Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad says that Annual Convention is going ahead despite attack

The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat and Fifth Khalifa, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, has strongly condemned an attack perpetrated by thousands of extremists Muslims against the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Bangladesh on 6 February 2013.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Bangladesh, which is celebrating its 100 year anniversary, was scheduled to hold its Annual Convention (Jalsa Salana) at a large stadium in Gazipur District; however after the attack on 6 February it was re-located to the National Headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Dhaka.

Preparations for the Annual Convention had been completed when the attack took place. Between two to three thousand Muslim extremists, led by fanatical religious clerics from ‘Jamaat Islami’ and other groups, entered the stadium and proceeded to vandalise and destroy all property. They then set the area alight and so all property was burnt, including marquees, smaller tents, chairs and many other items.

The financial loss suffered by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat was huge and likely to come to tens of millions in local currency.

Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said that though the venue had been changed, the three-day Annual Convention was still going ahead and had already begun. His Holiness said:

“The Jalsa Salana is not being cancelled and is taking place like always. May Allah protect all those who are attending the Jalsa and may the event reach a safe and successful conclusion.”

Referring to the extremist clerics who led the attack as the “so-called flag bearers of Islam’, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad prayed:

“May Allah punish the so-called religious scholars for their hatred and evil acts.”

In his Friday Sermon of 8 February 2013, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad also announced that the Jalsa Salana of the Sierra Leone Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat had commenced. His Holiness said that the Islamic leaders in Sierra Leone were different to those in Bangladesh, because despite differences of belief, they continued to display ‘humanity’ and thus attended events hosted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat.

Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“May Allah reward the religious clerics in Sierra Leone  for their positive attitude  and may He enable them to better understand the message and truthful claim of the Promised Messiah.”