Taalay Ahmed

Tue, Mar 22, 2016

Subtitles by Julia Rakhmetova

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the spiritual leader of millions of Muslims belonging to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community made the remarks during a March 19 address to a number of high profile members of the UK government including cabinet minister Justine Greening, London mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith and former attorney general Domonic Grieve.

Speaking at a Peace Symposium held at one of western Europe’s largest mosques, Baitul Futuh in London, Ahmad said terror groups such as ISIS cannot be defeated without working with Russia and Iran:

“In terms of world politics and defeating terrorism it is necessary to accept that establishing peace is our paramount objective and so compromise from all sides is required. In case you do not trust the words of a Muslim, let me present to you the views of eminent non-Muslims who are well versed in political affairs and who desire peace in the world. For example, when speaking about how to defeat extremism and in particular the terrorist group,  Austria’s foreign minister recently said we need a pragmatic approach including the involvement of President Al Assad against Islamic State terror. He says, ‘In my opinion the priority is the fight against terrorism. This is not possible without powers such as Russia and Iran’.”

The religious leader, who lives in London after being exiled from his native Pakistan due to the persecution the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community face there,  strongly condemned efforts being made towards regime change:

“The world’s major powers have continued to prioritise regime change in countries that were previously relatively stable. For example, the west was determined to remove Saddam Hussein from Iraq and the painful consequences of that war 13 years ago continue to be felt to this day. Another prominent example is Libya whereby Colonel Gaddafi was forcibly removed from office in 2011 and ever since Libya has spiralled into a state of lawlessness and unbridlled chaos. A direct consequence of the political chaos in Libya is the fact that Deash has now built a significant base and terror network in the country which it is continuing to strengthen.”

The address also featured a detailed analysis of how the Quran condemns the actions of terrorist groups and, having condemned ISIS, Ahmad called on governments to sanction the extremist organisation:

“It is well known that different groups and even governments are purchasing oil from Daesh. Why has such trade not been stopped? Why have comprehensive sanctions not been imposed to stop such deeds? It seems that when it comes to acquiring oil morality goes out of the window.”  

Ahmad has campaigned for peace at parliaments around the world in recent years, including addresses at Capitol Hill, the European Parliament, the UK Parliament and the New Zealand Parliament.

“For many years now I have warned that the world is moving rapidly towards another world war and now others are reaching the same conclusion. In fact, some prominent people are now saying that they believe a world war has already begun. Nonetheless, I believe that we still have time to stop such a war in its tracks, but the solution remains as I have already said to act with justice and leave aside all vested interests.”

The event, held over the weekend, was also attended by a number of interfaith leaders, local dignatries and organisations and diplomats and academics from around the globe.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was founded in the 1800s by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, who claimed to be the “Imam Mahdi”, or spiritual reformer awaited by the Muslim world. His claim has been rejected by the majority of Muslims, many of whom label Ahmadis as heretics. On Ahmad’s demise in 1908 he was succeeded by a series of Khalifas – spiritual heads of the Ahmadiyya sect – with Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad the incumbent in the role.

SOURCE:   http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/head-muslim-sect-condemns-wests-regime-change-policies-supports-russias-approach-islamic