RAMAN'S TERRORISM ANALYSIS
Saturday, May 29, 2010
MASSACRE OF AHMADIS IN LAHORE
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM MONITOR---PAPER NO 654
B.RAMAN
Eighty persons were killed and over 120 others injured in two acts of terrorism directed against Ahmadi worshippers in two mosques belonging to their community in Lahore on May 28,2010. Among those killed were former sessions judge Ameer Ahmad Sheikh, the Amir of the Ahmadia community in Lahore Ejazul Haq, and Major General (retd) Nasir Ahmad.
2.Though the Ahmadis had been subjected in the past to persecution and atrocities by the Sunni extremists, these were the most brutal acts of terrorism directed against them since Pakistan was born in 1947. There had been worse acts of terrorism directed against the Shias, who are in a much larger number and much more influential politically and economically in the Pakistani society, but the Ahmadis, who are a marginalized community with no political or economic power, had been spared such acts of terrorism till now.
3. The two commando-style terrorist attacks were staged at the time of Friday prayers in the two Ahmadi mosques located in the Garhi Shahu and Model Town areas of Lahore. Since the Ahmadis are treated as non-Muslims in Pakistan because they do not recognize Prophet Mohammad as the only Prophet of Islam, their places of worship are not recognized as mosques.
4.These attacks have, therefore, been described by the Pakistani officials and media as attacks on places of worship and not mosques. The Ahmadis, who regard themselves as Muslims despite their reverence for the founder of their community as another Prophet, look upon their places of worship as mosques no different from other mosques. Thus, the two incidents were two more instances of brutal attacks by Sunni extremists on another group of Muslims worshipping in mosques. However, in Pakistan, to describe the Ahmadis as Muslims and their places of worship as mosques would be considered blasphemous. There are five million Ahmadis in Pakistan’s total population of about 180 million.
5. Seven heavily armed terrorists throwing hand-grenades into the packed gathering of worshippers and opening fire with assault rifles forced their way into the Garhi Shahu mosque. Two terrorists raided the Model Town mosque. While the worshippers in the Model Town mosque beat back the raiding terrorists before the police intervened, the worshippers in the Garhi Shahu mosque were kept hostage for nearly three hours by the terrorists before they were rescued by the security forces.
6. The security forces are reported to have captured two of the nine terrorists involved in the two attacks. Three allegedly blew themselves up and the remaining four were killed in the exchange of fire. According to the “Daily Times” of Lahore, the attackers also fired shots and hurled a hand grenade at a nearby mosque of Ahl-e-Hadees, adjacent to the City Law College.
7. A TV channel quoted the Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah as saying that one of the captured terrorists belonged to Rahim Yar Khan district and used to be a student of a madrassa in Karachi and that the other terrorist captured is a Pashtun.
8. On March 8, a suicide bomber had rammed his car packed with explosives into a Federal Investigation Agency building in Lahore, killing 11 people. On March 12, two suicide bombers had attacked Pakistani Army vehicles in a military cantonment in the city, killing more than 50 people. There were no major terrorist incidents in Lahore in April.
9. A statement disseminated from London through the Internet on behalf of the international Ahmadiya community said: “The attacks are the culmination of years of un-policed persecution of the Ahmadiya Muslim Jamaat, which is a minority sect in Pakistan. In 1974 legislation was passed that declared Ahmadis to be ‘non-Muslim’ and in 1984 further legislation was passed in which the practice of the faith was outlawed. At regular intervals since then Ahmadis have been attacked but today’s attack is the most cruel and barbaric. All Ahmadis, who are based in 195 countries, are peace loving and tolerant people and yet they are continually targeted by extremist factions. During his Friday Sermon at 1pm today (May 28) the Head of the Ahmadiya Muslim Jamaat,His Holiness Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, said: “Today two of our mosques in Lahore were attacked by extremists. At the moment we do not have full details of what has happened. It is clear though that a number of our Ahmadis have been killed and many others have been injured. These people had merely come to the mosques to offer their Friday prayers and yet became victims of a heinous terrorist attack. May God grant patience to the bereaved and elevate the status of those who have been martyred.”
