Nigeria: Ahmadi Muslim Students’ Association (AMSA)

At first, the activities of the association were centralized, due to the hostility (especially, that of the MSS) against Ahmadiyya.  But later, the association became fairly well established enough to operate on campuses of institutions of learning and in many states of Nigeria.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Articles
Source: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community | Nigeria
Credit: Islam in Africa Blog


It was to the credit of Ahmadiyya Jama’at that Muslim parents started taking much interest in giving their children/wards western education.  It was on these young educated Muslims that Muslims in this country placed their hope to counter the onslaught of the adherents of other religions.  They were then expected to stand on their own against any other group of educated young people anywhere.

UK: Bradford leaders speak out in favour of report

“Clearly large scale radicalisation of Muslim groups is happening in the Muslim world and this needs to be addressed by the Muslim world and by countries like the UK, which have close links with some of these countries." [Dr Mohammed Iqbal, President, The Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, Bradford]

Ahmadiyya Muslim Baitul Hamd Mosque, Bradford - UK

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit: Bradford Telegraph and Argus
By James Rush | March 31, 2010

Muslim leaders in Bradford have defended a counter-extremism programme which a committee claimed had “stigmatised and alienated” Muslims.

A report by the Communities and Local Government committee said the Government’s Prevent strategy, which aims to address the root causes of radicalisation and protect vulnerable individuals, had tainted many positive projects in communities.

US: Viewpoints: Muslims speak out against secular extremism

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA believes that a person’s choice of dress is a personal matter. Islam teaches modesty for both men and women, but underlying all Islamic injunctions is the Qur’anic principle that “There is no compulsion in religion.”

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | US Desk
Source & Credit:MLive | Viewpoint | March 31, 2010
By Waseem Sayed | AMC-USA

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA strongly condemns recommendations of a French Parliamentary report, which called for a partial ban of the Islamic veil. In a damaging display of secular extremism, the French parliament recommends denying Muslim women the choice of covering their faces in public areas. If any woman covers herself with the Islamic veil, she would be denied any public service she sought. So a woman in need of treatment would be denied health services if she covered her face. She will also be denied education on the same grounds. Such an extreme secular stance damages societal peace.

Chicago area Muslims continue celebration of Black History

Islam has played a deep and profound role in the history of the African people.  From the very beginning, one of the most beloved disciples of the Prophet Muhammad (as) was Bilal, an African [modern day Ethiopia] whom the Prophet had liberated from slavery. 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | US Desk
Source: Al-Sadiq Mosque | Chicago, IL
Credit: Qasim Rasid | Chicago Islam Examiner
Edited by Ahmadiyya Times

Chicago Muslims continue celebration of Black History
March 27: Chicago area Muslims hosted a celebratory Black History event at Al Sadiq Mosque on the south side of Chicago.  Speakers included Arabic scholar Nur Ahmad Makeen, Alhaj Dhul Waqar Yaqub, and Abdul Karim, President of the Al-Sadiq Mosque.

The theme of this event was to recognize that honoring Black History does not end in February.

Islam has played a deep and profound role in the history of the African people.  From the very beginning, one of the most beloved disciples of the Prophet Muhammad (as) was Bilal, an African [modern day Ethiopia] whom the Prophet had liberated from slavery.

US: Chicago cab driver accused of helping terrorists

"Verily, God enjoins justice, and the doing of good to others; and giving like kindred; and forbids indecency, and manifest evil, and wrongful transgression. He admonished you that you may take heed." (Holy Qur'an, 16:91)

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit: Chicago Islam Examiner | March 27, 2010
By  Qasim Eashid | Chicago IL

March 27th.  Chicago cab driver Raja Lahrasib Khan, a naturalized US Citizen, was arrested yesterday on accusations that he intended to give material help to al-Qaeda.  Authorities say Khan planned to send money overseas and provide help in bombing a US stadium.

Fortunately, he was arrested before he took any affirmative actions.

We have quoted His Holiness, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the spiritual leader of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and Khalifa of Islam several times before on this topic.

Fighting terrorism with child soldiers

Steps must be taken to prevent the informal militias from enrolling kids. These children need pens, and not guns.  

