Need to show compassion
Amidst a rise in far-right parties, I, the Caliph and world head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, have laid out a plan of action to combat frustrations of communities arising from a fear of immigrants.
Speaking at a Muslim Convention, I told how many local people are afraid that their societies are changing beyond comprehension and they feel that their nation’s resources are being disproportionately utilised in favour of immigrants.
Whilst the term “immigrant” is used, the real issue for most people is “Islam” and the fact that the vast majority of immigrants to Europe are Muslims, fleeing from war-torn countries in the Middle East.
Some of the “real causes of concern” are the financial burden of hosting immigrants, terrorists entering disguised as refugees and the fear based on recent reports that some migrants have sexually abused women.
As a result, I called on governments to take strong measures to combat these issues and stressed that Islam should not be feared as it is a religion of peace.
Addressing the accusation levelled at Islam, that it allows men to sexually abuse women, I insisted that it was completely wrong and the government should take extremely strict measures against the perpetrators:
Let me make it categorically clear that any Muslim who violates the honour of a woman or abuses her in any way is acting entirely against Islam’s teachings.
Islam considers such behaviour as evil and has mandated exceptionally strong punishments for those guilty of such immoral and reprehensible crimes.
In terms of security concerns, if there are any immigrants who come with the intention of spreading mischief or creating disorder they are directly contravening Islam’s teachings.
Society should not reject genuine refugees who are suffering through no fault of their own.
Society should not cast aside innocent people who only want the opportunity to live in peace and who desire to be good citizens and follow the laws of the land in which they live.
Instead, we should be there to give a helping hand to those whose lives have been broken, who have been tormented and who are utterly helpless, vulnerable and defenceless.
Let us show our compassion.
Let us be there to shoulder the burdens of those who are in desperate need. The Caliph and world head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahma