During the meeting, Prime Minister Trudeau expressed his pleasure at welcoming His Holiness to Canada.
The Prime Minister thanked His Holiness for his continued efforts to promote peace worldwide and stated that his Government greatly appreciated the efforts of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Canada and considered it to be an integral part of the nation.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad thanked the Prime Minister for his words and said that he wished to personally congratulate the Prime Minister on his election last year.
His Holiness also said that he had listened to Question Period in the House of Commons earlier in the day and he had noted that a number of the “burning issues of today” had been discussed and debated.
Later, Prime Minister Trudeau said:
“Your Holiness, your friendship and leadership is very important to Canada and we appreciate the way the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community condemns all forms of extremism.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad recalled his previous meeting with the Prime Minister in 2012, which took place in Peace Village. At the time, Mr Trudeau was not leader of the Liberal Party.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“When I first met you in 2012 I prayed for you and said that I believed that one day you will be Prime Minister.”
Further discussions then took place about the need for inter-faith dialogue amongst different communities, the importance of education for all people and of religious freedom.
Regarding religious freedom, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“All people should be granted true religious freedom and all people should have the right to peacefully practice their faiths and beliefs. Governments should not seek to interfere or legislate against peacefully held religious beliefs.”
His Holiness expressed his concerns about the continued rise of extremism and terrorism in different parts of the world and the associated risks in the Western world. He said that he considered the 2008 global financial crash to be a major cause of the terrorism witnessed in the world today.
His Holiness said high unemployment and a state of financial desperation and hopelessness had led certain Muslim youths to becoming vulnerable to extremism. Thus, he said that providing job opportunities and helping people stand upon their own feet was a means of ensuring national security.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad reiterated that all forms of terrorism and extremism were not linked to Islam.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“If all Muslims followed the true teachings of their religion then no Muslim would ever be radicalised because the Founder of Islam, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that to love one’s nation was a part of Islamic faith. Thus, it is the duty of every Muslim to love his nation, to strive for its betterment and to serve it faithfully. That is why Ahmadi Muslims do not get radicalised because we follow the true teachings of Islam.”
-- Canada: Prime Minister Trudeau welcomes Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad to Ottawa
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