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit: The News Pakistan | Editorial

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Child soldiers
According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, children are being recruited to join the 'lashkars' supported by the government to take on Taliban remnants in the tribal areas. This is unacceptable not only on the grounds of humanity but also international law which prevents the use of children as soldiers.

Herded into madressahs, kidnapped and taken to seminaries where they were trained as suicide bombers and used as pawns in a conflict that has raged on for months, these children of the north have suffered enough. They deserve a break. Indeed, the primary responsibility of the government must be to give them back the childhood they have been robbed of.

Homegrown terrorism: 9 in militia accused of bomb plot against officers

Describing their philosophy, a Web site tied to group members said that “Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword and stay alive using equipment.” The site also contained hate-filled rhetoric about minorities.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Domestic Desk
Source & Credit: Washington Post | The Houston Chronicle
By CARRIE JOHNSON

Authorities unsealed charges Monday against nine members of a militia group, accusing them of seditious conspiracy and attempting to deploy weapons of mass destruction, in a case that highlights a strain of extremism focused against the federal government.

Canada: Nixing niqab not a priority for Albertans

Two years ago, Stephen Harper came back to Calgary to officially open the largest mosque complex in Canada. The $15 million edifice was built by Ahmadiyya Muslims and designed to allow men and women to worship equally.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Opinion
Source & Credit: TheStar.Com | March 30, 2010
By Gillian Steward Columnist | Calgary

I've only ever seen a handful of women in Calgary wearing a niqab so only their eyes are visible. The vast majority of Muslim women here simply wear a hijab to cover their hair or don't cover their heads at all.

And yet a recent Angus Reid poll found that 82 per cent of Albertans support legislation recently introduced in Quebec that would require women to drop the veil if they want to work in the public sector or use public services. That's the highest level of support for the legislation outside Quebec. In B.C., Saskatchewan and Manitoba, support fell between 65 and 70 per cent.

Extremists at work: Anti-Ahmadiyya Muslim sentiment promoted

Munawar Hasan said rulers should not create doubt by giving statement that the anti-Muslim status of Qadianis would be changed. 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit: TradingMarkets.Com
Staff reporter |  Mon, 29 Mar 2010

Khatam-e-Nabuwat conference held in Sukkur
Sukkur, Mar 16, 2010 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) --The speakers at a Khatam-e-Nabuwat conference demanded of the government to ensure implementation on Tahaffuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat laws besides taking notice of provoking activities of Qadianis and ensure that provisions of the constitution of Pakistan regarding Qadianis are implemented in letter and spirit.

The Khatam-e-Nabuwat conference was organized by Aalmi Majlis Tahaffuz-e-Khatam-e-Nabuwat here on Sunday night.

Canada: Conference sheds light on different religions

Pictured: World Religious Conference.The three speakers at the World Religious Conference in Bradford join hands. Terry Weller (from left) represented Christianity, Mark Freiman represented Judaism and Mubarak Nazir represented Islam. PHOTO COURTESY OF MALIK KHALID MAHMOOD

Photo credit: Malik Khalid Mahmood

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit: Simcoe.com | March 29, 2010
By Theresa Dixon | theresa.dixon@rogers.com

Featuring inspirational speeches, reverent prayers and the tender voices of the Ahmadiyya Muslim children’s choir leading the crowd in O Canada, the World Religious Conference was held in Bradford last week.

More than 400 people attended the event organized by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.   

From the moment people began arriving at Bradford and District Memorial Community Centre, it was evident how much work the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community put into the event.

US: Bangladesh Government urged to work with all political leaders, ensure religious minorities' rights

The resolution also urged Bangladesh government to ensure the rights of religious and ethnic minorities, including Hindus and Ahmadiya community.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit: Financial Express | March 27, 2010
By Staff writers | Dhaka

In a resolution passed Thursday, the US House of Representatives urged Bangladesh government to work together with all political leaders to continue and deepen reconciliation, reports UNB as received from Washington Saturday.

Congressman Joseph Crowley, the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Bangladesh, spearheaded passage of the resolution expressing the US House of Representatives' support for Bangladesh's return to democracy.

New Zealand: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Walkathon raises $4000 for charity

New Zealand Majlis Ansarullah National President Mohammed Iqbal said the members followed the Islamic teachings of “helping people and neighbours first.”

