FITCHBURG — Dozens came out to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community annual Thanksgiving meal Friday, continuing the show of increased support that leaders say the greater community has displayed since the presidential election earlier this month.

“We’ve been getting a lot of support from the community, and this is the way to give back,” organizer Sabahat Ahmed said.

The annual lunch provided traditional home-cooked Thanksgiving fare for anyone, regardless of belief, who entered the Bait-ul-Zikr mosque on Main Street Friday.

In past years the event has drawn about 50 people, and president of the Fitchburg chapter, Ijaz Ahmed, said the community was expecting a similar number this year.

Haroon Imran Ashraf, 11, scoops corn onto his plate at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s annual Thanksgiving meal Friday. SENTINEL AND ENTERPRISE / ELIZABETH DOBBINS

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But other outreach events, such as a weekly discussion over coffee, have seen an increase in interest among people who do not practice Islam.Furqan Mehmud, local outreach liaison, said the free weekly gathering, “Coffee, Cake and True Islam” is hosted at the mosque every Saturday at 5 p.m. It usually attracts modest numbers, but the weekend after the Nov. 8 election of Donald Trump the group saw the largest turnout yet.

“Actually since the Trump election, that’s when it grew. That week we had 10 people,” he said.

The president-elect and some of his advisers have been criticized for their comments on the Muslim community.

Gen. Michael Flynn, Trump’s pick for national security adviser, has been quoted calling Islam a political ideology and “malignant cancer,” The New York Times reported.

Fears have also been floated in recent headlines about a proposed “Muslim registry,” which would reinstate a federal government database of immigrants from Muslim-majority countries — a measure that was first instituted after the Sept. 11 attacks.Mehmud said he cast his vote in the election. Moving forward, he is following the word of the Quran and putting his trust in God.

“Personally we’re hopeful he won’t implement any of… Read more: http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/news/ci_30606567/sharing-meal-message-hope#ixzz4RDeuH6XY