Kamloops mosque receives outpouring of support after New Zealand terror attack | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Kamloops mosque receives outpouring of support after New Zealand terror attack

Ayesha Mosque in Kamloops pictured on March 16, 2019.

KAMLOOPS -  Members of the Islamic community in Kamloops were shocked after 49 Muslims were killed in New Zealand during Friday prayer.

Umme Adam with the Kamloops Islamic Association says the community is "devastated" by the news.

"I think a lot of people in the community are shook but as far as I know nobody was directly tied to the victims or anything like that," she says in a phone interview. "I think just as a whole community Muslim communities around the world have just been really heartbroken."

Yesterday, March 15, Adam says the Ayesha Mosque received messages of support and condolences from interfaith partners, Thompson Rivers University, local media, and people from the Kamloops community and surrounding area. 

"We had some people reach out to us at the mosque today. They attended with flowers," Adam recalls. "My colleagues sent me emails and messages as well, people are getting it from all over... so we’re getting that love which we are deeply appreciative of."

Friday night's terror attack in New Zealand comes just over two years after the Quebec City mosque shootings that killed six people.

Adam says their approach to counteracting Islamophobia is to educate people; answer their questions or concerns about Islam. 

"If anyone has any questions about our faith and how we practice our faith— instead of harbouring those ill feelings within them— we’re happy to have those conversations," she says. "We’d rather focus on the knowledge-building discourse as opposed to people harbouring those feelings and having it manifesting into tragic stuff like this."

Go here to see the Ayesha Mosque webpage.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Shelby Thevenot or call (250) 819-6089 or email the editor You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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