The East Midlands Region of Jamaat UK held an event to celebrate the Fazl Mosque’s centenary at the Baitul Ikram Mosque in Leicester on 3 October 2026.
The attendance was 115, with nearly 50 external guests consisting of dignitaries such as the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Cllr Kulwinder Singh Johal; High Sheriff of Leicestershire, Mel Thomas QPM; Policing Area Commander for South Leicester, Inspector Paul Crewe; and representatives of faith and charity organisations across the East Midlands. Councillors across the East Midlands included Cllr Deepak Bajaj (former Lord Mayor of Leicester), Cllr Marcus Lapsa of Coventry and Cllr Shelagh McKiernan of East Staffordshire, Burton (former mayor).
The centenary exhibition of the Fazl Mosque and Jamaat literature was on display for the guests alongside refreshments. Tours of the mosque, which created an interactive atmosphere, were also organised prior to the commencement of the formal proceedings.
The formal event started with a recitation from the Holy Quran by Regional Missionary, Muneeb-Ur-Rahman Sahib, followed by a welcome address by my humble self, briefly outlining the purpose, contribution and the significance of the centenary celebration of the Fazl Mosque. The High Sheriff of Leicestershire was next to address the audience, who praised the contribution of the Fazl Mosque to British society and the need for communities to always strive to live in peace and unity. The Lord Mayor of Leicester also shed light on the significance of the Fazl Mosque and the dire need for communities’ peaceful coexistence. Videos about Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya and Khilafat alongside the history of the Fazl Mosque were also relayed.
The gathering was also addressed by Cllr Marcus Lapsa of Coventry and Cllr Shelagh McKiernan of East Staffordshire, Burton, who shared similar sentiments to the earlier guest speakers. The vote of thanks was done by Regional Missionary for Nottingham and Burton-on-Trent, Abdul Ghaffar Sahib. This was followed by the climax of the evening, which was the address of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aa).
The event concluded with silent prayer, followed by dinner. As guests left, they received brochures of the centenary celebration and special gift bags were presented to the dignitaries. Many guests gave interviews at the end of the event and much positive feedback was received.