10. A report disseminated from Lahore by the Associated Press said: “Ahmadis are reviled as heretics by mainstream Muslims for their belief that their sect’s founder was a savior foretold by the Quran, Islam’s holy book. The group has experienced years of state-sanctioned discrimination and occasional attacks by radical Sunni Muslims in Pakistan, but never before in such a large and coordinated fashion.” The AP report further said that before the attacks the suspect from Rahim Yar Khan had stayed at a center belonging to the Tableeghi Jamaat.
11.Geo TV reported that the Punjab province branch of the Pakistani Taliban had claimed responsibility, but the authenticity of the claim is yet to be established.
12.On April 17, 2010, “Dawn” of Karachi had reported an increase in kidnappings for ransom and murderous attacks on members of the Ahmadiya community in the industrial town of Faislabad in the Punjab. A member of the local Ahmadiya community had alleged that the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JUD) headed by Prof.Hafiz Mohammad Sayeed, which is the political wing of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LET), was responsible for these incidents and that the local police were not taking action against those involved. Faislabad is a stronghjold of the LET. Abu Zubaidah of Al Qaeda, now held in the Guantanamo Bay detention centre, was captured in 2002 from the house of an LET activist in Faislabad. The Ahmadis have been alleging that the JUD and some members of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) of Mr.Nawaz Sharif, former Prime Minister, have been acting in tandem in attacking the members of the community in Punjab. In this connection, they have named Syed Saqlain Shah, a member of the National Assembly, his uncle Syed Iqbal Shah, a former member of the Punjab Provincial Assembly, and Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, senior Vice-President of PML (N).
13. The LET, which is close to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), never indulges in acts of terrorism in Pakistani territory. It is doubtful whether it would have carried out the terrorist attacks on the Ahmadis despite its past acts of atrocities and intimidation against them. A strong suspect is the Sunni extremist Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LEJ), which has been involved in acts of terrorism in Pakistani territory for many years. Like the LET, it too is close to Al Qaeda and the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.
14. Two other suspects are the Jaish-e-Mohammad, whose leader Maulana Masood Azhar, had served for some years in the LEJ, and an organization mysteriously calling itself the Asian Tigers with no allusions to Islam or the Holy Koran, which looks upon the Ahmadis as American agents. The Asian Tigers were allegedly responsible for the recent kidnapping and execution of Sq.Leader Khalid Khawaja, a retired officer of the Pakistan Air Force, who had served for some years in the ISI. After his retirement, he used to hobnob with a number of jihadi terrorist groups, including Al Qaeda, the TTP, the JEM, the LET and the LEJ, and had come under suspicion in connection with the kidnapping and murder of Daniel Pearl, the US journalist in the beginning of 2002. The Asian Tigers had accused him of being an agent of the US and the Ahmadis. Not much is known about its origin and background. It is possible that the LET or Ilyas Kashmiri’s 313 Brigade also operate under the name Asian Tigers in order to avoid attracting the suspicion of the ISI and the US. (29-5-10)
( The writer is Additional Secretary (retd), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India, New Delhi, and, presently, Director, Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai, and Associate of the Chennai Centre For China Studies. E-mail: seventyone2@gmail.com )
Posted by B.RAMAN at 7:12 AM
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Battle with God
The anti-Ahmadiyya agitation and the delayed police actions in Indonesia are pathetic on the part of the government.
The administration and the police department in particular should have been pro-actively to prevent such public distrubances.
The after incidence report by police said they had six suspects but not arrests.
The Indonesian government finally said June 3 that it will not ban the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community citing an alleged change in the Ahmadiyya beliefs, which in effect is no fundamentally no dfferent from the mainstream Muslims.
In a compromising posture with the hardline Muslims of Indonesia, both the government and the agitating Muslims are heading for a battle with God and there couald be very amazing outcome of such an act.
The administration and the police department in particular should have been pro-actively to prevent such public distrubances.
The after incidence report by police said they had six suspects but not arrests.
The Indonesian government finally said June 3 that it will not ban the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community citing an alleged change in the Ahmadiyya beliefs, which in effect is no fundamentally no dfferent from the mainstream Muslims.
