Residents have come out in support of Tilford’s Ahmadiyya Muslim Community after false claims sparked a hostile online campaign.

A series of widely shared social media posts by far-right commentators about the community's Islamabad headquarters in Sheephatch Lane has triggered thousands of comments, including claims that the site operates outside UK law as a “parallel” community.

Other posts have focused on security fencing, the mosque, homes and offices within the privately owned estate, portraying it as a secretive Islamic enclave and questioning why it is “allowed” to exist.

But Islamabad is not a new development. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community bought the former Sheephatch Camp School site in 1984 for around £423,000 and named it Islamabad – meaning “Abode of Peace”. It has been based there for more than 40 years.

The Mubarak Mosque in Tilford

The site today includes Mubarak Mosque, homes, offices and a multipurpose hall and serves as the international headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

Visitors are welcome by arrangement, while the community says security is maintained for the safety of residents and guests.

The online campaign has prompted an outpouring of support from people living in Tilford and surrounding communities.

Tilford Parish Council condemned the abuse.

A spokesperson said: “Tilford Parish Council is extremely saddened to hear reports of online abuse directed towards members of the Ahmadiyya Community and Mubarak Mosque. There is no place for such abuse in our community.

“Tilford Parish Council values the safety, dignity and wellbeing of everyone in our community and stands firmly against hatred and abuse in all its forms.”

One local resident said: “The Ahmadiyya do not need to face this alone. You may be a community within a community, but this community right here that you have loved and cared for wants to love and care for you too.”

Another local resident urged people to think before sharing posts about the community, saying she had seen “frankly terrifying posts” about the Tilford site and describing some of the comments beneath them as “horrific”.

She said: “I live in a town nearby and I can honestly say the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community does more charity work around here than anyone else.”

She highlighted peace walks, fundraising for local charities, Iftar dinners, New Year's Day litter picks and donations to food banks among its activities.

She also praised organisers of the community's annual international gathering for their efforts to minimise its impact on neighbouring communities.

“They acknowledge completely that it is inconvenient for local people to use the roads over this weekend and they go above and beyond to try and make it as manageable for everyone as possible,” she said.

MP Greg Stafford has also been in touch with the community following the incident.

A spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community said people with questions about the community or its faith were welcome to visit, talk to members and “have a cup of tea or coffee with us”.

The community said it had worked alongside local residents, schools, charities, churches and other organisations for decades, raising millions of pounds for hundreds of good causes.

It also regularly welcomes schools and community groups, holds interfaith events and charity fundraisers and makes its facilities available to local organisations.

The spokesperson said: “We have always been so open and sought to be part of the community, it has been sad and somewhat troubling to see some people attack us online in recent days.

“However, in response, we have also seen how so many members of the local community have come together to offer their solidarity and support, both privately and publicly.

“So our message to the local community is a huge thank you. Their kindness and friendship mean a great deal to us.”

The spokesperson said the community looked forward to continuing to work with its neighbours after more than 40 years in Tilford.

“We love this country and will always seek to contribute and serve the communities in which we live,” they added.