"The biggest victims of ISIS are actually Muslims themselves. Any solution to extremism in the name of faith communities must be resolved by people of faith as well."
Source/Credit: ABC 15 News
By Pete Suratos | May 30, 2015
TEMPE, AZ - The anti-Islam protests are still fresh in the minds of American Muslims in the Valley.
"It would be quite jarring if American Muslims brandished weapons outside of a church. This is not the way to go about having a civil dialogue," says Amjad Khan, director of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Phoenix.
And that's why members of the local chapter, which is dedicated to battling extremist groups within the religion, held a symposium at the Tempe History Museum today to discuss the negative ramifications of groups like ISIS.
"The biggest victims of ISIS are actually Muslims themselves. Any solution to extremism in the name of faith communities must be resolved by people of faith as well," said Khan.
Today's forum brought together groups from different faiths and local organizations that feel the anti-Islam sentiment from protesters did nothing to educate people about the real problem of extremist terrorist groups.
"A lot of people think because we're from different faiths, we can't come together. That's our main purpose -- is to come together," said Victor Hardy, a pastor with the Congregational Church of the Valley.
"I think it's important for organizations like this to be heard. I think there's a misnomer out there in the community," said Maria Brandenburg with the Exchange Club of Tempe.
The local Muslim group hopes to see more discussions like the one today, instead of armed protests in front of places of worship like we saw Friday.
"Provocation and intimidation, does not allow people to understand Islam," said Khan.
Read original post here: USA: Valley Muslims move forward after anti-Islam rally in Arizona
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