In a compromising posture with the hardline Muslims of Indonesia, both the government and the agitating Muslims are heading for a battle with God and there couald be very amazing outcome of such an act.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Saudis crack down on Ahmadi Muslims
Shame on Saudis
LONDON - Speaking at the weekly press meeting at London Mosque, SW 18, Monday March 24, The Ahmadiyya Muslim Association press secretary Abid Khan strongly condemned the actions of Saudi Arab government against the Ahmadi Muslims who have been working in Saudi Arab for the past several years, many very professional jobs.
In the past few years the Saudi government targeted Ahmadi Muslims and barred them from performing the hajj - the annual Islamic pilgrimage of Mecca as part of their faith.
A disappointed Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Middle East Human Rights expressing her concerns said, “ The Saudi Government’s persecution of Ahmadis on the basis their faith is turning Saudi Arabia into a byword of religious intolerance.
The press secretary Abid Khan urged Saudi Government as a true Muslim nation for immediate end of persecution of Ahmadi Muslims and lift all bans, reemploy and accord them equal treatment guaranteed by Islam.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Amadi Muslim's Poem at Mayor's Breakasft
Member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim San Franciso chpater, Dr. Koya was delighted to see his Urdu Poem " Jaoon Tumpe mein Qurban, Ya Rasool Allah" and its English Translation printed in the 10 TH SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR'S BREAKAFST hosted by San Francicso Interfaith Council yesterday November 20, 2007 at the Chaderal Hil Hotel, Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco.
Mayor Gevin Newsom graced the occasion and posed for dozens of pictures with volunteers who recived SIC Awards.
Here's Dr. Koya poem in English translation:
I render myself to Thee O Messenger of Allah
Voluminous Peace Be on Thee O Messenger of Allah
O Guide of Mecca O Sultan of Medina
Eminent among the messengers of God
The Crown of all prophets
I render my self to Thee O Messenger of Allah
Voluminous Peace be on Thee O Messenger of Allah
The Summit of Prophets and Pinnacle of Humanity
Praiseworthy thy name, praiseworthy thy deeds
Peace be on you and blessings of God be on thee
I render myself to ………………………………..........
What of mankind , even the angels together
Take bows to send salaam to thee
O my leader O my guide , I submit my soul to thee
I render myself to ………………………………......
Mayor Gevin Newsom graced the occasion and posed for dozens of pictures with volunteers who recived SIC Awards.
Here's Dr. Koya poem in English translation:
I render myself to Thee O Messenger of Allah
Voluminous Peace Be on Thee O Messenger of Allah
O Guide of Mecca O Sultan of Medina
Eminent among the messengers of God
The Crown of all prophets
I render my self to Thee O Messenger of Allah
Voluminous Peace be on Thee O Messenger of Allah
The Summit of Prophets and Pinnacle of Humanity
Praiseworthy thy name, praiseworthy thy deeds
Peace be on you and blessings of God be on thee
I render myself to ………………………………..........
What of mankind , even the angels together
Take bows to send salaam to thee
O my leader O my guide , I submit my soul to thee
I render myself to ………………………………......
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Sunni Muslim Sister on Walkersville Ahmadiyya Mosque
Grateful thanks to Sunni Muslim sister Diana Elbasha for a fair write up in the FREDRICK NEWS POST on the Walkersville Ahmadiyya Mosque project. Jazakllah ! ( Dr. Hanif Koya-San Francisco, Bay Area)
Diana ElbashaGive Walkersville a chanceOriginally published November 17, 2007
One of the most prevalent topics filling the pages of The Frederick News-Post lately seems, very apparently, to be that of the Walkersville Ahmadiyya controversy.
I have been attentively following them, making note of the endless viewpoints and reactions possible to be taken on the issue -- like anything else, some are understandable, and others plain preposterous. Thus, despite my initial intention to avoid writing on the issue, I have grown to believe in the past few weeks that this is an issue that is impossible to remain undefended.
