The following letter was published by Ottawa Citizen, on May 6th 2024.
As an Ahmadi Muslim, I have huge sympathy for the plight of the innocent Palestinians whose homes, lives, and history are being erased by the intense bombardment of Gaza. However, I cannot endorse protests that disrupt the peace of other places.
These recent protests seem to be decreasing sympathy, as people plant themselves in one camp or the other rather than trying to understand the complexities of the issue.
The Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslims Community, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, stated recently: “If protests remain peaceful, devoid of vandalism or damage to national or governmental properties, and refrain from engaging in acts of violence, then they can be deemed acceptable.”
Protesters ought to think deeply about what is beneficial to support innocent people in Palestine, rather than become perpetrators of unrest in Canada or elsewhere.
Sinwan Basharat, Ottawa
