President of the French Republic
His Excellency François Hollande
Palais de l’Elysee
55, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore
75008 Paris, France
16 May 2012
Dear Mr President,
I would like to first of all take this opportunity to congratulate you on being elected as the new President of France. This is certainly a vast responsibility that has been entrusted to you, and thus I hope and pray that the people of France, and indeed the entire world, come to benefit from your leadership. In light of the rapidly deteriorating state of affairs in the world, I recently wrote a letter to your predecessor, President Nicolas Sarkozy. In the letter I reminded President Sarkozy about his responsibilities as a world leader to uphold justice and I requested him to use all his power and influence to prevent a World War from breaking out. As the newly elected President of France, I considered it necessary to write to you also with the same message, because you now have the authority to make decisions that will affect your nation, and the world at large. It is my belief that the world’s governments ought to be extremely concerned at the current circumstances in the world. Injustices and hostilities between nations are threatening to boil over into a global conflict. During the last century, two World Wars were fought. After the First World War, the League of Nations was established, however, the requirements of justice were not fulfilled and consequently, this led to the Second World War, culminating in the use of atom bombs. Subsequently, the United Nations was established for the protection of human rights and to maintain global peace. Thus, the means for avoiding wars were considered, yet today we observe that the foundation for a Third World War has already been laid. Numerous countries, both small and large, possess atom bombs. What is worrying is that some of the smaller nuclear powers are irresponsible and ignorant about the devastating consequences of such weapons. It is not inconceivable that if nuclear weapons are used, the horrific aftermath will become immediately manifest and that day will be like Doomsday. The weapons available today are so destructive that they could lead to generation after generation of children being born with severe genetic or physical defects. It is said that in Japan, the one country to have experienced the devastating destruction of atomic warfare, even though seven decades have passed, the effects of the atom bombs are still continuing to be manifest on newborn children.
Thus, it is my humble request that strive to your utmost to extinguish the enmities and mistrust between the Muslim and non-Muslim world. Some European countries hold significant reservations regarding the teachings and traditions of Islam and have placed certain restrictions on them, whilst others are considering how to do so. The animosity that some extremist so-called Muslims already hold towards the West might lead them to reacting in an inappropriate manner, which would lead to further religious intolerance and dissention. Islam, however, is a peace-loving religion, which does not teach us to do wrong to stop something wrong. We, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, follow this principle and believe in peaceful solutions to all matters.
Sadly, we find that a small minority of Muslims present a completely distorted image of Islam and act upon their misguided beliefs. I say out of love for the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who was the ‘Mercy for all Mankind’, that you should not believe this to be the real Islam and thus use such misguided acts as a licence to hurt the sentiments of the peaceful majority of Muslims. Recently, a merciless and heartless person shot dead some French soldiers in the South of France for no reason, and then some days later, he entered a school and killed three innocent Jewish children and one of their teachers. We also see such cruelties regularly come to pass in other Muslim countries and so all of these acts are giving the opponents of Islam fuel to vent their hatred and a basis upon which to pursue their goals on a large scale. As a Muslim, I shall make it absolutely clear that Islam does not permit cruelty or oppression in any way, shape or form. The Holy Qur’an has deemed the killing of one innocent person without reason akin to killing all mankind. This is an injunction that is absolute and without exception. The Qur’an further states that even if any country or people hold enmity towards you that must not stop you from acting in a fully just and fair manner when dealing with them. Enmities or rivalries should not lead you to taking revenge, or to acting disproportionately. If you desire conflicts to be resolved in the best manner, endeavour to search for amicable solutions. I appreciate that many Western countries have generously permitted the people of poor or under-developed nations to settle in their respective countries, amongst whom are Muslims as well. Indeed, many Muslims live in your country and thus are also your citizens. The majority are law-abiding and sincere. Moreover, Islam clearly states that love for one’s country is part of the faith. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community acts and promotes this message throughout the world. This is my message to you also, that if this true teaching of Islam is spread everywhere, then the requirements of showing love to one’s nation and peace, will remain established within each country and between countries of the world.
My humble request to you, and indeed to all world leaders, is that instead of using force to suppress other nations, use diplomacy, dialogue and wisdom. The major powers of the world, such as France, should play their role towards establishing peace. They should not use the acts of smaller countries as a basis to disturb world harmony. Thus, I again remind you to strive to your utmost to prevent the major and minor powers from erupting into a Third World War. There should be no doubt in our minds that if we fail in this task then the effects and aftermath of such a war will not be limited to only the poor countries of Asia, Europe and the Americas; rather, our future generations will have to bear the horrific consequences of our actions and children everywhere in the world will be born with defects. It is my prayer that the leaders of the world act with wisdom and do not allow mutual enmities between nations and people on a small-scale to erupt into a global conflict. May God the Exalted enable you, and all world leaders, to comprehend this message.
With best wishes and with prayers,
Yours Sincerely,
MIRZA MASROOR AHMAD
Khalifatul Masih V
Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community