Croydon's Ahmadiyya youths praised for "fantastic" Remembrance Day fundraising (From This Is Local London)

Croydon's Ahmadiyya youths praised for "fantastic" Remembrance Day fundraising

3:39pm Saturday 13th November 2010 in News By Omar Oakes

Croydon members of a religious minority’s youth group were singled out for praised by the Royal British Legion for their Remembrance Day fundraising.

Nearly 40 volunteers from Croydon were part of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association’s poppy appeal drive on Saturday, October 30, and Monday, November 1, raising a total of £20,963.

Russell Thompson OBE, Director of Fundraising at The Royal British Legion, said: "It is wonderful to have AMYA supporting us again this year.

“Not only are they providing us with a significant number of volunteer collectors for the Poppy Appeal, but they have also chosen the Legion as one of their charities of the year."

Ann Bedford, Poppy Appeal co-ordinator for London, added: “You guys are amazing. Thank you for all your support and for raising a fantastic amount of money for the charity”.

The Ahmadiyya community, a controversial religious minority sect because of its differing interpretation of beliefs from mainstream Islam, has also condemned the poppy burning ceremony which took place on Remembrance Day by an extremist group called Muslims Against Crusades.

Just three miles from the Cenotaph in Whitehall, protestors gathered in Hyde Park to burn a giant poppy during the two-minute silence, while chanting “British soldiers burn in hell”.

Abid Khan, from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat said: “This was a very sad incident that will have caused deep pain and regret to all decent and tolerant people.

“These protesters are happy to receive British citizenship and all the benefits and freedoms that go along with it and yet on the other hand they fail to respect or show any decency towards the people of this country.”