USA: South Meriden mosque deserves our support during difficult time | Record-Journal Editorial

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Perhaps it was just some yahoo shooting up a random building, and that building just happened to be a mosque. But lets’ be realistic: that doesn’t seem very likely.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Record-Journal
By Editorial Opinion | November 18, 2015

“This shooting by some yahoo does not make Meriden look good at all.”

That was one comment posted on a social media site after shots were fired into the Baitul Aman mosque in South Meriden early Saturday morning, just hours after Muslim extremists affiliated with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) massacred 129 people in Paris and left hundreds more gravely injured. There are also mosques or Islamic centers in Wallingford, Southington and Berlin, and a mosque on East Main Street in Meriden, but fortunately they have not been attacked.

Perhaps it was just some yahoo shooting up a random building, and that building just happened to be a mosque. But lets’ be realistic: that doesn’t seem very likely. Probably this was an act of vengeance committed by a misguided individual, ironically directed against the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Connecticut.

Ironically, because the Ahmadiyya community rejects religious wars, condemns bloodshed and believes in the peaceful propagation of Islam. “We are very peace loving,” said Mohammed Qureshi, president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. “We strongly denounce all acts of terrorism. Terrorists have hijacked our religion.”

Ironically, because the Ahmadiyya center has been here for years and has made many friends in the South Meriden community, taking part in the 9/11 blood drive every year, as well as the holiday turkey drive and other events. “We have to demonstrate with our actions that we are loyal to the country,” Qureshi said. “That’s why we do the blood drive around 9/11 — to give back to the United States with our blood.”

Ironically, because prominent Muslims from across the country and around the world have condemned the Paris bloodbath. Even Hassan Rouhani, the president of Iran, condemned the Paris attacks.

Ironically, because the perpetrators of that vicious and heartless assault on civilization itself were a small band of the most fanatical adherents of ISIS, which is a small band of the most fanatical adherents of one branch of Islam, out of the estimated 1.6 billion Muslims in the world.

Ironically, because the person or persons that fired these shots, most likely in some woefully misguided attempt to strike back at “terrorists,” have perpetuated terrorism themselves. The innocent people that attend the mosque and live nearby, like the people of Paris, are now frightened they may fall victim to some sudden act of violence.

Still, Qureshi initially was reluctant to conclude that the South Meriden attack was inspired by hatred. “I don’t have enough information to say it’s a hate crime,” he said. “I can’t speculate without all the evidence.”

That’s where the FBI comes in, because they are on the case, called in by the Meriden Police Department.

As for Meriden, we hope no one will make the mistake of concluding that this city is in any way represented by the person or persons that fired into the Baitul Aman mosque — who, for all we know, may not even be local. We prefer to believe that Meriden is represented by some of the other remarks we saw on social media.

One person was thinking of visiting the mosque “to show my solidarity and support of the peaceful Muslims that live in our city.”

Another sent an email “as a show of solidarity and support to this mosque that gives back to our community. … In any case, it is our duty to assist those whose liberties are under threat.” Yet another wrote, “I will help in any way I can.”

That’s the spirit.

Read original post here: South Meriden mosque deserves our support during difficult time


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