Huff Post: Recently, a bloodthirsty mob torched an Ahmadi owned factory in the Pakistani city of Jhelum. In contrast to Canada, where communities galvanize against hate, there were no rallies in defence of Ahmadi neighbours, and social media was ablaze with their “heresies” instead of condemnation of persecution.
However, outside Pakistan, concerned Muslim leaders from diverse groups, academics and activists, gay and straight, have rallied together to support the call to unconditionally invite Ahmadis to Muslim spaces, listen to their concerns and stand by them.
Pakistan has more manpower, helicopters, aircraft and tank strength than Canada. Pakistan even has nukes. Yet, Canada is strong where Pakistan is weak, for Canadian strength lies in the communities that embrace diversity and galvanize against hate.
Canadians rose up for a woman who wasn’t even a citizen for a niqab on the basis of freedom of choice, even though the niqab is discouraged in Muslim rituals like the daily prayer and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). When the mosque in Cold Lake was targeted last year with xenophobic graffiti, community members came out in drovesto stand by their Muslim neighbours. Recently, the mosque in Peterborough suffered an arson attack, but the overwhelming support from the community including theBeth Israel Synagogue sent out a clear message that there is no room for hate in Canada.