Matthew was pleased to attend the 49th Jalsa Salana with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat at East Worldham in Hampshire. In recent years the community has become persecuted in countries such as Pakistan and Indonesia for not being ‘true believers’ of Islam. Over 4 million Ahmadis live in Pakistan and they have been subjected to systematic persecution and violence. The concern of MPs has led to the establishment of the Ahmadiyya All Party Parliamentary Group in the House of Commons, of which Matthew is a member.
Matthew said: “By encouraging interfaith dialogue through constructive debate and defending pure Islam, the Ahmadiyya community propagate peace, tolerance and love and as such are a force for good. I am proud of my record of defending religious minorities – whether it is Christians in Afghanistan, Ahmadis in Pakistan or Jewish people in Britain – everybody should have the freedom to follow the faith they choose.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUwkVyEa1wQ
Photo: Matthew is pictured addressing the Convention