Welcoming His Holiness, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the worldwide spiritual head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, to the United States, including Illinois, Texas and Maryland, and recognizing his commitment to world peace, absolute justice, global unity among nations, non-violence, rejection of extremism, eradication of poverty, economic equity, service to humanity, universal human rights, international religious freedom, and democracy.

Whereas from September 26, 2022, to October 17, 2022, His Holiness, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the worldwide spiritual head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, an international religious organization with millions of members across the globe, is making a historic visit to the United States, during which time he will inaugurate two new mosques: Fath-e-Azeem Mosque in Zion, Illinois on October 1, 2022, and Bait-ul-Ikram Mosque in Allen, Texas on October 8, 2022; Whereas His Holiness was elected to become fifth Khalifa to Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, on April 22, 2003, a lifelong position; Whereas His Holiness is a leading Muslim figure promoting peace, who in his sermons, lectures, books, and personal meetings has continually advocated the Ahmadiyya Muslim values of service to humanity, universal human rights, and a peaceful and just society; Whereas the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has suffered repeated severe hardships, institutionalized discrimination, persecution, and violence in several countries in the world; Whereas, on May 28, 2010, 86 Ahmadi Muslims were killed in Lahore, Pakistan, when two mosques belonging to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community were attacked by anti-Ahmadiyya terrorists and scores more have been killed in targeted attacks since then; Whereas despite the continued sectarian persecution that Ahmadi Muslims are subjected to, His Holiness continues to forbid violence; Whereas during his visit His Holiness, who has continually emphasized the shared Islamic and American principles of free exercise and non-establishment, will inaugurate the first mosque in Zion, Illinois, originally founded as a theocratic city but today is home to 25,000 diverse residents of all creeds; Whereas His Holiness has traveled globally to promote and facilitate service to humanity, meeting with presidents, prime ministers, parliamentarians, and ambassadors of state; Whereas His Holiness has repeatedly counseled world leaders that they must act with justice to achieve lasting peace; Whereas His Holiness has advocated for the rights of oppressed religious communities around the world, including Rohingya Muslims, Uyghur Muslims, Christians, and other vulnerable groups; Whereas His Holiness previously visited the United States in 2008, 2012, 2013, and 2018; Whereas His Holiness delivered the keynote address at a special bi-partisan reception at Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on June 27, 2012, The Path to Peace: Just Relations Between Nations Whereas His Holiness addressed the opening session of the International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief 2022, held in the United Kingdom, and provided a special message for the International Religious Freedom Summit 2022, held in Washington, DC, underlining that it is essential that millions of people around the world are able to freely live their lives according to their beliefs and convictions; and Whereas during his visit to the United States, His Holiness will meet thousands of American Muslims belonging to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in addition to significant United States Government leaders in order to strengthen relationships and find mutual means of establishing peace and justice for all people: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives— (1) welcomes His Holiness, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, to Illinois, Texas, and Maryland; (2) commends the tireless efforts of His Holiness towards promoting a pathway to achieve individual and global peace, as well as individual and global justice; (3) commends His Holiness for courageously and unequivocally condemning extremism and terror in all its forms; and (4) commends His Holiness for his perseverance in counseling all Ahmadi Muslims to eschew any form of violence, even in the face of severe persecution.

Summary: This resolution welcomes His Holiness, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the worldwide spiritual head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, to Illinois, Texas, and Maryland. The resolution commends the efforts of His Holiness towards promoting a pathway to achieve individual and global peace, as well as individual and global justice. The resolution commends His Holiness for condemning extremism and terror in all its forms. Finally, the resolution commends His Holiness for his perseverance in counseling all Ahmadi Muslims to shun any form of violence, even in the face of severe persecution.