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit: Indian News Link
New Zealand

Walkathon raises $4000 for charity

Members of the Ahmadiyya community in Auckland raised $4000 for the ‘Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind’ through their annual Walkathon.

‘Majlis Ansarullah (‘Helpers of Allah’) New Zealand,’ the auxiliary arm of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at New Zealand organised the event on March 6.

The community is small in New Zealand with about 250 families subscribing to this faith.

Faith & Reason: Catholic order sorrowful over its founder's 'grave acts'

Observers said the statement seemed to pave the way for the Vatican to take strong action to discipline the Legionaries. Last week, a team of Vatican investigators presented the results of its yearlong inquiry to the communities, seminaries and schools of the group and its lay order, Regnum Christi.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit:The New York times
By Rachel Donadio | March 26, 2010

Catholic Order Admits Its Founder Abused Boys Over Decades
ROME — A powerful Roman Catholic religious order acknowledged in a statement on Friday that its founder, a close ally of the late Pope John Paul II, molested seminarians and fathered several children, and it expressed “sorrow and grief” to anyone “damaged by our founder’s actions.”

The statement was the first official admission by the Legionaries of Christ that its charismatic Mexican founder, the Rev. Marcial Maciel Degollado, who died in 2008, was responsible for many “grave acts.” Around two dozen people had claimed that Father Maciel’s molesting of boys continued for decades.

Pakistan: Police lacks pre-emptive action, reform a must

For police to pro-actively and preemptively address sectarian threats, stemming from intolerance at the grassroots level has to be prioritized within their mandate. This can only be achieved through mandatory and rigorous police training.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Opinion
Source & Credit: Dawn | Pakistan
By Huma Yusuf | Sunday, 28 Mar, 2010 

No pre-emptive action 
THANKS to media coverage, there has in the last few weeks been a renewed interest in police brutality and, by extension, police reform. But another aspect of police negligence has not graced our headlines and on-screen tickers.

The role played — or not played — by police in fueling religiously motivated violence needs urgent scrutiny, and should be one of the main drivers of institutional reform.

Pakistan: No respite from fear

The militants’ real strength does not lie in their arms or their suicide bombers, it lies in the pockets of support for them in Pakistani society. Over the recent years the Pakistani people’s tendency to follow anyone who unfurls the banner of religion, be he a soldier of fortune or a political opportunist, has increased instead of getting weaker.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Articles
Source & Credit:  Dawn | Pakistan
By I.H. Rehman | March 18, 2010

Apart from the loss of a large number of precious lives, this month’s terrorist attacks have deepened the people’s sense of insecurity and despair mainly because they cannot see when and how the wave of terrorism will end.

One of the causes of the people’s anxiety is the realisation that the militants are usually one step ahead of the security agencies. The latter seem to rely on their ability to intercept calls and conversations on cellular phones on the basis of which they issue warnings of militants’ entry into cities/towns.

Indonesia: I will not let NU interfered by govt: Said

Asked about how he would bring NU followers to treat sects like Ahmadiyah, Said said the sect would stay harmful for Islam. "There's already been rules about Ahmadiyah, and NU has made its decision that Ahamdiyah is a sect that NU defies," he said.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit: The Jakarta Post | March 27, 2010
By Bagus BT Saragih | Makassar, South Sulawesi

Nahdlatul Ulama chairman elect Said Agil Siradj on Saturday responded his victory by vowing not to let NU be interfered by the government.

"Indeed, the President called me several days before this congress. But it was not even close to be called as an intervention," he told the press shortly after the voting.

Said also denied he would use his chairmanship as a political vehicle to run for presidential election.

Faith & Science: How you emerge from your brain

Unfortunately, Sternberg misses his own point, and falls prey to the very line of thinking that he criticises. He offers "reflective introspection" as an alternative for addressing moral problems instead of what he calls the algorithmic approach, in which rules are computed to yield firm answers in decision-making situations.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Book Review | My Brain Made Me Do It
Source & Credit: New Scientist | 26 March 2010
By Holly Anderson, contributor | New Scientist

http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/culturelab/2010/03/how-you-emerge-from-your-brain.php

IT IS common to feel uncomfortable when reading about new neuroscience techniques that seem to encroach on the sacrosanct realm of our hidden inner lives. And it is understandable to feel even more uncomfortable about the notion that our actions are dictated by processes in our brains, calling into question a place for moral responsibility. This discomfort pervades Eliezer Sternberg's new book.