Before I begin, allow me to clarify a few related key pieces of information: as my loyal readers are aware, I, too, am a Muslim -- so, prompting my interest in such a topic. However, before I am denunciated with accusations of bias, be aware that the Ahmadiyya religion differs significantly from the more populous Sunni Islam in which I believe.
Many of the fundamental beliefs of the two sects are in great opposition to one another; still, however, our holidays, practices, and prayers remain common. Such a comparison, among other reasons, is what provides me with enough understanding for not only the Ahmadiyyas' desire for a center, but also the strain they are currently undergoing to pursue the project.
Being a part of the Islamic Society of Frederick has me as well as all other long-time members, setting upon a pedestal of great accomplishment -- it took incredible amounts of time and effort to have our mosque and society be as extensive and successful as it is today. Years ago, when the ISF decided that the compromised idea of having prayers in an old, insecure, one-floor house, was too impractical for the increasing population to deal with, we went about division and conquest:
We approached every possible political figure within our reach -- commissioners, governors, anyone with enough stature to constitute decisions within Frederick -- to publicize our dire need for building or purchasing a vicinity for the community to pray and worship.
Rejected. Denied. Not in favor. Unapproved. (Are there any other words I am forgetting?)
I remember attending the public meetings and hearings on the issue -- several of our members would speak to these "leaders" with truth, passion, and at times desperation ... only to leave the room with angry tears of unfair rejection.
I was very young at the time, but seeing these types of reactions from the Ummah -- the community -- evoked from the insensitive, emotionless committee was more than enough to prompt anyone's understanding of the issue's extremity.
Now, as a painful section of Frederick history repeats itself, we see the issue being faced by Muslims again.
I have picked up on a plethora of responses to building the site -- one prominent comment being the trouble in allowing a possible 10,000 people to assemble at the site in Walkersville.
I don't know much about the dynamics of the Ahmadiyya society -- but I do know that the conventions they hold with "10,000 members" in attendance are held every few months or possibly annually.
So a few days out of the year -- what's the big deal? One five-mile radius of Frederick contains an amount of churches more than Muslims can ever hope to see on the entire East Coast of Mosques -- all of which were built and finalized for use in a fraction of the time it has been taking for us to gain a glimpse of the county's approval to build. So tell me, does anyone consider excuses in such ridiculous detail for the building of a Christian center? Or a Jewish center?
It is unfair and shouldn't be necessary -- and I say this with true empathy and personal experience -- for an entire religious population to have to travel miles and hours just to have grounds to pray on. Give them a chance.
Is this how we are representing the amendment of Freedom of Religion?
If so, what a great place to be ...
Diana ElbashaGive Walkersville a chanceOriginally published November 17, 2007
One of the most prevalent topics filling the pages of The Frederick News-Post lately seems, very apparently, to be that of the Walkersville Ahmadiyya controversy.
I have been attentively following them, making note of the endless viewpoints and reactions possible to be taken on the issue -- like anything else, some are understandable, and others plain preposterous. Thus, despite my initial intention to avoid writing on the issue, I have grown to believe in the past few weeks that this is an issue that is impossible to remain undefended.
Before I begin, allow me to clarify a few related key pieces of information: as my loyal readers are aware, I, too, am a Muslim -- so, prompting my interest in such a topic. However, before I am denunciated with accusations of bias, be aware that the Ahmadiyya religion differs significantly from the more populous Sunni Islam in which I believe.
Many of the fundamental beliefs of the two sects are in great opposition to one another; still, however, our holidays, practices, and prayers remain common. Such a comparison, among other reasons, is what provides me with enough understanding for not only the Ahmadiyyas' desire for a center, but also the strain they are currently undergoing to pursue the project.
Being a part of the Islamic Society of Frederick has me as well as all other long-time members, setting upon a pedestal of great accomplishment -- it took incredible amounts of time and effort to have our mosque and society be as extensive and successful as it is today. Years ago, when the ISF decided that the compromised idea of having prayers in an old, insecure, one-floor house, was too impractical for the increasing population to deal with, we went about division and conquest:
We approached every possible political figure within our reach -- commissioners, governors, anyone with enough stature to constitute decisions within Frederick -- to publicize our dire need for building or purchasing a vicinity for the community to pray and worship.
