Muslim community in Glasgow condemns the Paris terror attacks
Members of the Muslim community expressed their utter abhorrence of the carnage in Paris last Friday night – at a peace conference which was held in Bearsden the following day (Saturday).
The event in Bearsden Burgh Hall which was themed “Stop The CrISIS” had been organised before the atrocities took place in a bid to tackle prejudice and encourage racial and religious tolerance.Ahmed Owusu-Konadu, External Affairs Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Scotland, said: “This event was a platform to condemn all the activities of the few ‘so called’ Muslims, which were terrorising the world peace and to expose their atrocities by revealing the true beautiful teachings of Islam as found in the Holy Koran and the peaceful practices of the founder of Islam the Prophet Muhammad.”
About 200 people from all walks of life, faith and non-faith alike attended and joined in solidarity against the terrorist attacks in Paris to totally condemn it.Addressing the audience, the keynote speaker Mr Mansoor Shah, the vice president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK emotionally echoed the message of the worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the true Khalifa of Islam leading tens of million Muslims in 206 countries around the world.Other speakers on the night included Margaret Ferrier MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, Linda Fabiani MSP for East Kilbride, Fiona McLeod MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, Anne Jarvis Deputy Provost of East Dunbartonshire Council and Sgt Graeme Stirling of Police Scotland Safer Communities Department.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Glasgow, welcomes local residents to attend the event which promises to offer ‘a riveting, eye-opening look at guarding against radicalistaion’ on Saturday, November 14, at 5pm in Bearsden Burgh Hall on Drymen Road.Ahmed Owusu-Konadu, Youth President and external affairs secretary with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Scotland, said: “Islam doesn’t have a very good image at the moment because a lot of Muslims are going to fight in conflicts in the belief that they are defending Islam because they don’t have a proper understanding of the religion which is peaceful.
Daud Ahmad Qureshi from Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Scotland, said: “We condemn the actions of extremists wherever they may be, whatever their cause.“We are with the people of France in sharing their pain. This was an outrageous attack on the peaceful innocent members of the public and they are in our thoughts and prayers.“We consider this to be not just an attack on France but on the entire humanity and we express our condolences to the families of the bereaved and pray for the fast recovery of all those injured.
“We ask the world to unite against this menace and to work to eliminate all forms of extremism.“We believe in love for all and hatred for none, and peaceful dialogue is the only way to cultivate understanding and harmony between people.“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those murdered in Paris. May God provide solace and strength to the bereaved and to their loved ones. Ameen.”The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Caliph, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, speaking from London, said: “On behalf of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community worldwide, I express my heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the French nation, its people and government following the heinous terrorist attacks that have taken place in Paris. This brutal and inhumane attack can only be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
“I would also like to reiterate that all forms of terrorism and extremism are completely against the true teachings of Islam. The Holy Quran has said that to kill even one innocent person is akin to killing all of mankind. Thus under no circumstances can murder ever be justified and those who seek to justify their hateful acts in the name of Islam are serving only to defame it in the worst possible way.“Our sympathies and prayers are with the victims of these attacks and all those who have been left bereaved or affected in any way. May God Almighty grant patience to them all and I hope and pray that perpetrators of this evil act are swiftly brought to justice.”The conference ended with a minute of silence by all 200 participants to pray for the dead, injured and all their families followed by a delicious dinner for all the participants.
