Kashif Virk, Missionary, Sweden
Between 31May and 2 June, the event “Järvaveckan” was held in Stockholm, which attracts representatives from all walks of life. The event is attended by various political leaders, NGOs, and cultural and religious organisations. The event was founded by the Global Village in 2016 and aims to engage people from socially segregated backgrounds to participate and be more involved in public and social life. The event attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year.
The theme of this year’s event was “Tomorrow’s Sweden”. It was about dreams and ambitions for how to build a stronger and fairer society.
Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Sweden arranged a stall for two days. During the other days, Jamaat was represented at the marquee of the Interreligious Council of Stockholm (IRiS).
During these days, many visitors came to our stall and learned about Islam through our campaigns #FrågaEnMuslim (Ask A Muslim), #MessiasHarKommit (The Messiah Has Come) and #KoranenLär (The Quran Teaches). A poll was arranged where public opinion was taken about the recent Quran burnings. The beautiful teachings of the Holy Quran regarding civil rights and responsibilities were displayed on a screen. Jamaat literature, including books such as World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace, Life of Muhammadsa, and Women’s Rights in Islam, was distributed to many visitors.
During the event, copies of the Holy Quran were distributed to several notables who were in attendance. Among them were the former Prime Minister of Sweden, Stefan Löfven, the Bishop of Stockholm, and the chief of staff of the Swedish Army. Many Muslims who were unaware of the claims of Ahmadiyyat were introduced to its teachings.
