Nearly 10,000 Ahmadi Muslims Mark America’s 250th with Call for Justice and Religious Freedom

RICHMOND, Va. — Nearly 10,000 Ahmadi Muslims from 31 states gathered in Richmond July 3-5 for the 76th Jalsa Salana USA, one of the nation’s oldest annual Muslim conventions.

Held during America’s 250th anniversary, the convention brought together public officials, religious freedom advocates, civic leaders and members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community around a shared message: America’s promise must be strengthened through justice, service and the protection of freedom for all.

That message took center stage during Saturday’s public Independence Day guest session, “Peace Through Justice: Restoring the Promise of America.” In its opening address, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA member Qasim Rashid emphasized the common ground between Islamic teachings and America’s highest ideals, saying: “The command of the Quran and the promise of America meet on the very same ground: that every human being carries a dignity that is divine in origin and absolute in worth.”

Virginia Delegate Joshua Cole, who also serves as a Christian minister, called on Americans to view patriotism not as an uncritical reading of the nation’s history, but as a commitment to help the country more fully realize its ideals. “True patriotism is not pretending our nation has always gotten it right,” Cole said. “True patriotism is loving our country enough to help it become what it has always claimed to be.”  He also shared House Resolution 2207, passed by the Virginia House of Delegates last week, honoring the Jalsa Salana and Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. 

Knox Thames, Executive Director of the Everett Center for Global Religious Freedom at Dallas Baptist University and a former special adviser at the U.S. Department of State, urged Americans of every faith to stand together in defense of religious liberty. “If we want a society that gives to bigotry no sanction and to persecution no assistance, then Christians must defend mosques, Muslims must defend synagogues, Jews must defend churches, and Americans must defend fellow Americans regardless of what they believe,” Thames said.

Kurt Werthmuller, supervisory policy analyst with the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, recognized the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s work on behalf of peace and freedom of conscience, even as Ahmadi Muslims continue to face severe persecution in parts of the world. “USCIRF thanks the Ahmadiyya community for your tireless dedication to advancing the cause of peace, inclusive coexistence and religious freedom for all, often in the face of significant adversity,” Werthmuller said. Additional messages of goodwill were received by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Lieutenant Governor of Virginia Ghazala Hashmi. 

The program also honored U.S. Representative Greg Casar of Texas with the 2026 Ahmadiyya Muslim Humanitarian Award for his advocacy for human rights, vulnerable communities and peace. In a recorded message to convention attendees, Casar reflected on the Community’s record of service: “Whether it’s blood drives or planting trees or disaster relief, your community, my friends and neighbors, have always showed up to take care of one another.” He pledged to continue standing with Ahmadi Muslims and other communities facing bigotry and persecution. 

The guest session also highlighted the growing partnership between the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and the City of Richmond. Chris Frelke, director of Richmond’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, praised Ahmadi Muslim volunteers for returning to the city each year with a commitment to serve. “The story of your faith is the story of America, because what you all are trying to do is make your community better,” Frelke said. “You come to our city and want to help make it better.”

The convention was preceded by the annual Jalsa Cares day of service in Richmond. 70 Ahmadi Muslims volunteered with Richmond Community ToolBank to build 11 park benches from the ground up for placement in parks and public spaces throughout the city. Volunteers were joined by Richmond Mayor Danny Avula, city officials, parks and recreation leaders and community partners. Ahmadi Muslims also partnered with the American Red Cross to deliver food to firefighters serving the city during the extreme heat. An additional 100 meals were delivered to RVA Community Fridges to support Richmond residents experiencing food insecurity. The service projects reflected a central message repeated throughout the convention: faith must be expressed not only through worship but also service to neighbors and loyalty to one’s country.

Jalsa Salana USA also included daily prayers, addresses on Islamic teachings, the ceremonial raising of the United States flag and the flag of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, educational programming, fellowship and thousands of hours of volunteer service.

About the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community:

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a dynamic, reformist and fast-growing international movement within Islam. Founded in 1889, the Community spans 213 countries with tens of millions of members. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, established in 1920, is the oldest American-Muslim organization.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is the only Islamic organization to believe that the long-awaited messiah has come in the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) of Qadian, India. Ahmad claimed to be the metaphorical second coming of Jesus of Nazareth and the divine guide, whose advent was foretold by the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad. The Community believes that God sent Ahmad, like Jesus, to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed and reinstitute morality, justice and peace. Ahmad’s advent has brought about an unprecedented era of Islamic revival and moderation. He divested Muslims of fanatical beliefs and practices by vigorously championing Islam’s true and essential teachings.