“We don’t believe in the so-called jihad that many of the terrorist organizations are proclaiming throughout the media. We categorically reject all forms of terrorism.”
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| Imam Umram Bhatti with students of Riverview Rural High School in April 2016 (Photo: Norma Jean MacPhee/CBC News) |
Source/Credit: The Chronicle Herald
By Herald News | December 10, 2016
Cape Breton’s small Muslim community celebrated five decades of peaceful life on the island Friday.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at invited politicians and local dignitaries to an evening of conversation about how the humanitarian group of eight families has made the island its home, a place where they feel welcome.
“I would say with 100 per cent certainty that the families are very safe and secure on Cape Breton,” said Umran Bhatti on Thursday. Bhatti is the imam (religious leader) of the group, whose slogan is “love for all, hatred for none.”
“Of course, Islamophobia is not only in America, but fortunately no major incidents have been reported by our community members.
“We don’t believe in the so-called jihad that many of the terrorist organizations are proclaiming throughout the media. We categorically reject all forms of terrorism.”
Bhatti said there have been “a few incidents off and on, where we had a bit of backlash from some local members of Cape Breton, but besides that, we are well-integrated into the community.”
Dr. Momin Khalifa, now 87, established the congregation when he arrived in Cape Breton in 1966 to work as a family physician in Glace Bay. He is now retired but occasionally helps at the hospital and walk-in clinic.
“Most of the families that are here have a medical background,” Bhatti said. “They are doctors working at the regional hospital or the family clinic, and a few of them have their own businesses where they provide catering services — Pakistani and Indian food.”
In 2010, the congregation bought a former church hall on Grand Lake Road in Sydney and renovated it, adding a minaret and middle-eastern-style building trim.
Often, Bhatti stands behind an information table at the Sydney flea market, which is where he encountered one of the rare instances of prejudice against the group.
“At the flea market we have a table where we give out free literature and we help anyone understand the religion of Islam peacefully,” he explained. “We try to remove misconceptions and myths that many people have about Muslims and about the religion of Islam in general, especially what they see on social media.
“About eight or nine months ago, I was at the booth and this one young gentleman in his late 20s or early 30s came with his wife, looked around, and he was really angry. He walked away, but then he turned around.
“He said, ‘You’re terrorists, you should go back to your country. I’m going to burn your stall down, I’m going to burn your mosque down, I’m going to burn your house down.’
“He didn’t really give me a chance to explain who we are, or to ask if he would like to talk to me after, when he was calm, would he come to my house for a cup of coffee or some dinner.
“Unfortunately, I could not make him realize that we and many Muslims are not what are portrayed in some media.”
Bhatti didn’t want to complain about the incident, but word of it reached the ears of police chief Peter McIsaac.
“He gave me a call of reassurance — a friendship call — and said the community is there for you and you’re safe here,” Bhatti said.
McIsaac, who planned to attend Friday’s celebration, confirmed that he made the phone call.
“I just wanted to reach out to him as a police chief, because we do have an all-inclusive community here,” McIsaac said.
“I guess there’s racism and hatred everywhere but I wanted to let him know that we don’t tolerate that stuff within this community, and if he ever felt that he was not safe, or any part of his religious community or culture was not safe, our police service would be there for him.”
MLA Derek Mombourquette and Cape Breton Regional Municipality councillors Amanda MacDougall and Steve Gillespie were among the approximately 50 people planning to attend the event, which was held at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre.
Read original post here: Canada: Ahmadiyya Muslims celebrate safety, security, peace in Cape Breton
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