South London Muslim group supports Armed Forces Covenant
An association of Ahmadiyya Muslim elders signed the Armed Forces Covenant and recognized the centenary of the Royal British Legion at an event in Morden this weekend.
On Sunday (September 19), members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Elders Association (AMEA) and the Charity Walk for Peace they helped set up came together at Morden Mosque to sign the Covenant, a document which seeks to ensure that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families “receive the fair treatment and recognition they deserve”.
The Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden is the largest Mosque in Western Europe, and in 2019 launched the RBL Poppy Appeal where a bugler playing ‘The Last Post’ and ‘Reveille’ — reportedly the first time a bugler had played it in a UK Mosque.
Among those supporting the initiative were Defence Minister for People and Veterans Leo Docherty:
“I am very pleased that Charity Walk for Peace, an Ahmadiyya Muslim Elders Association UK initiative, have now signed the Armed Forces Covenant,” he said. “Ten years on from its inception, the Armed Forces Covenant continues to put great emphasis on protecting our people. The Covenant is a promise by the nation to support our Armed Forces community and this promise ensures that those who serve and have served, along with their families, are treated fairly.
Zaheer Ahmed is the Chairman of Charity Walk for Peace. He pointed out the spiritual connection the group’s support had to charitable efforts like this one.
“The verse of the Holy Quran recited at all the events on Sunday translated to ‘They ask thee what they shall spend. Say: ‘Whatever of good and abundant wealth you spend should be for parents and near relatives and orphans and the needy and the wayfarer.’
“It is this instruction that we adhere to, and we are proud and honoured to be in a position to collect and distribute 100 per cent of collected funds to charities. Charity Walk for Peace are privileged to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant today marking an historic day in our struggle to promote peace and love for mankind,” Ahmed said.
Esher and Walton MP and former foreign secretary Dominic Raab was also in attendance.
Raab praised the efforts of the AMEA Charity Walk for Peace, describing it as a “brilliant initiative, with an impressive record of raising money for over 500 charities across the UK. It was great to attend this event today”.
Great to support @charitywalk_uk before they set off on the 2021 Walk for Peace, and thank you for supporting my sky-dive to raise money for @SSChospices. pic.twitter.com/Yz4zEp4vJX
— Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) September 19, 2021
“I’m grateful to Charity Walk for Peace for their generous donation to my skydive in aid of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices,” he added. “The funds raised – almost £20,000 so far – will make a real difference to families in unimaginably difficult circumstances.”
