United States of America
Press Release
For Immediate Release: Contact: August 20, 2015 Salaam Bhatti (717) 608-3837 [email protected] @Islam_Press Governor, First Lady of Pennsylvania Among Prominent Attendees at America’s Longest Running Muslim Convention Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Touted as “Peacemakers” and “Antidote To Extremism”
Prominent civic, political and religious leaders lauded the efforts of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA during its 67th Annual Convention this past weekend in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. More than 8,000 convention delegates and 1,500 guests attended the oldest and longest running Muslim convention in America. This year’s theme was: “Religion, Freedom and Peace.”
On Friday, August 14, Governor Tom Wolf and First Lady Frances Wolf spent nearly two hours touring the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and met with hundreds of Convention delegates, including the Community’s senior leadership. They extolled the Community’s peacemaking efforts and strong historic roots in Pennsylvania.
On Saturday, August 15, at a special interfaith session during the weekend-long convention, political, civic and religious leaders commended Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s track record of bringing people and the world toward peace.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA presented its annual Humanitarian Award to two recipients. The first was Bill Ayres, Co-Founder of WhyHunger, a hunger relief organization based in New York. Mr. Ayres highlighted the Community’s deep commitment to partner with WhyHunger to serve hungry Americans. The second was U.S. Congressman Mike Honda (D-Calif.), who, after having spent the entire day at the Convention meeting with the Community’s senior leadership and men’s and women’s
auxiliaries, delivered an emotional address exclaiming: “Together, I know we can continue to promote peace and understanding in this world, this country and among our own citizens. We shall stand united under the spirit of your slogan, “Love for all; hatred for none!”
Other speakers at the convention included: Chair, U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom, Dr. Robert George Acting Director, Office of International Religious Freedom, Brian Bachman Member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Patty Kim Mali Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Tiéna Coulibaly Head of Information, Permanent Mission of Ghana to United States, R. Harry Reynolds Member ,Maryland House of Delegates, Joseline A. Peña-Melnyk Franklin College, Indiana Professor David Carlson
Over two dozen other U.S. lawmakers and state and city officials sent official greetings.
The Mayor of Harrisburg, Eric Papenfuse, commented: “I am grateful to the local Ahmadiyya Muslim Community for its commitment to helping our city and its people. They are respected as a vibrant and dynamic group dedicated to strengthening our community. Please know that we appreciate your commitment to global harmony and join you in your call for world peace and understanding.”
About Ahmadiyya Muslim Community: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a dynamic, reformist and fast-growing international movement within Islam. Founded in 1889, the Community spans 206 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, established in 1920, is among the first American-Muslim organizations. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the only Islamic organization to believe that the long- awaited messiah has come in the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) of Qadian, India. Ahmad claimed to be the metaphorical second coming of Jesus of Nazareth and the divine guide, whose advent was foretold by the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad. The Community believes that God sent Ahmad, like Jesus, to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed and reinstitute morality, justice and peace. Ahmad’s advent has brought about an unprecedented era of Islamic revival and moderation. He divested Muslims of fanatical beliefs and practices by vigorously championing Islam’s true and essential teachings. ###