In the aftermath of vandalism at a local mosque and the tragic terrorist attack at the recent Boston Marathon, the Islamic Society of Guelph is inviting the public to a luncheon gathering on Sunday, May 5 near the downtown core.
Two men from a Muslim family from the Russian republics, one of whom was killed in a shootout with police, are the suspects in the Boston bombings that killed three bystanders and wounded more than 200 others, about a dozen of the victims losing limbs.
Islamic Society president Mohamed Chaarani condemns terrorism and said the local Islamic faith community intends to make clear it is in no way connected to or sympathetic with such men and their jihadist holy warrior mentalities.
“We want to tell them these people only represent themselves. They don’t represent the Muslim community.”
The main goal of the Sunday May 5 event at the mosque, located at 126 Norwich St., is to set a more positive, hopeful tone. It’ll begin with at 1:15 p.m. with a prayer and then focus on thanking the community for its positive response to recent vandalism at another mosque run by the affiliated Muslim Society of Guelph on Water Street.
A vandal or vandals extensively defaced the Muslim house of worship in early March, when someone spray-painted derogatory slogans and symbols on the exterior. City police reported Thursday no arrests have been made yet in the incident. Chaarani said Guelph residents, particularly neighbours in the Water Street area, were supportive of the mosque’s faith community and condemned the sabotage.
The Norwich Street mosque event honours that very welcome support.
“The reason we’re doing this is to thank the neighbours,” Chaarani said.
Local dignitaries have been invited to say a few words at the free event, which is titled An Appreciation Lunch to our Neighbours. Chaarani said the broader community is invited to the lunch, with up to 1,000 people expected and planned for through funding the society raised for the event.
He’ll start things off with an address on how Islam fits seamlessly and peacefully into that broader Canadian context.
“The whole reason is to show unity with the community,” Chaarani said. “We’re all going to talk about peace and bringing the community together — Muslim, Christian, Jew, it doesn’t matter — to work together toward peace and living in harmony.”