History of man: Dictatorship

The other immunity is normally drawn from the religion, which for the sadder part , has always been misused. The champion of Islamic causes are often found in marriages of conveniences with highly unislamic (according to them) entities.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Opinion
Source & Credit:  Pak Tea House Blog | March 26, 2010
By Muhammad Hassan Miraj

They  all stood silent as  the standards were lowered. It was 23rd Day of October in 42 BC and the battle of Philippe had just ended. Lying ahead of the impeccably  formed up legions, was the purple mantle wrapped body of one of the greatest men Rome ever produced. “He was the noblest Roman of them all”. Mark Antony said as he paid homage to Marcus Junius Brutus, commonly known in the historical world as Brutus. The fame brought to Brutus is  attributed towards his role in assassination of  his trusted friend and mentor, Julius Caesar, the Counsel of Rome. Fewer could see that he did this to save his Republic. A larger than life cause for Romans, perhaps their alternative for religion. Brutus feared that given Caesar s autocratic nature, Rome would soon turn into a monarchy and will be deprived of her Republic soul. He was, of all others, brave and courageous enough to stand against it and act in time. Time proved, he did it right.

Faith & Common Sense: Earth Hour 2010 Saw Enormous Participation

Europe’s all popular landmarks like – Big Ben, Eiffel Tower, Rome’s Colosseum, and others fell dark during the earth hour on Saturday following other major landmarks like Sydney’s Opera House, Beijing’s Forbidden City and others. 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Green+
Source & Credit: Seven-Sided Cube  | March 27, 2010

The ‘Earth Hour 2010’ was extensively celebrated across the world on Saturday night and almost all nations joined the fight against the Climate Change for the fourth year in row.

According to reports the observations of black out or switching of lights from 8.30 PM to 10.30 PM this year saw more participants from all groups of society than last year. Though such movements always see enthusiasm among school children and college students, but this time adults too had show keen interest and lights went out and festivities under candle light or any other modes of illumination began. Such celebration of Earth Hour shows one single commitment from all these groups and nations – the commitment to save and protect ‘Mother Earth.’

Faith and common sense: Big city, little creatures - Mice

“That’s simple. Because I am Christian in an Islamic Republic. Do you know how it feels like being a religious minority in an Islamic Republic, madam?”

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Article
Source & Credit: Dawn.com | Pakistan
By Nadeem F. Paracha

Mice
Some days ago, while waiting in my car for a traffic signal to turn green, a young kid nonchalantly stuck a flyer under one of the car’s wipers. Usually I throw away such pieces of paper, but this time I decided to take a look at it. It was a flyer advertising a Montessori school called ‘Model Islamic Montessori.’

Once home, I decided to call the school and asked to be connected to the principal.

“Hello, Asalamwualaikum,” I said.
“Walaikumasslam,” came the reply. It was a lady.
“Is this the principal of Model Islamic Montessori?” I asked.
“Yes, how can I help you?”
“I have a three-year-old son whom I wanted admitted in your school,” I said.

Tourists flock to 'Jesus's tomb' in Kashmir

...And in Islam, in which Jesus is the penultimate prophet, there is also a minority tradition adopted by the controversial Ahmeddiya sect, that Rozabal does contain the grave of Jesus.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit:  BBC Radio 4 | March 27, 2010
By Sam Miller | Srinagar | for BBC Radio 4

A belief that Jesus survived the crucifixion and spent his remaining years in Kashmir has led to a run-down shrine in Srinagar making it firmly onto the must-visit-in India tourist trail.

In the backstreets of downtown Srinagar is an old building known as the Rozabal shrine.

It's in a part of the city where the Indian security forces are on regular patrol, or peering out from behind check-posts made of sandbags.

Humanity First: Regina doctor travelling to Haiti to help those in need

Dr. Habib Rehman said he has been encouraged by the willingness of Canadian people to contribute to charities in Haiti's time of need.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit: Edmonton Journal
By Angela Hall, Leader-Post | January 21, 2010

REGINA — A Regina doctor leaves for Haiti on Friday to help with the enormous task of tending to the injured.

