Muslim group hits out at Qur’an exhibition organisers
A ROW has broken out over an exhibition about the Muslim holy book, the Qur’an.
A Muslim group has accused the exhibition’s organisers of ‘hijacking the Muslim identity’.
The event organised by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association is being held at Dewsbury Town Hall tomorrow.
But members of Kirklees Muslim Action Committee said the group had no right to put on an exhibition about the Qur’an, saying they were non-Muslims.
Committee member Dr Abid Hussain said: “We object strongly to the fact that a small minority are telling people about the Holy Qur’an when they are not even Muslims.”
But the Ahmadiyya group argues that it is entitled to organise the exhibition, as they consider themselves to be Muslims.
Arif Ahmad, vice president of the Spen Valley branch which covers north Kirklees said: “There are doctrinal differences between different groups but we believe ourselves to be Muslims.
“We believe the Holy Qur’an is our holy book and we hope to show it to the public.”
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Association originally planned to hold its exhibition in December, but postponed it on police advice.
Mr Ahmad said: “There were actually threats and information that there might be problems with other Muslim groups.”
Last Saturday, the Huddersfield branch of the Ahmadiyya group had an exhibition at Huddersfield Town Hall. Protesters from the Muslim Action Committee were present, but peaceful.
Dr Hussain said his group’s members would have been equally peaceful at the Dewsbury event that was postponed in December.
He added: “Our response in Huddersfield was completely peaceful.
“We took measures to ensure that there would not be any trouble and we would have done the same in Dewsbury.”
He said the group was considering its response to the event taking place tomorrow.
Criticism of the Ahmadiyya group is based on their belief that their founder is a prophet – a view not shared by other Muslims.
In 1974 members of the Ahmadiyya sect were declared to be non-Muslims by the World Muslim League and are not recognised as Muslims in several countries’ constitutions.
A police spokesman said officers were working with the council, the Kirklees Imams Advisory Board and local people to police tomorrow’s event and ensure daily life could go on as usual.
Follow me on Twitter @ReporterRobert. Email me at robert.cooke@ywng.co.uk.
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Weather for Mirfield
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
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Temperature: 4 C to 14 C
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