Staff Reporter
Ethnic Communities Minister Jenny Salesa has praised the efforts of the Ahmadiyya community in New Zealand, stating that it has been serving the country well.
Ethnic diversity promoted
Speaking at the Special Session for ‘external guests’ at the 30th Annual Convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslims at their South Auckland Mosque ‘Bait-Ul-Muqeet’ on January 26, 2019.
“New Zealand is proud of its ethnic diversity and the government is taking all steps to ensure equality for all ethnicities and religions. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has been serving the society, irrespective of any religious or cultural differences, and especially in the integration in society of the newly arrived refugees in the country,” she said.
National MP Melissa Lee also spoke of ethnic diversity in Auckland and how various communities work and live together in harmony.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community National President Bashir Khan that the theme of the Convention this year was, ‘Islam and Human Rights.’
Human Rights and Islam
“We chose this ’ theme because of the attention it gets in today’s media and the controversy sometimes associated with these discussions. We want to stress that contrary to what some people may believe, Islam champions upholding of Human rights,” he said.
Mr Khan said that a number of Charters have been introduced over the past several centuries to address abuses of human rights.
“But Islam introduced the concepts of equality amongst all humans well before these. Prophet Mohammad’s farewell address stressed clearly the high expectations that he had of Muslims as far as dealing with their fellow human beings was concerned. This is something that all Muslims and Islamic governments need to strive to achieve if they want to truly follow their religion,” he said.
Jalsa Salana
The Convention celebrated ‘Jalsa Salana,’ an annual event that started more than 100 years ago in the small town of Qadian, India, by Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Founder Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.
About the Ahmadiyyas
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a fast-growing international revival movement within Islam. Founded in 1889 by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) in Punjab, India, the Community is present in 210 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions. Its motto is ‘Love for all, hatred for none.’
The New Zealand branch of the Community, established in 1987 as a registered charitable organisation, endeavours to be an active and integrated community.
With Reporting by Dr Nadeem Ahmad, General Secretary and Press officer of Ahmadiyya Community of New Zealand.
