Muslim group gearing up to attend national meeting
A leading figure at a Wolverhampton Mosque has been speaking ahead of an important date in his faith's calendar.
Toban Ephram, National Outreach Co-ordinator Pan-African for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK, is preparing to travel with fellow members of the Baitul Atta Mosque to the National Peace Symposium in South London.
The 17th annual symposium takes place on Saturday, March 21 at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden, which is the largest mosque in western Europe.
The event, which has a theme of "The Foundations for True Peace", promotes a deeper understanding of Islam and other faiths and seeks to inspire a concerted effort for lasting peace.
The symposium will begin the build up to the biggest event on the Ahmadiyya community calender, the Jalsa Salana in August, where more than 30,000 people will join together to increase religious awareness.
Toban spoke about what the symposium meant to him and to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association.
He said: "For me as an individual, it helps me to foster diversity in the community and improve community cohesion at a time when we see that communities seem to be divided.
"What the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community does is to unite and bring people together so, for me, the symposium is where I find you have opportunities to meet people from all walks of life."
More than 800 invited guests from around the world will attend the event, including secretaries of state, members of parliament, faith and civic leaders and representatives from various charities and faith communities.
There will also be a presentation of the Ahmadiyya Muslim prize for the advancement of peace, awarded in recognition of an individual or organisations contribution to that area.
Toban said the symposium showed the importance of fostering the love of the community you live in.
He said: "It will help you view how you can give back and break down the barriers of hatred and extremism and radicalization.
"It is important to meet, it's important to talk to people and we offer that platform to everyone.
"We give a chance to everybody regardless whether they're black or white or blue or red to come together to share their values, and that is the main thing."
To find out more about the National Peace Symposium, go to peacesymposium.org.uk
