Santa Clarita Valley members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community are holding a free “Muhammad, Messenger of Peace” seminar at the Old Town Newhall Public Library on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Amer Aziz, spokesman for the Ahmadiyya community said that the event will clear up misconceptions that he believes the western world and western media have about Islam because of recent terrorism.

The Ahmadiyya community was founded in 1889 and has followers across 200 countries. They teach that their founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, India came as a messiah to condemn bloodshed and reinstitute morality, justice and peace.

They also claim that Muhammad’s true teaching never advocated violence and oppression.

When asked about the much publicized Islamic oppression of women in the Middle East, Aziz said that Muhammad was a proponent of women’s rights to own property and marry by choice, and that “oppression of women is absolutely wrong.”

He said that contemporary Islamic governments interpret Muhammad’s laws incorrectly.

Amjad Khan, graduate of Harvard Law School and national public affairs secretary for the Ahmadiyya community, will be the keynote speaker at the event.

This is their first seminar in the Santa Clarita Valley.

About Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is a dynamic, reformist and fast-growing international revival movement within Islam. Founded in 1889, the Community spans more than 200 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions. Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, established in 1920, is among the first American-Muslim organizations.

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.