The Amir of the UK Jama'at, Rafiq Ahmed Hayat Sahib has instructed that all Jama'at members must write to the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary, the Pakistan High Commissioner and the Prime Minister of Pakistan.  We must also write to our local MP sand the local and national media to press the Government for immediate action as the Pakistani Government has taken this incident very lightly.

ALL letters to the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister must be signed and posted (i.e. not email) and letters to the others can be sent via email.

Prompt action must be taken by every member of Majlis Ansar Sultanul Qalam MKAUK with all letters sent to the press being approved and reported through sultanulqalam@khuddam.org.uk.

The objectives of our actions are to:

Increase international pressure on the Pakistan Government to repeal its anti-Ahmadi legislation and protect members' rights and freedoms as citizens of Pakistan.

Highlight to the British people that devout and peaceful Muslims are also victims of terrorism, this incident proves that it is wrong to label the heinous crimes of organisations such as the Taliban & Al Qaeda as 'Islamic terrorism.'

Promote the Ahmadi Muslim Community as the true model of Islam, fundamental to the fight to end extremism and strengthening the ties between the Muslim world and the West.

Please see below some tips for writing and key points which should be covered in the letters.

The attack was a brazen double- pronged assault committed by suicide bombers and men wielding AK47s and grenades.   Police said that at least seven attackers were involved, including three bombers and a gunman mounted atop a minaret who sprayed bullets into the crowds of worshippers below.

Hundreds of members of the community in the UK have lost friends and family in the attack.

In a text message sent to media outlets, The Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for yesterday's attacks. "This is a final warning to the [Ahmadis], "leave Pakistan or prepare for death at the hands of Muhammad's devotees."

This is the latest in a series of unprovoked attacks on our community, more than 100 Ahmadi Muslims have been killed in Pakistan since 1984 and 6 in this year alone, (prior to this incident).

The Government of Pakistan has taken a very lenient view and not provided
protection of its citizens. Under pressure from extremist Clerics, the Pakistan
Constitution was amended in 1974 to declare us non-Muslim and under General Zia’s Ordinance XX in 1984 the Penal Code was amended to specifically target Ahmadi Muslims, making it a criminal offence to call themselves Muslims and practice Islam – an offence punishable by imprisonment and under the blasphemy law punishable by death.

The Government must repeal these laws forthwith so that extremists have no backing of the State in such discrimination and attacks.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a dynamic, fast growing international revival movement within Islam. Founded in 1889, it spans over 195 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions. Its current headquarters are in the United Kingdom - where tens of thosuands of members of the community live peacefully.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the leading Islamic organization to categorically reject terrorism in any form. Similarly, it is the only Islamic organization to endorse a separation of mosque and state. Followers are instructed to protect the sanctity of both religion and government by becoming righteous souls as well as loyal citizens. Followres are taught against irrational interpretations of Quranic pronouncements and misapplications of Islamic law.  The Community champions the empowerment and education of women. Its members are among the most law-abiding, educated, and engaged Muslims in the world.

Why is the community persecuted?

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the only Islamic organization to believe that the long-awaited Messiah has come in the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^(as) (1835-1908) of Qadian. Ahmad^(as) claimed to be the metaphorical second coming of Jesus^(as) of Nazareth and the divine guide, whose advent was foretold by the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad^(sa). Ahmadiyya Muslim Community believes that God sent Ahmad^(as), like Jesus^(as), to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed and reinstitute morality, justice and peace. Ahmad’s^(as) advent has brought about an unprecedented era of Islamic revival.

Ahmad^(as) penned over 80 books and tens of thousands of letters, delivered hundreds of lectures, and engaged in scores of public debates. His rigorous and rational defences of Islam unsettled conventional Muslim thinking. As part of its effort to revive Islam, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community continues to spread Ahmad’s^(as) teachings of moderation and restraint in the face of bitter opposition from parts of the Muslim world.

The National President of the Community in the UK, Rafiq Ahmed Hayat said yesterday:

"The extremists have vilified Ahmadi Muslims as ‘agents of the West’ to carry out all manner of atrocity against us for decades- while the powers that be have looked on. Thousands of Ahmadi Muslims have fled – many to the West where they have integrated and led peaceful lives as beacons of how Islam is compatible with life in the 21st century......Ahmadi Muslims represents a renaissance of Islam- a chance for peace to find a way. Let it not be shot down in flames."

The Worldwide leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Mirza Masroor Ahmad said yesterday:

"These attacks took place in mosques, which are places of worship and at the time of the Friday prayers, which all Muslims know is a holy and sacred time. No true Muslims could ever countenance such attacks, such cruelty and such barbaric behaviour. No form of terrorism has any place in Islam and thus those who were behind these attacks may justify their acts in its name, but let it be clear they are Muslim only in name and never in deed.

May Allah protect all good natured people from the evil acts of those opposed to peace.”

For a list of media contacts please also use following link:

http://www.khuddam.org.uk/2010/05/29/uk-print-media-contacts-0-47322/