BradfordToday welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected] or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). This letter is about the town's decision not to host the Ahmadiyya Annual Convention in 2025.
Peaceful assembly is one of the many key rights entrenched in the Canadian Charter. Whether it be a peaceful protest or holding a peaceful gathering that does not infringe anyone's rights, this freedom is essential.
I have been a resident of Bradford for the last four years and love its beautiful landscapes and vibrant community. Belonging to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at (AMJ), our annual convention could not be held for some years due to COVID-19. In the past, these conventions happened in the International Centre in Mississauga, but since AMJ has its own land in the town of Bradford, the community decided to hold the 2024 convention here.
A sense of true belongingness sparkled in my and my family's eyes when we attended our convention in our very own (town). My two-year-old has never enjoyed as much as he did over the three-day long event. The conventions do not merely just entail our religious teachings, but also convey the message of true peace and our acknowledgement of the Indigenous land. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) teaches us that loyalty to your country and land is also part of your faith.
Considering this, how could we ever think of disrupting others' rights in a (place) we call home? For instance, I understand that traffic congestion was a big concern of the complainants. However, over these three days of convention, the participants who were attending with their families and volunteering were also part of this road turmoil. We know that roads like 10 Sideroad in Bradford are not enough to manage the entrance of cars at such big gatherings. So, for this, the council must initiate its own project on the roads and developing paths so traffic does not get congested.
At the convention, many AMJ volunteers worked along with police to control traffic. I would urge the council to reconsider their decision so my family and many others like me can enjoy our land and exercise our right to peaceful assembly. AMJ and its members want to see Bradford grow and prosper. Long live Bradford.
Bibi Zainab
Bradford