Dr. Habib Rehman is making the long journey to the earthquake ravaged country on short notice, where he'll work in makeshift facilities with limited essential medical supplies. But Rehman was quick to volunteer.

Indonesia: 'Infidel’ Not to be Said Lightly, NU Cleric Says

...Prophet [Muhammad] would never use violence. We talk to people. The Prophet would never physically attack people because they were not Muslims.” Masyhuri Na’im, Chairman, Nahdlatul Ulama legal advisory board.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit: The Jakarta Globe | March 27, 2010

Senior cleric and deputy chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama’s legal advisory board Masyhuri Na’im said on Friday that Muslims should not use the term kafir , or infidel, lightly.

The nation’s largest Islamic group has discussed the matter at its annual congress in Makassar this week because it had received numerous reports of Muslims labeling those both inside and outside the faith as infidels as a means of attack, he said.

Faith & Logic: No monopoly of truth

Some Distinctive Features of Islam was a lecture delivered by Hadrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IV, of blessed memory at the University of Canberra, Australia. It was first published in UK in 1985 and then in 1987, 1989, 1992, and 1995 respectively.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Excerpt
Source & Credit: Some Distinctive Features of Islam | AlIslam.Org
By His Holiness Mirza Tahir Ahmad (1928-2003)

While speaking on the subject of the distinctive features of Islam, the first and most attractive feature that strikes one, is its most endearing disclaimer that Islam has a monopoly of truth, and that there have been no other true religions. Nor does it claim that Arabs alone have been the recipients of God's love. Islam is the only religion that totally rejects the notion that truth is the monopoly of any single faith, race or people; instead, it professes that divine guidance is a general bounty that has sustained humanity in all ages. The Quran tells us that there is neither a race nor a people, who have not been blessed with the bounty of divine guidance, and there is neither a region of the earth nor ~ body of people who have not received prophets and Messengers of God [Al-Quran: 35:35].

In the back alleys of the world: 647 "honor" Killings in 2009

The report also said Pakistan ranked 117 among 134 countries in terms of quality of primary education in the World Economics Forum’s Global Competitiveness index of 2009. 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Selected News
Source & Credit: StopHonourKillings.com

ISLAMABAD: The 2009 report of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) released on Monday revealed that there was a sharp surge in violence against women and 1,401 women were murdered during 2009. Out of these, 647 were murdered in the name of “honour”, while 757 were killed for other reasons.

Muslim women don’t need saving from themselves

Everyone seems to have an opinion. Julius Grey, the civil rights lawyer who defended Sikh students’ right to wear a ceremonial dagger, said that Amed’s request to wear a niqab was unreasonable. Grey is effectively comparing a type of clothing to a dagger, a potential weapon, and deciding that the former is more unreasonable and more threatening than the latter.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Opinion
Source & Credit:  The McGill Daily |  Commentary
By Sheetal Pathak | March 18, 2010

Accommodation is a word with baggage in Quebec. In 2007, the public sphere was overtaken by debates about what accounts for reasonable and unreasonable accommodation. Who were we afraid of accommodating too much? Generally speaking, immigrants and their children, people of different faiths and customs whose demands were, some felt, unreasonable.

If you recall, the media had a party, as did the politicians. Action Démocratique du Québec’s popularity rose in the polls. All of a sudden, we heard countless tales of clashes between well-meaning Quebeckers and demanding immigrants. While we heard rational arguments aimed at clarifying the code of conduct in a pluralist democratic society, we also heard what amounted to thinly-veiled racism, and calls for a return to “Quebec values.”

Faith & Common Sence: Canadian province set to limit use of Muslim veils

"We're basically saying that here in Quebec, we receive and give services with our face uncovered. That's an affirmation that is novel." [Immigration Minister Katherine Weil]

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Canada Desk
Source & Credit: Reuters | India
By David Ljunggren | March 25, 2010

Canadian province set to limit use of Muslim veils

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Canadian province of Quebec, where tension over the assimilation of immigrants is rising, plans to ban Muslim women from receiving all official services if they have their faces covered.

Legislation unveiled by the provincial Liberal government on Wednesday would refuse education, day care and nonemergency healthcare to women wearing full face veils. The law would also apply to those working in the public sector.

