Published on Sep 29 2009 by Waqar Ahmad Ahmedi

PRESS RELEASE

Press Enquiries: Waqar Ahmad Ahmedi 07966 089338 press@khuddam.org.uk

The leader of a national Muslim youth group has called on its members to value living in the West and vow to “defeat hatred”.

Tommy Kallon, President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association, told more than 2,000 participants of the community’s annual ‘Ijtema’ in Tilford, Surrey, that service to humanity irrespective of people’s beliefs formed a fundamental part of their faith.

In keeping with one of the themes of the convention - the integration of youth into the fabric of society - organisers invited the British Army, Police, Royal Navy and Fire and Ambulance services to give an overview of the opportunities available in their respective fields.

Exhibitions were also set up by humanitarian and eco-friendly organisations raising awareness about tackling poverty and caring for the planet.

”We must cross borders to spread the Islam of peace, the Islam of truth and the Islam of justice to others,” said Mr Kallon.

 

”The West gives us access to the finest educational institutions, and wealth of resources such as libraries, museums and the media. We must avail ourselves of these to enhance our secular and religious knowledge giving us both the courage and conviction to contribute meaningfully to society and affect change in the world for the better.

”We must bring hope, guidance and enlightenment to this country and to a world fast losing its values. Hatred at all levels must be defeated if this is to become a reality.”

 

The three-day convention, which began on Friday (25 Sept), has become one of the most popular activity weekends for young Muslims packed with educational programmes as well as sporting and academic competitions. This year the event included special cheque presentations to Great Ormond Street Hospital, Save the Children, the NSPCC and Leukaemia Research who received more than £100,000 from funds raised by AMYA at a charity challenge held in Bradford earlier in the year.

 

The highlight of the event was the august presence of His Holiness, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, who addressed the Ijtema on Sunday.

Notes to Editors

1. 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.

2. The association has a regular programme of structured activities for the youth with a mix of academic, sporting and social welfare and charitable works which keeps its members engaged. Since 1985 it has held annual charity walks and runs which have raised more than £1 million for British charities including Great Ormond Street Hospital, Save the Children and Leukaemia Research.

3. The purpose of all these programmes is to engender the spirit of discipline and service to the wider community irrespective of people’s beliefs and backgrounds. The community’s motto ‘Love for All, Hatred for None’ underpins this ethos.