More deflection of responsibility from the Vancouver Sun, with thanks to Tim:
B.C. Muslims pleaded with other Canadians Monday not to prejudge the men accused of plotting terror attacks in Toronto, and not to blame their religion for the crimes people commit.
“All religions in the world preach about peace and harmony,” said Usama Al-Atar, a religious lecturer at the Az-Zahra Islamic Centre in Richmond.
“Sometimes religion unfortunately is used for ignorance, to promote some political agendas,” Al-Atar said. “Even some people who may be involved with hate crimes against Muslims, they may come from Christian origins. But their religion also does not tolerate such acts.”
It would be nice if Al-Atar devoted his time to convincing his fellow Muslims of this. The arrests themselves show that efforts in that direction have been insufficient.
Non-Muslims who blame Islam for crimes of terror and Muslims who embrace violence all need to be educated about the peaceful nature of Islam, he added….
All right. But how is it that misunderstanders of Islam grew so numerous and powerful around the world? Like this guy:
At least one local Muslim cleric — Younus Kathrada — has preached that jihad, or holy war, is justifiable against people who do not accept Islam. He could not be reached Monday and the Dar al-Madinah Islamic Society’s bookshop on Victoria Drive, where he is reported to preach, was locked….