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 in response to Bradford council's decision to nix plans to host a massive Muslim conference.
The refusal to grant the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat permission to hold its Annual Convention 2025, in Bradford, Ontario, is deeply concerning and raises important questions about inclusivity, accommodation, and fairness in Canada's approach to religious minorities.
The Ahmadiyya community, having faced religious persecution in their home countries, particularly in Pakistan, sought refuge in Canada, a country known for its diversity, tolerance, and protection of human rights. For many members, this decision by the local city council to deny their request on the basis of particularly traffic congestion is more than an administrative setback—it's a symbol of the exclusion they hoped to escape. This denial mirrors, in some respects, the systemic barriers and injustices they fled from, further exacerbating the emotional pain of a community already marginalized.
While traffic congestion or other issues may be of legitimate concern, the situation could have been handled with greater sensitivity and a problem-solving mindset. Rather than an outright refusal, the city council could have worked with the community to explore feasible alternatives—traffic management plans, event logistics support etc —while still allowing the convention to take place. This would demonstrate not only a commitment to accommodating the rights of the Ahmadiyya community but also a willingness to work together to resolve logistical challenges.
Canada, as a multicultural society, is built on the values of respect, inclusion, and equality. Denying this community the opportunity to gather and express their faith in peace sends a message of exclusion and undermines those very values. The disappointment and heartbreak felt by the Ahmadiyya community in Bradford and across Canada, highlight the importance of ensuring that our institutions and policies do not inadvertently perpetuate the same patterns of marginalization that refugees and persecuted groups experience in their countries of origin.
Regards,
Lt Col (R) Ashar Zahur Butt
Bradford ON