Rejected. Denied. Not in favor. Unapproved. (Are there any other words I am forgetting?)
I remember attending the public meetings and hearings on the issue -- several of our members would speak to these "leaders" with truth, passion, and at times desperation ... only to leave the room with angry tears of unfair rejection.
I was very young at the time, but seeing these types of reactions from the Ummah -- the community -- evoked from the insensitive, emotionless committee was more than enough to prompt anyone's understanding of the issue's extremity.
Now, as a painful section of Frederick history repeats itself, we see the issue being faced by Muslims again.
I have picked up on a plethora of responses to building the site -- one prominent comment being the trouble in allowing a possible 10,000 people to assemble at the site in Walkersville.
I don't know much about the dynamics of the Ahmadiyya society -- but I do know that the conventions they hold with "10,000 members" in attendance are held every few months or possibly annually.
So a few days out of the year -- what's the big deal? One five-mile radius of Frederick contains an amount of churches more than Muslims can ever hope to see on the entire East Coast of Mosques -- all of which were built and finalized for use in a fraction of the time it has been taking for us to gain a glimpse of the county's approval to build. So tell me, does anyone consider excuses in such ridiculous detail for the building of a Christian center? Or a Jewish center?
It is unfair and shouldn't be necessary -- and I say this with true empathy and personal experience -- for an entire religious population to have to travel miles and hours just to have grounds to pray on. Give them a chance.
Is this how we are representing the amendment of Freedom of Religion?
If so, what a great place to be ...
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Ahmadi Muslims pray led by Dr. Koya at Dr. Hak Jan Moon Peace Summt
One Family Under God~ Global Peace Festival ~Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon - 12 City Tour A Summit for Peace from the Community to the World
Monday, November 12, 2007 - Marriott San Francisco Airport Hotel, San Francisco, CA
As Dr. Hyun Jin Moon put it in his address and introduction to True Mother, “A heavenly earthquake is about to hit the San Francisco Bay Area!” An excited and diverse crowd of 1,200 filled the beautiful Grand Ballroom at the Marriott San Francisco Airport Hotel Monday evening. People came by the busload from throughout the Bay Area and as far away as Sacramento, San Jose, and Reno, Nevada, to see and hear our True Mother, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon.
Bishops, pastors, ministers, deacons, and congregation members from over 50 churches came, as well as 30 monks and members of the Purple Lotus Buddhist Temple in Union City, leaders and members of the Amidiyyah Muslims, and many more. This time 120 college-age youth leaders came to welcome True Mother and Hyun Jin Nim, and many of those were appointed as Youth Ambassadors for Peace. In all, over 200 new Ambassadors for Peace were appointed.
The afternoon began with a “Summit for Peace” conference that over 100 youth and senior Ambassadors for Peace and guests attended. Mr. and Mrs. Carl Hagen organized the conference, with the help of a great team of brothers and sisters. Rev. Bento Leal gave the educational presentation on the Five Principles of Ambassadors for Peace. We heard from several local Ambassadors for Peace, and there were lively discussions among the participants about how we can work together to bring peace in our communities and in our world.
The preprogram began with a slide presentation titled “Youth Serving from the Community to the World,” accompanied by our 2nd Generation band. This was followed by a moving tribute honoring our veterans on Veterans Day. Ambassador Phillip Sanchez and Captain Jim Herndon led the audience in the honoring of the veterans on stage and in the audience, as the Boy Scout Troop 818 posted the colors on stage. Our preprogram MC’s Jove Meyer and Meagan Simonds did an incredible job!
Next the Youth Ambassadors for Peace were recognized, and we gave thanks to the veterans, for it is their sacrifice for freedom and peace that has made it possible for this younger generation to work for peace. Rev. Jesse Edwards brought the Holy Spirit through his remarks and the program just continued to build momentum.
