Muslim Extremism Coming To Your Neighborhood?

A mosque is bricks and mortar and doesn't present any imminent danger but when it becomes a refuge for extremists who preach hatred and promote violence we should be dealing with the individuals. The tradegy is that in attempting to promote our own beliefs when it comes to tolerance and freedom of expression we become victims of a propoganda war that we cannot win. Let's keep in mind that that when the service is over at the mosque and people gather around the water cooler the extremists are talking about destroying the jews and eventually us.

A Little History Lesson 1
A Little History Lesson 2

February 3, 2007
Little mosque, big trouble
By JOE WARMINGTON

NEWMARKET -- The story about the little mosque in the suburbs has been stirring up more than a little controversy.

Throw in an Elvis impersonator priest and the producers of the hit show Little Mosque on the Prairie should be taking notes.

But there is not a lot of humour here. In fact, angry words are flying around --including labels of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. It's normally so quiet up here.

If you haven't heard of this situation, stayed tuned because it's about to hit the fan before city council here Monday. It's purported to be a meeting about the zoning of a new mosque on Mulock Drive, near Bayview. It sounds more like it's going to be a debate about whether the mosque belongs there at all.

"Normally those meetings are kind of dull," said The Era Banner reporter Joan Ransberry. "I don't think that is going to be the case this time."

The Era Banner had a recent front page headline: Mosque Welcome, Extremist Not, Neighbour Says. It quoted George Cunningham saying: "I don't want an Islamic extremist in my community."

He's talking about Zafar Bangash --a well-known Islamic imam, who is director of The Institute of Contemporary Islamic Thought.

And he has thoughts -- some critics describe them as "hate." A lot of Bangash's comments could be interpreted as anti-Israel and anti-American -- heavy ideas for neighbours of 700 Mulock Drive to handle.

Many didn't even realize Newmarket had its first mosque, which is really nothing more than a gutted bungalow on two acres, complete with pond. It still has a damaged Toronto Maple Leafs flag hanging from a pole and a rusted shinny hockey net.

It's a start. The Muslim community has bigger plans for their new place of worship. "We have fully complied with the town's requirements," Bangash said.

People have nothing to be afraid of, he said, adding much of what he is quoted to have said he actually didn't say.

He is, though, the former editor of the Crescent International newspaper which after Sept. 11, 2001 did describe Osama Bin Laden as a person who "stands up to the West in the name of Islam" and that there was a "far greater tragedy taking place in Iraq, Palestine and now in Afghanistan."

He insists stories where he is quoted as saying the U.S. knew about the potential attacks on 9/11 or that Canada is a "fully paid-up member of the Anglo-Saxon Mafia, which is responsible for most of the recorded genocides in the world" are not his.

After reading this stuff, however, you can see why people might be concerned. Fresh off last summer's charges against 17 young Muslim men on an alleged terror plot, there's certainly nothing wrong with asking some questions.

"Are you a racist? Are you are terrorist?" is what I asked him. Might as well clear the air, is what I thought.

"Absolutely not," he said. "Not at all. Of course not. I think it's important people understand we neither advocate violence of any kind, nor do we spread hatred."

He says not many are upset at all. "I don't think there are too many," he said.

"What has happened is some people have misread things and that has been deliberately done. There are some groups who are themselves racist, essentially, and don't want to see a mosque going up in Newmarket."

The more I questioned him the more defensive he seemed to get. His calm demeanor became more agitated when he said: "I am opposed to Israeli state policies. They are perpetrating terrible crimes against the Palestinian people."

I asked if he considered that a radical opinion?

"How could that be radical? Is it permissible to starve millions of people?"

For many locals, what's happening in the West Bank is a long way from York Region. Even Pakistan-born Bangash, with whom I left on amiable terms, agrees. "These are my personal views and have nothing to do with the mosque," said the Canadian for 33 years.

Meanwhile, well-known Rev. Dorian Baxter, aka Elvis Priestley, thinks the debate is "actually an opportunity."

Over lunch at Pam and Debbie's The Maid's Cottage Restaurant on Main St. he said "it's an opportunity for Christians and people of Islamic and Jewish faiths to get together. We have more in common than we don't."

We'll find out if that happens Monday when the little mosque on Mulock is on the agenda at Newmarket city council.