DAR AL HARB - CANADA: "I LOVE CANADA AND I PROTECT MY RELIGION, ISLAM"

'I love Canada,' Muslim leader says
Afghan imam denies allegations of contact with terrorism suspects
COLIN FREEZE
From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

TORONTO — Afghan imam Qari Kafayatullah has spoken out about his life in Toronto and the allegation that he has links to a high-profile police investigation.

He insists he is neither an extremist nor someone who works with police. And the only thing people really need to know about him, he says, is that he is a proud Canadian.

"I love Canada because it is a peaceful country and people, black, white, red, they let each other be Canadian, under one flag," said the Muslim leader who has lived here for 20 years, after leaving his war-torn homeland.

"I love Canada because it's a multiculturalist country," he added. "And I protect my religion, Islam."

But when Mr. Kafayatullah was asked about allegations that he was in contact with the ringleaders and the main informant in an RCMP investigation -- 18 suspects have been accused of a terrorist conspiracy -- he was terse.

He said he disagreed strongly with what's been reported, without going into details.

...

"I am living here decently, peacefully," he said.

In many ways, he explained, he is a man who straddles two worlds. Whether he is in Canada or in Afghanistan, he says, he knows people of all stripes. And it's important, he said, that he be able to get along with everybody.

"I am travelling a lot to Afghanistan for peace-building, rehabilitation and reconstruction," he explained.

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Mr. Kafayatullah says his people have suffered greatly over the years. Many of his family members live in Afghanistan. Like many immigrants, he says, he does what he can to help.

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"My family is one son, one daughter, an elder, sick mom, a blind uncle and his wife, and my brother, with 11 children," said Mr. Kafayatullah, who adds he is mourning the death of his father-in-law. "And they are living in the Wardak province in Afghanistan and I have to support them."

He says he would like to sponsor them all to come to Canada, but he can't afford that. So his life in Canada is humble. He has a picture of Mecca on his wall, a kettle of tea on his carpet, and a bookshelf brimming with books. He says he gives frequent speeches to Toronto's Afghan associations and Islamic centres. He also says he translates for struggling Afghans on welfare who can't read English.

One thing he would like to do for Canada, he said, is to convince his adopted home that his countrymen do not represent any threat to national security. "The Afghan people are a cultural people, a religious people," he said. "They are not dangerous to other nations."


Pertinent Links:

1) 'I love Canada,' Muslim leader says