“These dangerous ideologies must be eliminated with proper education. The actions of ISIS and other terrorist groups have created myths surrounding Islam..."
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| Brothers Nabeel and Zahoor Malik. (Photo: Mark Wanzel/Barrie Examiner) |
Source/Credit: Barrie Examiner
By Cheryl Browne | February 26, 2016
All the imam wants is peace, love and understanding.
In response to the recent ISIS terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, Jakarta, Istanbul and Paris, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA) is bringing its Demystify Islam message to the south-end branch of the Barrie Public Library on Saturday.
“We're just trying to get the true teachings of Islam, the compassion towards mankind message out,” said Imam Ghalib Baten, spokesman for the youth group.
“We want to remove any misconception people may have. Our kids go to the same schools, play the same sports and eat the same foods. We're a peaceful group of people, there is nothing in Islam that promotes violence,” he said.
To that end, the AMYA condemns terrorist attacks, calling them attacks on all of humanity.
During its Demystify Islam campaign, the Muslim youth will host 135 open houses across Canada, visiting 35 towns in an effort to spread peace, and create religious harmony.
Additionally, they are collecting one million items of food for local food banks, and donating blood during blood-donor drives.
Two Barrie brothers, Nabeel Malik, 25, and his brother Zahoor, who turned 22 on Thursday, said they are hoping to get the truth about Islam about to many people.
“I want to get rid of the negative stereotypes, to show people it's not all negative,” Zahoor said. He said their parents moved from Pakistan to Canada for a better life for their children. The family lived in Calgary, where they faced some racism, lived in Vaughan for the past 16 years and have recently moved to Barrie.
The brothers agree racism is now a rarity in their lives.
“But when something happens on an international scale, all the regular Muslims feel the fall out,” Nabeel said.
The non-profit charitable youth group is one of 86 Canadian chapters of more than 200 globally.
National executive director of the AMYA, Noman Khalil, said the extreme ideologies of terrorist groups are a danger to everyone.
“These dangerous ideologies must be eliminated with proper education. The actions of ISIS and other terrorist groups have created myths surrounding Islam, which in turn, has given rise to hate crimes against Muslims all over the world, including Canada,” Khalil said.
He said he hopes spreading understanding of the true and peaceful teachings of Islam will calm the waters.
The youth group is hosting the Holy Quran Open House to Demystify Islam, Saturday, Feb. 27 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Painswick Branch of the Barrie Public Library at 48 Dean Ave., in Barrie's south-end.
cheryl.browne@sunmedia.ca
Twitter.com/cherylbrowne1
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