12,000 UK Muslims to attend peace conference today at Wembley to mark 9/11 anniversary
Collective multi-faith peace prayer 10 years after that called by the late Pope John Paul in Assisi
Campaign launched to get one million signatures to back declaration for peace

More than 12,000 UK Muslims are expected to attend a ‘Peace for Humanity’ conference at Wembley in London today organised by Minhaj-ul-Quran International (MQI), a broad based Islamic organisation representing a moderate vision of Islam, working for peace and integration.

The conference will be opened by MQI’s founder, Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, a leading Islamic scholar and thinker. He will use the conference to issue a Global Declaration for Peace which will call for end to terrorism and extremist violence. He will launch a drive to secure one million signatures to support the declaration.

The “Peace and Humanity” conference will host a full day of speeches, entertainment, multi-faith sessions and collective public action to spread messages of peace, harmony and cohesion throughout communities and across religions following the tenth anniversary of 9/11. It will also include a collective peace prayer involving all main faiths 10 years after that called by the late Pope John Paul in Assisi.

Video messages of support will be shown from the Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon. Nick Clegg, the Secretary of State for Local Government and Communities, Rt Hon. Eric Pickles and the Leader of the Opposition, Rt Hon. Ed Miliband. The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has also supported the conference. The British Prime Minister David Cameron has sent messages of support.

The conference will also hear from Deputy Mayor of London Richard Barnes, Dean of Royal Air Force College Dr Joel Hayward, Sajjad Karim MEP, UK Muslim scholars Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad (also known as Timothy Winter) and Vice-Chancellor of Al-Azhar University, Cairo,prominent young scholar Shaykh Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, Mrs Ghazala Hassan, Dr Musharaf Hussain. A special session of collective peace prayer will be held in which religious leaders of Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jews, Christians and Muslims will perform prayer for global peace according to their respective religion.

Building on previous internationally recognised Minhaj-ul-Quran events, including the Fatwa on Terrorism and the Anti-Terrorism Camp, this event will bring together eminent faith leaders and communities, dispelling myths and enhancing unity in the name of peace.

In his speech and Global Declaration for Peace and key note address, Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri will say:

“We send a message of peace and fraternity to all of humanity’s innumerable states, nations, communities and individuals along with a call for respect, dignity, compassion, equality, solidarity and justice for, and between, all people.”

“We address our call for peace, tolerance and respect to all people everywhere, but especially to political and religious leaders and decision-makers as well as to scholars, teachers and journalists.”

“We condemn terrorism unequivocally because at the heart of all religions is a belief in the sanctity of the lives of the innocent. No good intention -- even one thousand good intentions put together -- cannot justify a wrong and forbidden act.”

“Prophet Muhammad came as a mercy, compassion for the humanity and Islam stands for peace and harmony.”

"Prophet Muhammad introduced the multi-culturalism, integration, love and interfaith harmony"

“It is a commandment of the Holy Prophet and Allah, to be integrated in the society where you’re living”

“Islamic law holds both Muslims and non-Muslims equal and no superiority or privilege is given to the Muslims on any ground.”

“Islam does not permit suspension or cancellation of human rights in any society under any circumstances. Human right will be protected. This is the basic right given by the Lord.”

People will be able to sign in support of the Global Declaration by visiting the MIQ website at www.peaceforhumanity.co.uk

Other video messages to the conference include:

Rt Hon Nick Clegg

"Conference, Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri. I am delighted to have the opportunity to send this message to you today. Your conference today is even more important than usual - coming together to talk openly and candidly about the issues that can divide people but crucially the values that unite us too, tolerance, human rights, peace, and belief in opportunity for all, a faith in young people and their potential to learn from our mistakes, from the mistakes of the past, to help tackle discrimination and prejudice, building communities that are strong, where we take on our problems together. I want to congratulate you on being granted special consultative status by the United Nations, it’s a huge honour, one you richly deserve and one that gives an even louder voice in the world."

Rt Hon Ed Miliband

"It’s a privilege for me to be able to send a message to your Peace and Humanity Conference 2011. This important initiative is so necessary for our society because your values of tolerance, understanding and of bringing people together including young people is exactly what our society needs. A month or so ago we saw the terrible riots that affected some of our major cities but what we also saw was the vast majority of people, right across this country, coming out, cleaning up and saying, ‘no’ to the violence that we saw on our streets. It’s exactly that message of peace, harmony and working together that I know your conference is designed to promote. And indeed the way you come at the issues that you’ll be talking about today, your faith, is such an important part of British life."

Rt Hon Eric Pickles

"Faith enriches Britain; it inspires people to want to do good for their neighbours. Each church, mosque, synagogue or temple I have ever visited is rooted in this and seeking to do good for the wider local community. I want to live in a country where everyone is at ease with faith, where people of all faiths and those of none are proud to play their part in making their community and their country a better place. That is why this conference today is so important. I commend Dr. Qadri’s hard work to built trust and mutual respect between people."

For More Details, Interview Requests or Request to Attend

Shahid Mursaleen, Minhaj-ul-Quran International – spokesman@minhajuk.org +44 7791 299871.
Interviews with Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri are available on the day after the conference.

For more information visit: www.minhajuk.org/minhajuk/

Or the conference website: www.peaceforhumanity.co.uk

Information for the Day

Running Order:

• 11am: Gates open
• 12-2pm: Presentations/Messages of support etc.
• 2-3pm: Press Briefing and Collective peace prayer
• 3.30pm-7pm: Speeches and ongoing activities

Location:

• Wembley Arena, Arena Square, Engineers Way, London, United Kingdom, HA9 OAA