a senior Journalist with Ghana’s Broadcasting Corporation, GBC. He was also awarded the title of “Ambassador Extraordinaire” of Ghana Prisons, by President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana. The award was in recognition of his …

UK’s Birmingham City Council aided Muslim religious extremists against Ahmadis

In a shocking report, UK’s IBTimes has revealed how city council of Britain’s second most populated city, Birmingham favored Muslim religious extremists against the persecuted Ahmadiyya sect. The report revealed how Birmingham’s education authorities blocked one of UK’s oldest and most peaceful Muslim sect from being represented on an interfaith council. City of Birmingham’s Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) told members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community that in order to be represented on the city’s SACRE committee they …

Canadian High Commission shuts down anti-Ahmadiyya Twitter troll

The High Commission of Canada to Pakistan fired back after receiving a message calling Ahmadis “non-Muslims” on social media. On 23rd August 2016 the twitter account of the Canadian High Commission shared a picture and wrote: “Acting High Commissioner Stuart Savage delighted to visit Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.” The picture of the acting High Commissioner was followed by another tweet in which the HC compared the area of Faisal Mosque, Islamabad to that of the Bait-un-Nur Mosque, Calgary. The Bait-un-Nur …

U.S. Embassy denies visa-free entry for Pakistanis as a hoax

On Monday the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad denied reports that claimed Pakistan had been added to the “U.S. Visa Waiver program”. Thew news story which was first posted on various social media sites was picked up and printed by Pakistan’s leading newspapers including Jang, Express & Dunya. The reports were based on an update to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which required travelers to carry a valid electronic passport. The reminder was intended for Travelers who are already eligible under …

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau sends Independence Day greetings to Pakistanis

Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement in recognition of Pakistan’s Independence Day: “Today, we join the Pakistani community – here in Canada, in Pakistan, and around the world – in celebrating Pakistan’s 70th Independence Day. “I look forward to working with Prime Minister Sharif to further strengthen the relationship between our two countries, and to working together on global issues including, peace, security, and development cooperation. “On this day, I invite all Canadians to recognize the …

Chief Imam of Ghana speaks out in support of Ahmadis

The National Chief Imam of Ghana has shown his support for the persecuted Ahmadiyya Muslims and called on Muslims to forget their differences and unite. 96-year-old Sheikh Dr Osman Nuhu Sharubutu who himself is a Sunni Muslim was appointed as the National Chief Imam of Ghana in 1993, He is also a member of Ghana’s National Peace Council. He expressed his support for the Ahmadiyya community while speaking at the community’s annual Islamic Convention which is taking place this weekend …

U.S. criticizes Pakistan’s treatment of Ahmadis

The U.S. State Department has criticized Pakistan’s treatment of Ahmadiyya Muslims in its annual international religious freedom report. During the report launch on Wednesday Deputy Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken said “When a government denies religious liberty, it turns citizens who have done nothing wrong into criminals, igniting tension that breeds contempt, hopelessness, alienation.” While speaking at the reports’ launch, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom David Saperstein said: In Pakistan, the government continued to enforce blasphemy laws, for …

UK Home Office to deport Ahmadi asylum seeker

Britain will deport a man its immigration services believe his life would be threatened if he returned to his home in Pakistan. The UK Home Office is to deport an Ahmadi Muslim, Ali Adnan Munir from the United Kingdom next week despite his outstanding application for asylum in the UK. Munir has been in detention at the Verne Immigration Removal Centre in Dorset since 29th July, he’s now been informed that he’ll be deported to Pakistan on 9th August, unless …

Indonesian Police close down Ahmadiyya Mosque in West Java

An Ahmadiyya mosque in West Java was closed down by a Police Unit Tuesday morning. The Al-Furqan Mosque which is located in Parakansalak subregion of Sukabumi district was built in 1975 and has been used by the 200 strong Ahmadi community in the region since. Earlier, similar incidents have occurred twice, on March 31, 2015, and June 29, 2015, the Mosque was closed down for not having permission from the Provincial Government of West Java. Spokesman of the West Java …

British Transport Secretary visits ‘Khalifa of Islam’

On 22 July 2016, British Conservative MP & newly appointed Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling paid a visit to the the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph) of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad .The Parliamentary Under Secretary for State for Transport Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon was also present during the meeting. The meeting took place at Western Europe’s largest Mosque, the Baitul Futuh Mosque in South-West London. Before the meeting, the Secretary of State was given a tour of the Mosque …