- Approximately 40,000 individuals practicing Islam assemble in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Around 40,000 individuals are predicted to be present this weekend in Rhineland-Palatinate for the yearly event hosted by the Muslim association Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat. Over a period of three days, Muslims will unite for religious services and talks at the airport in Mendig, Rhineland-Palatinate. As per a representative, this event is considered the biggest religious peace summit in the nation.
The community's chairman, Abdullah Uwe Wagishauser, emphasized the significance of faith and democracy at the onset. He clarified that the term Sharia is frequently misconstrued. The community had previously mentioned: "Our Sharia is the Basic Law." "It's merely the religious code for followers," stated the chairman. "Sharia instructs us that in the territory where we reside, under whose shield we dwell, we must remain loyal to this territory. As a result, we must be responsible democrats."
Although the community is known to be apolitical, the societal and political atmosphere in Germany has an impact on them. "We also communicate with the AfD," said Wagishauser. It's important to engage in open dialogue with their supporters. "You can't simply vilify them," he says. "Certainly, there are also individuals with whom dialogue is virtually impossible."
The conference's main attraction was initially planned to be the speech by the worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya movement, Caliph Mirza Masroor Ahmad. However, due to health issues, he had to cancel his trip. Consequently, the organizers now anticipate around 40,000 visitors as opposed to the initially expected 50,000.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat announced that "The following is added:" to their original 50,000 visitor expectation due to Caliph Mirza Masroor Ahmad's cancellation. Despite the change, the event in Rhineland-Palatinate is still expected to attract a large crowd.
In light of the AfD's presence in German politics, Abdullah Uwe Wagishauser, the community chairman, believed it was crucial to have "open dialogue" and stated, "We also communicate with the AfD."