Rev. Jenkins took the stage for the main program and brought the Interreligious prayers of peace, featuring Archbishop Stallings, Dr. Hanif Koya (Amidiyyah Muslims) and Master Samantha Chou of the Purple Lotus Temple, accompanied on stage by a dozen of her monks. Dr. Amos Brown, pastor of the 3rd Baptist Church of San Francisco and ACLC co-chairman, gave powerful remarks for peace in our community and in the world and brought to the stage young Kofi Vordjogbe, a 14-year-old child prodigy from Ghana, who enthralled the audience with his original piano composition. Then Dr. Brown truly brought the spirit to a peak as he called for us to work for peace for all of God’s children in a prophetic voice.
This truly set the stage for Dr. Hyun Jin Moon, who was electrifying in his emphatic call for “One Family Under God!” He testified so deeply to the work of his father and then introduced True Mother, to the standing ovation of everyone in the room. The spirit was so high and united as Mother came to the stage. She read God’s message with such passion and beauty that many were moved to tears. Mother was so beautiful; she was the embodiment of true love and the image of peace. Mr. and Mrs. Jean-Jacques Vitrac were so moved by her speech as they prepared to present the flowers backstage to Mother and Hyun Jin Nim. A beautiful trophy was presented to Mother by Bishop and Mrs. Andre Jackson , Ms. Wafaa Aboreshaad, and Mr. Dwight Sterling.
We thank all of our brothers and sisters who prayed and worked so hard to bring this victory and take our foundation to a new level; and all of our Ambassadors for Peace, clergy, interfaith leaders, women leaders, and youth leaders who joined together in welcoming True Parents and True Family and determined to join hands in truly building peace in our families, communities, and our world.
Aju and thank you, God and True Parents! Rev. Joshua Cotter
TESTIMONIES FROM GUESTS
Amidiyyah Muslim: It was a beautiful, fantastic program!
Professor: The conference was wonderful and very educational, and I will definitely come back. I deeply respect Mother Moon for her leadership and her efforts for peace throughout the world.
Bishop: It was a wonderful program. I really enjoyed the talk on True Family Values and Mrs. Moon's speech. It was very family-oriented.
Deacon: It was a Holy Spirit filled program. I really enjoyed worshipping together. I am looking forward to building this One Family Under God together!
Service for Peace leader: It is very inspiring to be part of an international movement for peace. You don't often see people coming together to build peace centered on spirituality.
Minister: It was so inspiring and rejuvenating to see so many young people ready and willing to carry the torch of world peace on into the future! To God be the glory in the rebuilding of world peace and His Kingdom!
International gospel singer: I am so blessed to be here and to be a part of this! Glory be to God! This is a work of God and I want to be part of the national and the world tour. God bless Mother Moon!
UC Berkeley graduate student: I was deeply moved by the prayer of St. Francis, in both Dr. Brown's remarks and Dr. Hyun Jin Moon's remarks. I remembered that it was the understanding of the suffering heart of God that touched me so deeply about the Unification Church before. I was grateful to be there tonight.
San Francisco State University student: I was tearful and repentful; I felt Mother's beautiful, sincere and loving heart. I was also moved so deeply by the quality of Father Moon's life, and the 8 areas that he championed in his life. I was also moved to tears by the interreligious prayers and by the Ambassador for Peace conference.
Photos by Ken Owens IP : -->
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One Family Under God - Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon 12 City Tour - San Francisco, CA
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Monday, November 12, 2007 - Marriott San Francisco Airport Hotel, San Francisco, CA
As Dr. Hyun Jin Moon put it in his address and introduction to True Mother, “A heavenly earthquake is about to hit the San Francisco Bay Area!” An excited and diverse crowd of 1,200 filled the beautiful Grand Ballroom at the Marriott San Francisco Airport Hotel Monday evening. People came by the busload from throughout the Bay Area and as far away as Sacramento, San Jose, and Reno, Nevada, to see and hear our True Mother, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon.
Bishops, pastors, ministers, deacons, and congregation members from over 50 churches came, as well as 30 monks and members of the Purple Lotus Buddhist Temple in Union City, leaders and members of the Amidiyyah Muslims, and many more. This time 120 college-age youth leaders came to welcome True Mother and Hyun Jin Nim, and many of those were appointed as Youth Ambassadors for Peace. In all, over 200 new Ambassadors for Peace were appointed.
