Extreme ideologies of terrorist groups like ISIS pose "a danger to all of the humanity and the whole world" and they must be eliminated with "proper education."
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| File photo: A Demystify Islam event in Dundas, Ont. on Oct. 24, 2015. Postmedia Network Files |
Source/Credit: The Peterborough Examiner
By Jason Bain | February 1, 2016
The message will be simple during an open house aiming to "demystify" Islam coming to the Peterborough Public Library on Saturday, says the spokesperson for the group spreading a message of peace across Canada.
"Islam has nothing to do with terrorism," said Imam Ghalib Baten of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association, which will host the event simultaneously with six others across Canada. "We want to show how Islam is a peaceful religion that has nothing to do with extremism."
The youth of the non-profit, charitable, religious organization with 86 chapters across Canada will hold more than 135 open houses nationwide on the Qur'an, the central religious text of Islam, as part of the #DemystifyIslam campaign.
They will make more than 270 visits to 35 towns, organizers stated. The effort began in December in response to terrorist attacks in Jakarta, Istanbul, San Bernardino and Paris.
The association condemned those attacks as well as all forms of terrorism, calling them "an attack on all of humanity."
Extreme ideologies of terrorist groups like ISIS pose "a danger to all of the humanity and the whole world" and they must be eliminated with "proper education," officials stated.
Islam is about compassion, caring for others indiscriminently, Baten said, pointing out how the association - which is in 206 countries worldwide - recently sponsored Syrian refugees and held blood drives, for example.
Islam encourages Muslims to do good in their society, he said, pointing out how terrorist actions have given rise to hate crimes around the world due to the lack of understanding of the true and peaceful teachings of the religion.
The open houses are a chance to clear up any possible misconceptions, spread peace and create religious harmony, Baten said. "It means clarifying the facts with people first hand."
The association is aware of the arson that damaged the city's mosque late last year, as well as the community support that arose from the despicable act.
Officials are aware the actions of a few are not representative of the community as a whole, Baten said, citing that the area's new MP, Maryam Monsef, is Muslim.
"You can see Peterborough is a very accepting place for Muslims," he said. "This was a result of ignorance, not hate ... the purpose of this event is to make sure things like this don't happen again."
NOTES: The open house takes place from noon to 4 p.m. at the library at 345 Aylmer St. N ... For more information on the association, visit http://muslimyouth.org/ .
Jason.bain@sunmedia.ca
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