Vandalized Ranchlands Mosque hosts open house
Posted Nov 13, 2016 3:11 pm.
Last Updated Nov 13, 2016 3:17 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
About one month after the Ranchlands Mosque swept away the glass from a smashed window, it opened the doors to the neighbours.
The Islamic Association of North West Calgary hosted an event called “Our House is Your House” on Sunday. It’s the second time the group invited community members into the mosque, with the aim of the public gaining a better understanding of the space, members and their religion.
“We have seen amazing results with regards to our objective,” Director of Outreach Muhammad Abbas said. “What we are trying to achieve is a mutual understanding, and the trust, what we need to build with our community.”
It was a disheartening scene for members arriving at the mosque for morning prayer on October 15. They found the front window smashed, and a sign indicating the mosque was open during construction had been thrown into the parking lot. About a week before this incident, a Queensland mosque became the target of vandals.
It was a very different mood for this event, where members of different ethnicities introduced visitors to plates of food from around the world. International student from Bangladesh, Sayeeda Jahan, was serving samosas and pakoras. She said it’s an easy way to introduce yourself to people.
“This is really exciting. You can have all kinds of food from around the world. It’s a really big chance to see and experience how other regions’ people are cooking,” she said.
Boja Kosmak was born in former Czechoslovakia and wanted to learn more about sponsoring Syrian refugees.
“I’m an immigrant as well, except many, many years ago. You know, I feel for them. I know what it’s like to escape the country when there is a war or a revolution or any of that,” he said.
The Association said the Islamophobic rhetoric of the U.S. election is causing a ripple effect across Canada. Abbas said in reaction, the group needs to participate in more community outreach programs such as its annual tradition of shovelling snow from driveways and sidewalks on Christmas Day.
“This is providing a better opportunity for us to do more, because the forces of division and fear […] among ourselves, that’s what the problem area is. And we do understand that we need to be on the ground with the people,” he said.
The Association estimates there are about 100,000 Muslims living in Calgary.
