In celebration of Canada's 150th birthday, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association has launched a unique nationwide campaign to provide Canadians with an open platform to learn about Islam.
The B.C. portion of the campaign launched Saturday at Delta's Baitur Rahman Mosque where youth participants left by bike on their way to Salmon Arm on a sevenday trek.
Ask Islam events will be held in Maple Ridge, Hope and Summerland. The youth riders will also hand out flyers along the way, making stops in Princeton, Penticton, Kelowna and Enderby.
Similar rides will take place across the country leading up to Canada Day.
"In Canada, there is, in reality, an acute shortage of correct, genuine and authentic information on Islam," said Ahmadiyya Muslim Community national executive director Norman Khalil. "Most people only know of Islam what they see in the papers and on news broadcasts, but that picture ignores most of this vast religion, which spans hundreds of cultures and dozens of countries and has such a rich and deep tradition of learning and spirituality."
Khalil said Ask Islam is an interactive questionand-answer campaign where people can have their questions about Islam answered.
He said the campaign comes at an important time.
"Increasing controversy surrounding Islam and Muslims in the west has created misunderstandings about Islam and a growing apprehension of Muslims," Khalil added. "As a result, there is a growing need of grassroots engagement to remove these misconceptions."
