WOMEN from all paths of life came together to celebrate the 100th anniversary of a Muslim women's organisation and dispel myths. 

On Saturday, October 1 women and children were invited to understand and remove myths of the Muslim religion during an event Ahmadiyya Muslim Women in Basingstoke.

The anniversary event celebrated Lajna Ima'llah, which was founded in 1922 as an empowered woman's organisation. 

Sana Hanif, who is the outreach coordinator of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women Association for Reading, hosted the event and was overjoyed with the great turnout and positive feedback from the event which saw women from all paths of life coming together. 

Sana said: "The event went very well and everyone was really keen to learn. It was really nice to see and has motivated us to hold further events, which a lot of people have signed up to attend.  

"People have a concept of how Muslim women are, when in fact we are the exact same as any other woman; educated and professionals. The only difference is that we wear a Hijab, so it was really nice to provide people with an insight into this." 

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The event which was held at Brookvale Village Hall, in Lowerbrooke Street, and had a cultural henna stool, a quiz to teach people about Islam and teachings on Arabic calligraphy, which is how the Holy Quran is written. 

Basingstoke's MP Maria Miller, the Mayoress of Basingstoke Sandra Miller, and Cllr Andrea Bowes joined in the celebrations. 

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was founded in 1889 and is now the largest Islamic community under one leader His Holiness, Mirza Masroor Ahmad. 

Lajna Ima’illah, commonly known as Lajna, is the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Association, an auxiliary organisation of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and aims for women to come together to increase their knowledge and spread it.