8 September 2025

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in New Zealand will hold its annual Peace Symposium on the 13th of September 2025 in Auckland.

This year’s theme, “Persecution and the Moral Responsibility of the Global Community,” addresses the urgent challenges of ongoing conflicts, injustices, and human rights violations that continue to impact millions across the globe. The symposium will explore how these issues resonate in New Zealand and what role we, as a global community, have in responding to them. Invited speakers from diverse backgrounds including Hon Mark Mitchell, Minister for Ethnic Affairs, and Race Relations Commissioner Dr Melissa Derby, will try and address the morals and ethics of modern day conflicts.

“Despite the progress mankind has seen over the past millennia, time and again we find ourselves in situations where the morality of conflicts is brought into question by the plight of communities affected” – says Bashir Khan, National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, “May it be at a local level, or a wider regional issue, somehow persecution of a group based on religion, ethnicity, or nationality, continues to be a theme we see all too frequently. By bringing together representatives of a diverse background from Aotearoa, we are hoping to dispel misconceptions and foster constructive dialogue around this sensitive subject.”

This year, the annual Peace Symposium will be held at 10am on the morning of 13th of September at the Fickling Convention Centre, Three Kings, Auckland. A Q&A session will follow the presentations, encouraging engagement by the attendees. Attendance is through invitation only, but anyone interested can contact Mr Mohammad Iqbal on 0224647225 for details.

The annual Peace Symposium is a regular event in the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s annual calendar, bringing together people from all walks of life representing different faith groups. By discussing topical and sometimes controversial issues, the symposium aims to address the difficulties faced by individuals in the society. Similar symposia are organized by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community the world over, with an aim to bring communities closer, and to encourage dialogue for peaceful coexistence.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a dynamic, fast-growing international revival movement within Islam. Founded in 1889 by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835- 1908) in Punjab, India, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community spans 210 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions. Its motto of ‘Love for all and hatred for none’ is evidenced through the peaceful actions of its millions of followers. The New Zealand branch of this community was established in 1987 and is a registered charitable organisation that endeavors to be an active and integrated community within New Zealand society.

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