The APPG FoRB and the FoRB Foundation attended the 2026 National Peace Symposium on Saturday, 16 May 2026. The event was hosted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association at the Mubarak Mosque.
The theme of the event was “Absolute Justice: The Foundation for True Peace,” and aimed to promote a deeper understanding between people of faith and those of no faith, inspiring a united effort for lasting peace.
The 2026 Peace Prize was presented to Grégoire Ahongbonon for his work in supporting people suffering from mental illness in West Africa.
Speakers for the event included Members of Parliament, Gregory Stafford, Edward Davey, and Seema Malhotra, along with the keynote speaker for the event, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
His Holiness focused his speech on the need for greater diplomacy, warning that if warfare is not halted, it will not only destroy the world during our lifetime but also for future generations.
“You cannot answer an illegality with another illegality because it is how great catastrophes of humanity begin,” His Holiness said.
He urged everyone to let the event not just be a gathering of good intentions, but a real turning point in the pursuit of peace.
“What the world urgently needs is for people to unite with common purpose,” His Holiness said.
Gregory Stafford, MP, said people think peace is just a government problem, but he believes the foundations for peace are laid at home in our communities.
“There is little meaning in striving for peace on the world stage if we cannot sustain it in our own communities,” he said.
Just as he hopes the community at large will play their part in striving for peace, Mr. Stafford, MP, said he will use his voice in Parliament to stand up for freedom of religion and belief.
The Rt Hon Sir Edward Davey, MP, also urged attendees to “bang the drum for diplomacy.”
He said we are lucky in the UK to have a fantastic Foreign Commonwealth Development Office, but that it still needs to be strengthened and valued.
“I would echo the words of His Holiness about the need to tackle injustice and inequality and poverty around the world, the causes of conflict in so many areas,” he said.
The Minister for Equalities, Seema Malhotra MP, said the United Kingdom is committed to working with organizations around the world to mitigate the impact of war and division to try and make a difference.
“While governments play their part to prevent conflict… we see how community, organizations, faith groups, and civil leaders all have an essential role to play in strengthening understanding between our people and communities,” she said.
Ms. Malhotra urged that we cannot and must not let war be the defining characteristic of our generation, but instead must leave a legacy of peace.
The APPG FoRB and the FoRB Foundation echo the words of these leaders and believe we must all come together to promote peace and understanding within our communities, advocate for diplomacy within our governments, and defend the fundamental right to freedom of religion or belief for people of all faiths and none.
