Tuesday, July 6, 2010

FIRST AHMADI MOSQUE OPENED IN BERLIN


PRESS RELEASE   16 October 2008

FIRST AHMADI MOSQUE OPENED IN BERLIN

Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat promises locals that there is ‘no
need to fear Ahmadiyya Mosque’

Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad today officially opened the Khadija Mosque in
Berlin. The opening took place with great success as hundreds of local officials
and neighbours came to attend the function. The entire event was broadcast
live via MTA International throughout the world.

The opening of the Khadija Mosque marked the fulfilment of a desire of the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat stretching back to the early 1920s when it was first
proposed that an Ahmadi Mosque be built in the city of Berlin. The advent of
the First World War put paid to the plans and thereafter until now the Jamaat
was unable to build a Mosque in the city.

The building of the Khadija Mosque was not without incident. Since plans to
build it were announced a number of groups had voiced their dissent fearing
that its building would be a precursor to acts of terror or violence. In his
address to the gathered audience, His Holiness, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad
reassured the German people of the loyalty of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat
and explained the true purposes for erecting the Khadija Mosque. He said:
“This Mosque we have built has not been made for any Jihadi organisation or
any terrorist activity but simply it has been built for the worship of Allah…
From this Mosque of ours there will be no other call apart from love for
humanity, affection, reconciliation, justice and peace. And you will observe
that what I have said were not mere words but were acted upon. And time
will, God willing, prove it to be so.”

His Holiness further used the occasion to thank the German Government for
providing a haven for persecuted Ahmadis who had been forced to flee
Pakistan in fear of their lives. In this respect he applauded the Government for
not only allowing such immigrants to live freely but for positively embracing
them as part and parcel of the local society. He said that this warmth had been
accepted by the Ahmadis who now took great pride in being German and who
were all completely loyal to the State.

Developing his theme further, His Holiness rejected the fear voiced by segments
of society that the building of the Mosque could lead to division between
Muslims and non‐Muslims. He said that in fact the opposite would be true. A
prime example of the Jamaat’s integration was that the President of the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat was an indigenous German. He said:
“His appointment is not based upon any political motive such as that a
German should be made our President (Amir) or that we wish to receive any
benefit from the German Government. It is merely due to his extreme
sincerity, devotion and goodness that he has merited this status within the
Community.”

His Holiness concluded his address by stating that the protection and sanctity
of all places of worship was a basic part of the Islamic faith. In this respect he
told the audience of the extent to which all Ahmadis would go to observe this
principle. Their loyalty did not end with the four walls of their Mosques. He
said:
“If a Christian Church requires protection and an Ahmadi is called to help
then he must help. If a Jewish Synagogue requires protection and an Ahmadi
is called to help then he should be there. If a believer of any faith requires the
help of an Ahmadi to establish justice then the Ahmadi should be there by his
side.”

The opening also included short speeches by Wolfgang Thierse, Vice Speaker of
the German Parliament, Matthias Kohne, the local Mayor and Dr Heidi Knake‐
Werner, the State Minister for Integration. All three congratulated the Jamaat
upon the opening of the Mosque and expressed their hope that it would
become a beacon illustrating the peaceful co‐existence of different segments
of society in Berlin.

End of Release

Some News Links

First eastern German mosque opens in Berlin
Published: 17 Oct 08 07:59 CET Online
http://www.thelocal.de/14953/20081017/

Members of the Ahmadiya Muslim minority have inaugurated eastern Germany's
first mosque after years of controversy over its construction in a Berlin
neighbourhood. http://www.thelocal.de/14953/20081017/

Some 200 people slam the "Islamization of Europe" ‐
Mosque opening sparks protests in Germany
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2008/10/16/58385.html

First mosque opens in Germany's ex‐communist east
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7883692

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