“When I saw this fellow in a Texas hospital attacking nurses, my first reaction was I hope to God he’s not a converted Muslim,” he said. “That’s one part, then we feel very sad for the violence committed.”
Source/Credit: Edmonton Sun
By Catherine Griwkowsky | November 8, 2014
Members of Edmonton’s Muslim community held a solidarity rally at city hall on Saturday to denounce terrorism.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim community, from children to seniors, condemned acts of terror, saying they have no basis in any religion.
Dr. Mohyuddin Mirza, spokesman for the group, said they are standing shoulder to shoulder with fellow Canadians.
“We are Canadians. We are Muslims and we don’t believe in violence of any type at any level,” Mirza said.
He said he loves the country, which is a part of the faith, and he and other immigrants came here to enjoy peace and freedom.
“Some people think Muslims come here for economic reasons, don’t want to settle here, they’re bad guys,” Mirza said, adding people are starting to listen to their viewpoint.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim community, a faith based on preaching and practising peace, has not had a single extremist, terrorist or fundamentalist in its 125 year history.
The principles are taught from early childhood that there is no violence in Islam or any faith – something people from all backgrounds can learn.
“You don’t go to heaven killing people,” he said. “Heaven and hell are not geographical locations on a satellite somewhere.”
Mirza said he gets goosebumps when he hears of an attack, fearing investigations will find the attacker is a recent convert to Islam.
“When I saw this fellow in a Texas hospital attacking nurses, my first reaction was I hope to God he’s not a converted Muslim,” he said. “That’s one part, then we feel very sad for the violence committed.”
At the rally, the community passed a resolution, declaring that they categorically oppose the recent cowardly and heinous crimes against humanity in Quebec and Ottawa.
“We salute the fallen soldiers who gave their lives for upholding the values that are so dear to us as Canadians, and we stand by their families in every possible way,” Mirza read from the proclamation.
Radicalization happens when vulnerable youth have a spiritual gap in their lives, he said.
“They’re so busy in worldly pursuits and materialistic values, they forget we need some spirituality to understand the purpose of life,” Mirza said, adding without understanding that heaven is a peaceful existence, youth can fall prey to promises of glory on the Internet from radicals.
-- catherine.griwkowsky@sunmedia.ca
-- Follow on Twitter: @SunGriwkowskyC
Read original post here: Edmonton Muslims rally to condemn violent radicals
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