Pakistan: Anarchy of a Revolution without Enlightenment | Where History Will Take Us?

"In the past 60 plus years, Pakistan has not been able to figure out what was left to the future by the founder. Even now, nobody knows what Pakistan is and what it would be like. From the mouth of Pakistan’s founder to the acts of fanatics, it seems religiosity has naturally grown over Pakistan."

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Opinion
Source & Credit: Chowk.com | March 23, 2010
By Tahir Qazi  

Where History Will Take Us?
Visiting Pakistan after 25 years was a great delight and a great disillusionment. Friends from the college vintage welcomed me with open arms at the airport. It was somewhat a surprise to suddenly share those gleeful moments together. The main road leading right out of the international airport hit a dirt patch. The paved road further down was full of motor vehicles, donkey carts and pedestrian traffic from all directions competing for every inch. The dust rose high everywhere and air felt scratchy. It tells the story for all of Pakistan. It is the story of social fabric of Pakistan that was always fragile, in shreds.

Faith & Common Sense: Malaysia - the model Muslim country?

If one were to be cynical, perhaps Malaysia truly has become a model for other "Islamic countries". In an electoral democracy and plural society such as ours, it is an achievement indeed for Islamic religious authorities to increasingly influence the justice system, government and public opinion.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Opinion
Source & Credit:The Nut Graph | March 26, 2010
By Shanon Shah | shanonshah@thenutgraph.com

Malaysia, the model Muslim country
BACK when he was deputy prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak pledged that Malaysia would become "a role model to the Islamic world". He said this in the middle of the 2009 Kuala Terengganu by-election, which Najib's Barisan Nasional (BN) eventually lost to Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

Faith, loyalty to country - no conflict, in multicultural Canada

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at has held World Religions Conferences and interfaith symposia across Canada, for the past 28 years, "to bring different faiths closer to one another." 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Canada Desk
Source & Credit: Bradford Times | Canada
By Miriam King

The first World Religions Conference held in Bradford, on March 17, was billed as an evening of "thought-provoking discussion", as scholars from Judaism, Christianity and Islam came together to discuss the topic, "Reconciling Faith and Loyalty to the Country."

The evening was organ-ized by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at, inviting the community to hear Muslim scholar Mubarak Nazir, Missionary-in- Charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Canada; Terry Weller, Interfaith Christian Minister and publisher of the Interfaith Unity News; and Mark Freiman, former Deputy Attorney General of Ontario, and President of the Canadian Jewish Congress.

Canada: Quebec Law Bans Burqas in Gov't Settings

...[G]iven that Muslims make up such a small portion of the population, some have questioned the need for the legislation.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit: CBN | March 25, 2010


A new law requires Muslim women in Quebec, Canada, to remove their head coverings while applying for government services in the province.

The decree also applies to women who work in offices that supply government services.

The law, which covers all garments from the face veil to the burqa, says such coverings are unacceptable if they hinder communication and visual identification.

Pakistan: Human Rights and Dismal realities

No one in government appears to recognise that quite apart from terrorism and militancy; there is an urgent need to improve the lot of the people. After years of suffering, the people crave security for their lives, properties, livelihoods and future.  

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Editorial
Source & Credit: Dawn | Pakistan
Dawn editorial | March 24, 2010

Dismal realities 
If anyone remains to be convinced about the truly dismal state of affairs prevailing in the country, they would find ample evidence in a report released on Monday by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. A roundup of the statistics of 2009, the report reads as an indictment of the state’s inability to protect its citizens. Unsurprisingly, terrorist attacks are identified as constituting the greatest threat to fundamental rights.

Kidnapping reflects fears of Pakistan minorities

In a country beset by a powerful Islamist insurgency, where suicide bombings are commonplace and government offensives widely dismissed as ineffective, anyone can become a victim.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff  |Int'l. Desk
Source & Credit: Dawn | Pakistan
March 22, 2010

PESHAWAR: Five Sikh men who fled their hometown on the Afghan border were making a quick trip back home when masked men blocked their way with a pickup on a mountain road not far from the Khyber Pass.

There were no houses, no buildings, no other cars in sight. The kidnappers covered their faces with black scarves and carried machine-guns.

