Advertisement

Clarington, Ont. mosque opens doors to educate after Qur’an incident

Click to play video: 'Durham mosque opens their doors following Quran incident'
Durham mosque opens their doors following Quran incident
Dozens of people were welcomed into the Clarington Mosque for a ‘Taste of Ramadan’ event Tuesday. Community leaders held the event to start a conversation – after an incident of hate where a Quran was damaged at a Durham School. Frazer Snowdon has more. – Apr 13, 2023

With the recent spike of Islamaphobic incidents in the Greater Toronto Area, a mosque in Durham Region is extending an olive branch.

This comes after the community in Courtice was hurt when a student allegedly ripped a Qur’an during an education session.

Leaders in the Muslim community brought everyone together at A Taste of Ramadan.

“It makes me feel very proud of my school board, and my school,” says Ahmed Ali, a student at Courtice Secondary School.

“My school principal and teachers are interested in learning about my religion, and that makes me very happy.”

With food, fun and education, community leaders came together and opened their doors and hearts at the event. Representatives with the Al Rayan Islamic Centre in Clarington welcomed members of the community with a number of tools for education about their religion, and a wide buffet of foods for a real Ramadan experience.

Story continues below advertisement

“It’s amazing, many of the people here having dinner with us have taught me,” says Shafin Shah, the president of the Muslim Student Association.

“My biology teacher and my principal, all coming to visit.”

The gathering comes from what was a negative incident of hate last month at Courtice Secondary School. Although what happened shocked the community, the outreach co-ordinator with the Clarington Islamic Centre, Zhaihan Rashid, said it sparked the idea to start a conversation with everyone — and help open doors.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“It’s really to break down the walls of ignorance and to increase information,” said Rashid.

During the incident, students who are part of the Muslim community were running an event at their school — to fight against Islamaphobia. A group of peers reportedly came in, ripped the Qur’an and disrespected the sacred text.

Alaa Gehani, a student at the school, spoke to Global News at the time and says they were heartbroken to see such hatred towards them.

“Seeing how people were proudly damaging that book, something that is important to us, it broke our hearts,” said Gehani.

Story continues below advertisement

Since the incident, the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board has kept an open dialogue with leaders in the Muslim community. The director of education for the board, Rita Russo, says they are working to restore trust.

“Out of a negative story can come good,” says Russo.

“We are working with our staff, with education and training for all of us — for the Courtice Secondary School staff and all of our board staff.”

The event gave educators and residents a space to learn more about the religion and its importance.

“I think it’s important that we create these spaces where we can share these ideas,” said Rashid.

Click to play video: 'Ramadan in Saskatoon has been a great experience for worshippers leading to important final 10 days, Imam says'
Ramadan in Saskatoon has been a great experience for worshippers leading to important final 10 days, Imam says

And with incidents of hate appearing to increase — such as the recent attacks at a Markham Mosque — organizers say it’s more important than ever to continue bringing everyone together.

Story continues below advertisement

“I hope it will also increase harmony. I hope it will stop the potential of future events that cause disharmony and really unrest,” he says.

Sponsored content

AdChoices