U.S. Congressman Sam Liccardo Attends 59th Jalsa Salana UK, Meets Global Faith Leaders and Survivors of Persecution
Tilford, UK — U.S. Congress Member Sam Liccardo and his wife, Jessica Garcia-Kohl, joined approximately 50,000 attendees from over 100 nations at the 59th Annual Jalsa Salana UK, held July 25–27, 2025.
During their three-day visit, Rep. Liccardo and Ms. Garcia-Kohl met with members of Parliament and government ministers from various countries, engaging in substantive discussions on religious freedom, human rights, and interfaith cooperation. They also had the unique honor of meeting His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the worldwide spiritual leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, and attending his series of keynote addresses emphasizing justice, compassion and global peace.
The couple visited several exhibitions highlighting the Community’s humanitarian and interfaith initiatives and listened to firsthand accounts from survivors of religious persecution in Pakistan and other countries.
“His Holiness was refreshingly down to earth. He is a person who cares deeply about each individual and how we are doing. That was very refreshing for a man who is daily dealing with the challenges of an entire congregation of tens of millions of people,” said Rep. Liccardo. He added that His Holiness’s message to focus on prayer in the face of persecution is “a critical message for us to hear in this world.”
Rep. Liccardo praised the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community for its unwavering commitment to the motto “Love for All, Hatred for None,” calling it a principle that transcends faith boundaries and serves as a guide for peaceful coexistence.
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.
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