The afternoon began with a “Summit for Peace” conference that over 100 youth and senior Ambassadors for Peace and guests attended. Mr. and Mrs. Carl Hagen organized the conference, with the help of a great team of brothers and sisters. Rev. Bento Leal gave the educational presentation on the Five Principles of Ambassadors for Peace. We heard from several local Ambassadors for Peace, and there were lively discussions among the participants about how we can work together to bring peace in our communities and in our world.
The preprogram began with a slide presentation titled “Youth Serving from the Community to the World,” accompanied by our 2nd Generation band. This was followed by a moving tribute honoring our veterans on Veterans Day. Ambassador Phillip Sanchez and Captain Jim Herndon led the audience in the honoring of the veterans on stage and in the audience, as the Boy Scout Troop 818 posted the colors on stage. Our preprogram MC’s Jove Meyer and Meagan Simonds did an incredible job!
Next the Youth Ambassadors for Peace were recognized, and we gave thanks to the veterans, for it is their sacrifice for freedom and peace that has made it possible for this younger generation to work for peace. Rev. Jesse Edwards brought the Holy Spirit through his remarks and the program just continued to build momentum.
Rev. Jenkins took the stage for the main program and brought the Interreligious prayers of peace, featuring Archbishop Stallings, Dr. Hanif Koya (Amidiyyah Muslims) and Master Samantha Chou of the Purple Lotus Temple, accompanied on stage by a dozen of her monks. Dr. Amos Brown, pastor of the 3rd Baptist Church of San Francisco and ACLC co-chairman, gave powerful remarks for peace in our community and in the world and brought to the stage young Kofi Vordjogbe, a 14-year-old child prodigy from Ghana, who enthralled the audience with his original piano composition. Then Dr. Brown truly brought the spirit to a peak as he called for us to work for peace for all of God’s children in a prophetic voice.
This truly set the stage for Dr. Hyun Jin Moon, who was electrifying in his emphatic call for “One Family Under God!” He testified so deeply to the work of his father and then introduced True Mother, to the standing ovation of everyone in the room. The spirit was so high and united as Mother came to the stage. She read God’s message with such passion and beauty that many were moved to tears. Mother was so beautiful; she was the embodiment of true love and the image of peace. Mr. and Mrs. Jean-Jacques Vitrac were so moved by her speech as they prepared to present the flowers backstage to Mother and Hyun Jin Nim. A beautiful trophy was presented to Mother by Bishop and Mrs. Andre Jackson , Ms. Wafaa Aboreshaad, and Mr. Dwight Sterling.
We thank all of our brothers and sisters who prayed and worked so hard to bring this victory and take our foundation to a new level; and all of our Ambassadors for Peace, clergy, interfaith leaders, women leaders, and youth leaders who joined together in welcoming True Parents and True Family and determined to join hands in truly building peace in our families, communities, and our world.
Aju and thank you, God and True Parents! Rev. Joshua Cotter
TESTIMONIES FROM GUESTS
Amidiyyah Muslim: It was a beautiful, fantastic program!
Professor: The conference was wonderful and very educational, and I will definitely come back. I deeply respect Mother Moon for her leadership and her efforts for peace throughout the world.
Bishop: It was a wonderful program. I really enjoyed the talk on True Family Values and Mrs. Moon's speech. It was very family-oriented.
Deacon: It was a Holy Spirit filled program. I really enjoyed worshipping together. I am looking forward to building this One Family Under God together!
Service for Peace leader: It is very inspiring to be part of an international movement for peace. You don't often see people coming together to build peace centered on spirituality.
Minister: It was so inspiring and rejuvenating to see so many young people ready and willing to carry the torch of world peace on into the future! To God be the glory in the rebuilding of world peace and His Kingdom!
International gospel singer: I am so blessed to be here and to be a part of this! Glory be to God! This is a work of God and I want to be part of the national and the world tour. God bless Mother Moon!
