- Construction of a tent city sheltering 50,000 Muslims is underway in the Eifel region.
At a previous military airbase in Rhineland-Palatinate, a temporary settlement for up to 50,000 individuals is being set up lately. The cause: The religious group Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat (AMJ) is hosting its annual gathering, Jalsa Salana, in Mendig, Eifel region, from Friday to Sunday. As per "T-Online", 220 tents are being constructed for gatherings, prayers, overnight stays, or as work or catering spaces. Around 1,000 family tents will be added as well. In this tent city, or rather tent megacity, gender segregation is strictly enforced outside the family tents.
The estimated crowd size surpasses Mendig's population by approximately five times. However, this isn't the first significant event held at the airbase. In 2015 and 2016, the "Rock am Ring" festival took place there, and the facility is also utilized by an aviation sports club, film productions, and vehicle testing.
For what's alleged to be Europe's largest religious event, around 6,000 volunteers are said to be involved, with expenses of approximately six million euros reportedly covered entirely by Ahmadiyya's donations, as reported. Authorities express no major security concerns, with everything being "extremely professionally organized," as per the "Rhein-Zeitung" quoting from the responsible authority's statement.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, depicted as the oldest Muslim community in Germany, celebrated its centennial last year. Its international spiritual leader is Caliph Mirza Masroor Ahmad, who reportedly couldn't attend Mendig due to health issues. The movement originated in Pakistan.
In Germany, the community claims approximately 55,000 active members and over 70 minaret mosques. Ahmadiyya is reportedly present in over 200 countries, with the first Jalsa Salana in Germany occurring in 1976. The organization portrays itself as non-political. "When we mention 'Caliphate', it doesn't imply setting up a political state," AMJ spokesman Asif Malik told "T-Online".
The head of Germany's Ahmadiyya community, Abdullah Uwe Wagishauser, emphasizes the responsibility of Muslims in Germany to promote a better understanding of their religion, as he stated at the Jalsa Salana in Stuttgart last year. This year's event is open to non-Muslims as well. Despite their commitment to Germany, Islam expert Susanne Schröder told "Bild" that the Ahmadiyya community is a "very strict and ultra-conservative group" that enforces strict gender segregation, typically arranges marriages with elder intervention, and largely adheres to the Sharia.
Despite the temporary tent city being used for various events in the past, such as the Rock am Ring festival and aviation activities, this year's event is unique as it's Europe's largest religious gathering. This camping site, hosting up to 55,000 individuals, will provide space for gatherings, prayers, and overnight stays, as well as work or catering spaces, with approximately 2,200 tents in total.
