SHAFAQNA (International Shia News Association)-A leading Calgary Muslim leader has started a hunger strike in a bid to spread awareness about Muslims’ condemnations for the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) after the brutal beheading of the US journalist James Foley.
“Their view of Islam and the Qur’an is absolutely 180 degrees different from what most Muslims believe,” Calgary Islamic leader Syed Soharwardy told Calgary Sun.
The anger of Soharwardy, the head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada, followed the beheading of US photo journalist James Foley claimed by the so-called Islamic State.
The heinous crime has sparked angry condemnations from Muslims around the world as a barbaric act that goes against the true teachings of Islam.
Hearing the news, the Canadian Muslim leader announced his plans to begin the 48-hour hunger strike beginning Friday, August 22.
The imam said he’ll ingest only water, adding that he will spend most of his time at an Islamic centre at 421 Riverfront Ave. S.E.
Soharwardy added that he welcomes dialogue with Muslim youth who might be tempted to head to Syria and Iraq to fight for ISIL (also known as ISIS).
“This whole epidemic of Muslim youth getting involved is quite alarming…I will reach out to as many of them as I can, especially those on the borderline,” he said, adding he’s been in touch with Canadian authorities about his latest contacts with extremists.
Muslims make up nearly two percent of Canada’s some 32.8 million people and Islam has become the number one non-Christian faith in the country.
A poll has showed that the overwhelming majority of Muslims are proud to be Canadian and are more integrated and better educated than the general population.