UC Berkeley graduate student: I was deeply moved by the prayer of St. Francis, in both Dr. Brown's remarks and Dr. Hyun Jin Moon's remarks. I remembered that it was the understanding of the suffering heart of God that touched me so deeply about the Unification Church before. I was grateful to be there tonight.
San Francisco State University student: I was tearful and repentful; I felt Mother's beautiful, sincere and loving heart. I was also moved so deeply by the quality of Father Moon's life, and the 8 areas that he championed in his life. I was also moved to tears by the interreligious prayers and by the Ambassador for Peace conference.
Photos by Ken Owens IP : -->
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One Family Under God - Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon 12 City Tour - San Francisco, CA
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Sunday, November 11, 2007
The cult answer
There are a few drop-outs like Ahmad Karim Shaikk of Canada who cannot abide by the degree of obedience to a Khalifa-e-Waqt. I have met a few who fell by the way side and could not give up their ego which has no place in Islam which means total surrender to the Will of God. In comlying with the orders and guidance of Khalifa, no matter how bitterly you disagree with him, you are humbling yourself to the dust. Eluding to this, in part, Hazrat Mirza sahib said: "Jo mite mein mile oose milta hey Ashana. O Aazmane wale yeh Nuska to Aazma."
It is only in Ahmadiyya Jamaat you learn to experience total submission in which your own self has no worth. This is not cult, this is very high degree of Fana-Fillah and Fanfil Rasool. In being obedient to a Khalifa of Hazrat Muhammad Musftafa, sallalahu allayhe wassalam, you are acutally induldging in Fanfil Rasool which so important to attaining nearness to Allah. If you call this cult, then be it. Cult does not embrace the meaning I just outlined.
In Ateeullah Ateer Rasool, Allah desires the same degree of obdedince from Muslims which so badly lacking in us today. That's is why an Imamuz Zamaal like Hazrat Mriza sahib comes to foster the spririt of obdeinece in us. If all Muslims were to acquire the same degree of obedience in Fana Filrasool, there will be no problem in Islam, we will be moving forward and ahead of the entire world, saying: "Allah Hummah Labaiq, Allah Hummah Labaiq". This is what the Ahmadis are accustomed to and the example cannot be found anywhere else in today's Islam because there is no Imam, Khalifah or Ameerul Momineen to whom such relentless obedience can be given. Hope this will drive out the idea of Ahamdiyya Cult to the farthest end of the bush of ignorance and never dare to enter your mind.Posted by DR.HANIF KOYA, United States of America
Islam And Democracy ______________ DR.HANIF KOYA, United States of America (2007-07-28 05:26:33)
Ahamdiyaa Cult ______________ DR.HANIF KOYA, United States of America (2007-07-27 05:53:56)
It is only in Ahmadiyya Jamaat you learn to experience total submission in which your own self has no worth. This is not cult, this is very high degree of Fana-Fillah and Fanfil Rasool. In being obedient to a Khalifa of Hazrat Muhammad Musftafa, sallalahu allayhe wassalam, you are acutally induldging in Fanfil Rasool which so important to attaining nearness to Allah. If you call this cult, then be it. Cult does not embrace the meaning I just outlined.
In Ateeullah Ateer Rasool, Allah desires the same degree of obdedince from Muslims which so badly lacking in us today. That's is why an Imamuz Zamaal like Hazrat Mriza sahib comes to foster the spririt of obdeinece in us. If all Muslims were to acquire the same degree of obedience in Fana Filrasool, there will be no problem in Islam, we will be moving forward and ahead of the entire world, saying: "Allah Hummah Labaiq, Allah Hummah Labaiq". This is what the Ahmadis are accustomed to and the example cannot be found anywhere else in today's Islam because there is no Imam, Khalifah or Ameerul Momineen to whom such relentless obedience can be given. Hope this will drive out the idea of Ahamdiyya Cult to the farthest end of the bush of ignorance and never dare to enter your mind.Posted by DR.HANIF KOYA, United States of America
Islam And Democracy ______________ DR.HANIF KOYA, United States of America (2007-07-28 05:26:33)
Ahamdiyaa Cult ______________ DR.HANIF KOYA, United States of America (2007-07-27 05:53:56)
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