Source: WGRZ

NIAGARA FALLS, NY – In the light of the horrific tragedy in San Bernardino, the local Muslim community is sending their condolences to the victims and their families, while also calling for peace.

Saturday, the Ahmidyya Muslim community held a prayer vigil for the victims and families of the San Bernardino attack.

“I think this is an opportunity for Muslims to come out and openly denounce that this is not what Islam teaches, and this is what it will condemn.”

This comes when there are increasingly negative views of the faith arising from fears of terrorism,
and statements from people like Donald Trump calling for a temporary ban of Muslims entering the United States.

Concerns among the Muslim community have heightened.

Nasir Khanare with the Ahmadiyya Buffalo Chapter says “There are some concerns. Locally, I don’t think that I’ve come to know any incidents they’ve happened.”

Although no incidents locally have occurred, a series of demonstrations and acts of vandalism have happened across the U.S. over the last couple days.

20 people, half of them armed, rallied outside of a mosque in Richardson, Texas. The FBI is investigating a mosque recently vandalized in Phoenix, Arizona, and a fire that erupted in the lobby of a mosque in Coachella, California.

The Muslim community hopes education about the Religion of Islam will bring peace.

President Obama recently spoke about Muslims’ responsibility in the fight against terrorism, including an obligation to speak out against acts of violence, and to report anything suspicious.

This has happened before. In 2002, the FBI became aware of “The Lackawanna Six” after being tipped off by members of the local Muslim community.

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