A nationwide tour aiming to combat Islamophobia with education and discussion stopped in Abbotsford on Thursday.

The travelling exhibition was presented by members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at community, most of whom live in the Greater Toronto area.

Abbotsford was the 22nd stop on the 25-town Mobile Muslim tour, which began in St. John’s, Newfoundland, on July 13.

The group parked a trailer downtown on Essendene Avenue and stood on the sidewalk, engaging the public and handing out literature about their faith.

One member of the group from Edmonton, who studies in Toronto, held a large sign which read, “I am a Muslim, ask me anything.”

“ISIS is hijacking my faith,” said Ahmed, who said he was not bothered by the question and was happy to be able to dispel the misconception. “We want people to get to know the real Islam, not just those who hijack it.”

Ahmed described the several hours spent in sweltering heat as “overwhelmingly positive.”

He said the group had spoken to several dozen locals, and other than some rude comments by people driving by, everyone was happy to see them and appreciative of their presence. Ahmed said one woman even left to fetch friends and return for a discussion.

He said it was particularly important to him and the group to reach people in less metropolitan places like Abbotsford, where people are less likely to have Muslim neighbours, friends and coworkers.

“We are just normal humans,” he said.

Ahmed estimated encountering 5,000 people across the… read more at http://www.abbynews.com/news/391327441.html