Members of British Columbia’s Muslim community will be in Summerland on Saturday to offer an introduction to their faith.
Rizwan Peerzada, of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Canada, said the meeting in Summerland is one of a series of meetings around the province.
To date, presentations have been held in 17 B.C. communities.
The meetings are in response to the actions of Terry Jones, the controversial pastor of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, who generated outrage when he publicly burned copies of the Qur’an, the Islamic scriptures, recently.
“We believe that burning any religious scripture is directly contrary to the teachings of not just Christianity, but of all the worlds major religions,” Peerzada said. “In fact, burning a holy book of believers of another faith was not and could not have been taught by Jesus (peace be on him,) who taught love, compassion and forgiveness.”
He said the event is intended to provide an introduction to Islam.
The theme of the event is, Islam: Religion of Peace or Terror.
“We are not here to convert people; we are here to educate them,” he said.
Peerzada added that similar presentations in other communities have been received positively, although there is some hostility to Islam.
“There are some die-hard Christians who think there is no room for Islam in their community,” he said.
The Summerland presentation will be held at the IOOF Hall, 9536 Main St., from 11 a.m. to noon.
Similar presentations will also be held in Oliver from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. and in Osoyoos from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m.