The following letter was published by The London Free Press on March 6th, 2024.
Islamophobia exists, and we have plenty of it throughout Canada.
It’s been spreading like wildfire lately. We, as Canadians, must break through this ignorance and bigotry.
As a Muslim, you’d be surprised how often I get asked, “Well, if you’re peaceful people, then why aren’t you denouncing violence and speaking up?” We are.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA) in Canada has been persistently invested in these efforts for decades on end.
AMYA recently initiated a nationwide campaign called coffee and Islam, meant to open mosque doors to fellow Canadians for judgment-free questions and dialogue. We, as Muslims, are extending an olive branch, we’re just hoping our fellow Canadians are willing to grab it.
Ali Shahan Butt, London
