UK Muslim Leader Welcomes Visit by Pope

LONDON, September 17, 2010 - The leader of one of the oldest established Muslim communities in the
United Kingdom, has extended a welcome to Pope Benedict XVI on his first
visit to the UK.

Mr Rafiq Hayat, President of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK, headquartered
at the Baitul Futuh Mosque London, Western Europe's biggest mosque, said:

"Religious leaders have a pivotal role to play in promoting peace and
serving humanity. Indeed religions have far more commonalities than
differences and we welcome moves that will help forge unity and foster
greater understanding.

"I extend to His Holiness the Pope, the Islamic greeting of Salaam
-Peace, and hope that his visit can help develop even stronger links between
Muslims and Catholics and indeed people of all faiths and of none as we are
all children of God."

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK recently organised a nationwide
Exchange Scriptures Day - a day when religious scriptures were exchanged in
local mosques - in response to extremists threatening to burn religious
scriptures.

    Basharat Nazir - Press Secretary
    Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK
    Phone: +44-7703-483-384
    Email media@ahmadiyya.org.uk
    URL www.LoveForAllHatredForNone.org

Basharat Nazir - Press Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK, Phone: +44-7703-483-384, Email media at ahmadiyya.org.uk, URL www.LoveForAllHatredForNone.org