Canada: Vancouver Muslim community looks to end radicalization

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In our community, we have taken the responsibility to educate other Muslims where there is a chance. — Balal Khokhar

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Vancouver 24 hrs
By Stefania Seccia | November 24, 2014

In an effort to end radicalization in the wake of the recent attacks in Quebec and Ottawa, the local Ahmadiyya Muslim community is joining a national movement to counter it.

On Nov. 26, a Stop the Crisis event is set for UBC Robson Square with live presenters and video presentations to delve into the issue.

The event’s lead speaker Balal Khokhar said his community found it necessary to condemn radicalization by “standing shoulder to shoulder with other Canadians.”

“In our community, we have taken the responsibility to educate other Muslims where there is a chance,” he said. “It is our responsibility to let other Muslims know to be loyal to countries we’re living in.”

When Muslim convert Martin Rouleau murdered a soldier in Quebec, and Michael Zehaf-Bibeau shot and killed a soldier at the National War Memorial — amongst other reports of Canadians going abroad to join terrorist groups — Khokhar said it sparked the nation-wide campaign of events to spread awareness about the issue.

“First of all, we have to understand radicalization doesn’t only happen in Muslim youth,” he said. “It happens all over.”

Khokhar said lack of direction, lack of purpose in youth and boredom are symptoms that lead some to radicalization.

“We want to educate not only the Muslim youth, but educate people why radicalization happens,” he added.

And radicalization is an issue that has struck a chord with at least 74% of Canadians who say they are now watching the issue and homegrown terrorism quite closely, according to a recent Angus Reid Institute poll.

From Nov. 10 to 12, Angus Reid polled about 1,609 Canadians — including 400 British Columbians — and found that 67% believe radicalized people are living in their communities.

“What was striking is that the results tell two stories in terms of how we view homegrown terrorism, whether it’s a threat or whether it’s been overblown,” said Shachi Kurl, with the institute.

In B.C., respondents believed the recent shootings were a result of mental illness, almost two-to-one, over terrorism.

For more information about Wednesday’s event, visit stopthecrisis.ca.




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