Thousands of Followers of the Muslim Ahmadiyya Sect Reside in Mendig

Peaceful and Incident-Free: The 2024 Jalsa Salana Gathers 40,000 Believers in Mendig

The annual gathering of the German Ahmadiyya community, known as the "Jalsa Salana", took place for the second time at Mendig Airport, with around 40,000 believers from all over Europe in attendance.

The event, which included tents for prayer, theological lectures, Quran recitations, and communal meals, was reportedly peaceful and calm throughout the weekend. Gender separation was enforced, as is customary at Muslim festivals.

Abdullah Uwe Wagishauser, chairman of the German Ahmadiyya community, stated that the most important aspect of the gathering was the prayer. A digital address by the Khalifa, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, was one of the highlights of the event.

The sense of unity among participants was reportedly strong, with approximately 2,500 to 3,000 volunteers assisting in the setup, cooking, and serving of food. The Ahmadiyya community reported more than 200 large and small tents to accommodate the attendees.

Despite being criticized for its conservative interpretation of the Quran, the Ahmadiyya community is known for being law-abiding. The community immediately condemned a fatal stabbing incident in Solingen, where three people died, calling it shocking and unjustifiable.

The departure of believers from the 2024 gathering went smoothly, in stark contrast to the disruptions during arrival. The police reported that the gathering was peaceful and incident-free.

The Jalsa Salana is reportedly the largest regular gathering of Muslims in Europe. Wjahat Waraich, a volunteer in the press team, noted the strong sense of unity among participants.

Despite the challenges, the 2024 gathering of the Ahmadiyya community in Mendig was a testament to the community's commitment to peace, unity, and faith.