PRESS RELEASE

THURSDAY 27 OCTOBER 2011 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BRITISH MUSLIMS GO UNDERGROUND – FOR
POPPY APPEAL

Saturday 29th & Monday 31st October:

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.”

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.”

(ends)

Press Enquiries [Basharat Nazir media@ahmadiyya.org.uk Tel +44 7703483384
Mahmood Rafiq Tel +44 7971060962]

NOTES TO EDITORS:
 The Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA) UK is an auxiliary body of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association. The AMYA is committed to the spiritual, moral, intellectual and physical development of young Muslims.

The association has a regular programme of structured activities for the youth with a mix of academic, sporting, social welfare and charitable works which keeps its members engaged.

The purpose of all these activities is to engender the spirit of discipline and service to the wider community irrespective of people‟s beliefs and backgrounds. The Ahmadiyya Muslim community‟s motto „Love for All, Hatred for None‟ underpins this ethos.

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