UK: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community - Convoy's message of peace

"A true Muslim can never raise his voice in hatred against his fellow citizens, nor for that matter against the ruling authority or government of the time. He should remain loyal and abide by the laws of the land of which he is subject." His Holiness Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | UK Desk
Source & Credit: Dewsbury Reporter | 24 March 2010
By Adam Wolstenholme | Dewsbury

BUSES drove through Dewsbury and the Spen Valley this week promoting an Islamic message of peace.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim community called for peace in words and deed, countering the message of extremists who hijack Islam for political ends.

Dewsbury and Heckmondwike MP Shahid Malik praised the Ahmadiyya Muslims for "promoting an understanding and exploration of Islam within wider British society."

Indonesia: Religion Minister Defends Indonesia's Blasphemy Law

Indonesia’s Constitutional Court is currently reviewing the law after it was challenged in 2009 by the late President Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid and several human rights organizations.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff |
Source & Credit: The Jakarta Globe
By Anita Rachman

Makassar, South Sulawesi. Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali defended Indonesia’s blasphemy law at a conference of the nation’s largest Muslim organization, and asked the group for its support as the law undergoes a court challenge.

Without the stricture against blasphemy, people “could establish new religions, declaring new prophets, new angels,” Suryadharma said during a plenary session in front of thousands of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) leaders here. “It could cause the breakdown of harmony.

Humanity First, UK: Aquaboxes are ensuring Dr Khalifa's patients have vital clean water on tap

Dr Khalifa said: "The number one priority in these situations is clean drinking water. Most of the diseases are caused by infections due to the water. Things such as gastroenteritis which can cause dehydration can be dangerous, especially among children. From a medical point of view, clean water is vital. This AquaFilter is a great asset."

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | UK Desk
Source & Credit: This is Derbyshire | March 15, 2010
By Staff

EVERY morning at 8am, 80-year-old Dr Abdul Momin Khalifa opens the doors of the small medical clinic in a Haitian side street.

Already, between 20 and 30 people will be queuing outside, some needing treatment for injuries sustained in the devastating earthquake, others suffering the effects of post-traumatic stress.

"A lot of the cases we see are related to the earthquake," said Dr Khalifa who, despite his age, works seven days a week in the clinic. He has done so since three days after the earthquake on January 12.

"People can't sleep, have headaches, stomach aches, diarrhoea, and often this is because of the trauma."

Dr Khalifa is one of scores of volunteers who work for international charity Humanity First. It runs the clinic in Port-au-Prince which sees more than 80 patients every day.

Faith & Education: Media savvy students packing into journalism programs

Enrollment in traditional journalism programs has remained fairly steady for the past decade, but the strongest growth — and now the largest total number of students — is in the category called “other,” which includes online and visual communications programs, for example.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Articles
Source & Credit: Washington Business Journal
By Tierney Plumb | February 19, 2010

Shortly after graduating from The George Washington University in December with a degree in journalism, Lindsay Corcoran landed a job covering local news in Massachusetts.

But in the days before graduation, she had good reason to worry about her future. Students across the country continue to flock to journalism at a time when jobs in the industry are becoming more scarce as small and big media operations tighten their belts. Corcoran knew many students who had graduated in the spring of 2009 and still did not have a job.

Getting a full-time gig — even if it’s just for $11 an hour for 30 hours a week — was very unexpected, she said. After her initial three-month probationary period, she will get a raise.

Qadian, India: Official Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya Bharat website launched, new nursery, new trade training center opened

In addition to providing the education and training materials for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth, the website will be used for internal communication and reporting between Sadr Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya and Qaids of all the MKA branches in the country.

www.khuddam.in

Ahmadiyya Times | News Staff | Int'l Desk
Source & Credit: Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya | Bharat
By Staff Writer | March 23, 2010

The official Website of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya (MKA) Bharat, (the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association), was officially launched on the 23rd of March, on the occasion of “Messiah-e-Moud Day” at Qadian, India. The launch was officially made by Hafiz Dr. Saleh Muhammad Ala Deen, Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya Qadian.

Hafiz Makhdoom Sharif, Sadr, MKA Bharat was in attendance where Dr. Ala Deen presided over the inaugural session.