Faran Rabbani, USA Correspondent
On 4 December 2023, a ‘Voices for Peace’ event was held at Capitol Hill by Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya USA.
Rep. McGovern, who serves as the co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in US Congress, joined academics and faith leaders at the event to discuss how to de-escalate the Israel-Palestine conflict.
More than 125 people, including staff members from various US Congressional offices, participated in the timely, hour-long discussion at the historic Rayburn building, which featured speakers that included Rep. McGovern, Dr Craig Considine of Rice University and Azhar Haneef Sahib, missionary-in-charge of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya USA. Journalists and other special guests also attended the panel discussion.
The highlight of the afternoon was a video featuring the message of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa, from one of his recent Friday sermons. He said:
“The swiftness with which the conditions of war are increasing and the policies which Israel and the major governments of the world are adopting make a World War an imminent reality.”
Huzooraa added that “until someone does not have the courage to try to bring an end to this war, they are responsible for leading the world toward ruin. […] Thus, along with prayers, you should try to spread the message around you that injustices must be brought to an end.”
Dr Craig Considine echoed the need for a ceasefire, and Karim A. A. Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, also sent a video message to attendees.
The final speaker was Azhar Haneef Sahib, who spoke of the wisdom and guidance from the Holy Quran. He reaffirmed the message of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa.
He also added, “We stand allied with those who, all around the world at this moment, are giving voice to this message of peace. And we are echoing those voices far and wide throughout the world in these very humbled conferences — Voices for Peace”.