The association that runs the Burnaby mosque is launching a new campaign to counter propaganda from terrorist groups like ISIS.
The plan was announced Friday, at a press conference at the Burnaby mosque, following a deluge of media inquiries on Ottawa shooter Michael Zehaf-Bibeau and his connection to the local mosque.
"We want to convey a clear picture of what Islam is," said Mufti Aasim Rashid, the B.C. Muslim Association's spokesperson and head imam. "We want to explain why criminal violence is not accepted in Islam. And those students, youngsters, that are confused about things who are maybe considering, 'What's wrong with ISIS? You know, it's all Islamic,' we want to clarify for them why it's not Islamic and why this is not something a Canadian could ever think about doing, and for people already involved to explain why they have to get out."
Rashid sat alongside Dave Critchley, chief superintendent of the Burnaby RCMP, and Assistant Commissioner Wayne Rideout, the officer in charge of investigative services and organized crime for the B.C. RCMP.
Rashid said the association plans to get its message out through social media and education programs in schools and post-secondary institutions, first in the Lower Mainland, then across B.C. and Canada. Rashid came up with the idea for the anti-terrorism campaign, which he's hoping to launch before Christmas.
"I'm the one who has presented this to the law enforcement people, and I've requested them to take this on," Rashid said. "Can't this be introduced as part of mainstream education? Can't we have workshops for parents and kids and educators - train-the-trainer type of mentality?"
The RCMP and CSIS have already been working with the association since 2005 to identify any potential terrorist threats or people who have become self radicalized, but as Rideout indicated, police are not sure if Zehaf-Bibeau was a bona fide terrorist or someone who was mentally ill, as the case is still under investigation.
As reported in the Burnaby NOW, Zehaf-Bibeau had been kicked out of the Burnaby mosque a couple of years ago, after it was discovered he had obtained keys and was sleeping inside the building at night. The mosque kicked him out and changed the locks, but didn't report him to police.
"He was not doing anything criminal," Rashid said.
Rashid described Zehaf-Bibeau as a somewhat rude, reclusive character who didn't have any friends at the mosque. Rashid also referenced comments in the Globe and Mail made by Dave Bathurst (a friend of Zehaf-Bibeau and co-owner of a Burnaby irrigation business) suggesting Zehaf-Bibeau was not mentally stable.
"If I were to add something to that, I would say this guy has a history of using some very hard drugs. He was smoking crack cocaine. Even if he wasn't mentally ill, the drugs would definitely be impacting him and his life in general," Rashid said.
Meanwhile, the association has received anti-Islamic emails, following Wednesday's Ottawa shooting.
Musa Ismail, president of B.C. Muslim Association, expressed concerns about Islamophobic backlash.
"We are very concerned," Ismail told the NOW. "This goes on every time there's an incident like this, anywhere in the world, not even in Canada, we get this type of threats. Not we, only, I think most Muslim organizations across Canada get those kind of threats."
Ismail told the NOW the threats were directed to B.C. muslims in general, not the Burnaby mosque in particular.
Critchley said local RCMP were not planning on standing guard at the Burnaby mosque.
"There's nothing to indicate a police presence is required," he said.
Zehaf-Bibeau is not the only problematic character with a connection to the Burnaby mosque. Local resident Hasibullah Yusufzai, who was charged with leaving Canada to join a terrorist group, also attended the Burnaby mosque, but Rashid was not aware of any connection between the two men. (Yusufzai is still wanted and at large.)
Rashid also had a message for Burnaby residents who may be worried, given these two men attended the Burnaby mosque.
"Anyone who knows the mosque will know about their openness, their friendliness, and all of the community initiatives that area taking place here. We don't want to change that," he said. "The individuals that came here and prayed here did not get radicalized at this mosque or because of anything happening at this mosque or through individuals that were attending this mosque."
