Scheduled for this weekend in Belize, the 11th annual Jalsa Salana, hosted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at community, has grown from a small local gathering into the nation’s largest Islamic conference, opening its doors to Belizeans of all religious and cultural backgrounds to advance a shared message of peace and intergroup unity.
First launched in Belize back in 2015, the convention has expanded steadily over the past 11 years. What began with just a few dozen community participants now draws hundreds of attendees from every sector of Belizean society. Unlike typical public events centered on entertainment or material exchange, this spiritual gathering is designed to nurture personal moral growth and create a reflective, uplifting atmosphere for people of all beliefs.
Arslan Warraich, National President of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Belize, emphasized that the core mission of Jalsa Salana is not focused on worldly gain or recreational activity. Instead, the gathering provides a dedicated space for attendees to purify their perspectives, reset their values, and strengthen both their spiritual grounding and personal moral character. Warraich echoed the foundational teachings of the Ahmadiyya community, noting that the convention was built on a commitment to advancing truth and peaceful Islamic outreach, rooted in divine guidance.
Beyond its role as an internal religious observance, Jalsa Salana serves as a deliberate public outreach effort to counter common misconceptions about Islam and model the Ahmadiyya community’s core principle of inclusive service. For years, attendance at the annual gathering has been a priority for Belize’s top political and civic leaders, and 2026’s convention was no exception.
Prime Minister John Briceño praised the Ahmadiyya community for its consistent positive impact across Belize. Beyond its religious mission, Briceño highlighted the group’s ongoing outreach to vulnerable youth and communities in need, noting that the organization sets a powerful example for all civic and religious groups across the country. Unlike groups that push their beliefs aggressively, Briceño explained, the Ahmadiyya community leads by example, reaching out to marginalized groups to demonstrate that peaceful, compassionate action is always a viable alternative to division.
Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner also commended the group for its youth-focused community initiatives, specifically calling out its popular annual basketball tournaments, which have become a beloved staple of local youth activity. Wagner, whose own team has claimed three tournament titles, extended his public recognition for the consistent, life-changing work the Ahmadiyya community carries out across the country.
The multi-day convention features a full schedule of accessible programming for attendees of all ages and backgrounds, including educational lectures on Islamic teachings, structured interfaith dialogue sessions, curated exhibitions on Islamic history, and family-friendly activities. Programming includes dedicated sessions designed specifically for women and young people, to ensure all groups can participate fully in the gathering. Organizers noted that this year’s event builds on the success of the 10th anniversary convention held in 2025, which centered the theme of Islam as a faith rooted in peace and service to all humanity, regardless of religious identity.
Eleven years after its small debut, Jalsa Salana remains anchored to its founding mission: fostering unity through mutual understanding, and building lasting peace through cross-group respect. This report was filed by Paul Lopez for News Five, from Belize City.