Muslim Leaders Pledge to Fight Against Extremism

June 11, 2006

Source: CTV News

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060609/muslim_leaders_060610/20060611?hub=CTVNewsAt11

On June 11, 2006 CTV News reported, "Muslim religious leaders promise to report any suspicious behaviour from their followers to authorities and abide by a zero-tolerance policy against preaching hatred in the wake of last week's terror arrests. Leaders representing more than 30 mosques and Muslim organizations throughout Canada gathered in Toronto on Saturday to deliver the message -- and remind Canadians not to discriminate against Muslims. The leaders admitted there are pockets of radical fundamentalists within their community who believe in violence, but said co-operation by the Muslim community led to the arrests of 17 terror suspects. The alleged bombing plot in southern Ontario was a wakeup call to Muslims, leaders said. 'They were sleeping and didn't realize it was a real issue,' said Ahmed Amiruddin, who taught at a Mississauga mosque where some of the accused men worshipped. 'They would sometimes appear in the mosque with military fatigues, and there's more than one witness for this. Many people have seen them,' he said. 'The only thing that concerned me is they tried to shut themselves out to anything we tried to preach to them,' added Asad Dean of the Canadian Council of Ahl Sunnah wal Jamaah. 'Canadian youth of Muslim faith have been unduly influenced by radical thought,' said Yasmin Ratansi, a Liberal MP... The Council of Ahl Sunna wal Jamaah (CCAS) blamed the Toronto terror plot, as well of terror attacks in London and Madrid, on a small minority of Muslims who subscribe to a 'vile doctrine of literalistic ideology.' The group emphasized the 'vast majority' of Canadian Muslims follow a moderate form of Islam."