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N.B. mosque holding Quebec victims vigil

Feb 2, 2017 | 1:00 PM

To commemorate the six men shot and killed in a Quebec City mosque last week, a local mosque will hold a simple vigil open to all community members.

Imam at the local Battlefords’ mosque and President of the North Battleford Islamic Center, Hafiz Muhammad Imarn Zaka, said this is a time for Canadians to prove coming together as a community is stronger than hate and violence.  

“At this time if we are coming together we want to show strength. We are a society, a Canadian society, we are together,” Zaka said. “We are proud of that; that we live in this part of the world.”

It will be a quiet vigil. People are invited to sign a Book of Condolences which will be mailed to the Quebec City mosque, light a candle and spend time in prayer and reflection.

People of all backgrounds are invited to give their respects, with various leaders from several different faiths lined up to give talks.

Despite the tragic attack on Muslim worshippers in Quebec, Zaka said the support the Battlefords Muslim community has received has made them feel at home.

“As Islamic communities we are very touched by the support we are getting from our friends in our small town…The first day, one lady brought us flowers and a cloth. She said she can’t go to Quebec but she wanted to show support,” he said.

Battlefords RCMP Inspector John Sutherland also reached out to the Imam a few days after the events. Zaka said Sutherland told him if anyone in the local Muslim community faced discrimination or racism to come forward to police right away.

“I passed this message all over the Muslim community and surrounding area, and they were very happy,” Zaka said. “They’re feel something; that we are part of this community and this society.”

“We want to thank the community for their support and also we want to say that we pray justice will be brought to those who are responsible. We cannot allow those to divide us through heartache and violence.”

The vigil will be held this Friday, Feb. 3, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

 

Katherine.svenkeson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @ksvenkeson