The 65th annual Convention of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was attended by 6000 this year
Source: Eurasia Review
By Katrina Lantos Swett: She earned her Ph.D. in History with a focus on Human Rights and United States Foreign Policy from the University of Southern Denmark. She is the Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)
Last Saturday, on June 29, I was honored to speak in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to the Ahmadiyya Muslim American Community’s 65th Annual Convention.
For the past several years, the Ahmadiyya have chosen Harrisburg for their convention, just days before America’s July 4 celebration.
Two hours east of Harrisburg is Philadelphia, where our Declaration of Independence was signed on that date. Less than an hour south is Gettysburg, where 150 years ago, in the days leading up to July 4, a crucial Civil War battle was raging.
Philadelphia is where America, through its Declaration, proclaimed that people are born equal and free. Gettysburg is where the nation, through an otherwise terrible war, began to turn those words more fully into deeds, leading to a new birth of freedom upon the abolition slavery. And last Saturday, Harrisburg was where we reaffirmed America’s declaration that freedom — including freedom of religion or belief — is not just for Americans, but for everyone, including Ahmadiyya Muslims and others.
Founded in India in 1889, the Ahmadiyya community is known for its respect for tolerance and freedom. Claiming tens of millions of adherents worldwide, its members have lived in our country for nearly a century. Following 9/11, America’s Ahmadiyya community literally gave its blood for our nation, eventually donating over 25,000 live-saving units in memory of those who fell that day.
Categories: Americas
The comments by Dr Katrina Swett are heartening in that despite all we as Ahmadis suffer at the hands of the so called custodians and protectors of Islam, we do have supporters of our very humble cause of promoting Peace and Submission to the Will of Allah(God). We are indeed blessed by Allah, the Almighty, with true Leadership in the form of Khilafat, which is our main strength. Through promotion of global peace, tolerance and understanding, with lots of prayers, and love we will succeed.
Dr Mohammad Sohrab, I second you wholeheartedly.
I commend the rational thoughts of such a responsible person. This speech should be publicized as much as possible for the sake of all the people who are not given their basic God given rights of freedom of life and thought.