As Canadians prepare for the impending influx of thousands of Syrian refugees, a local Burnaby mosque is stepping up to help.
The Masjid Al-Salaam and Education Centre has applied to sponsor a refugee family and has been calling on other mosques in the province to do the same.
Daud Ismail, the chair of the mosque, explained the congregation has been raising funds to sponsor the family.
He noted it costs about $30,000 to sponsor a family of four for the first year, and the mosque has surpassed the number already.
“We’re very pleased, it’s moving in the right direction and hopefully we can help these people who are in desperate and dire need,” Ismail told the NOW.
He said the centre has been working with other faith-based groups and intends to hold future fundraisers to raise more money for the family.
The mosque doesn’t know which specific family it will be sponsoring yet and is awaiting for the application to be approved.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pledged to keep his campaign promise for Canada to accept 25,000 Syrian refugees, 10,000 by the end of the year and the rest by February 2016.
The plan has sparked a sometimes nasty debate among those who want Canada to open its doors, and others who are concerned terrorists might find their way into the country.
The recent terror attacks in Paris have only added fuel to the debate.
Ismail agreed security is also a concern, suggesting there needs to be stringent scrutiny of the refugees coming into Canada. However, he also argued the Syrian refugees are the victims of the same terrorism that many people around the world fear.
“We should not deprive as human beings to help when they really need our help and support,” Ismail said.
The mosque has also come out condemning the terrorist attacks in Paris.
“We’re all upset about these cowardly acts by individuals who are doing these things in the name of Islam,” Ismail said.
“The vast majority of Muslims condemn this, they are very peaceful loving people.”
Following the Paris attacks, there been some isolated incidents across the country targeting Muslims, including a mosque in Peterborough, Ont. that was set on fire.
That kind of violence has fortunately not occurred locally.
Instead, Ismail said the mosque has received an outpouring of support within the community, noting just last Friday an unknown couple dropped by the centre with flowers.
It’s a gesture Ismail said was appreciated by the mosque.
