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#MeetAMuslim: Campaign Breaks Down Barriers to Educate Public About Islam
NBC Bay Area ^ | Mar 11, 2017 | Brendan Weber and Kent Wilhoite

Posted on 03/12/2017 11:56:20 AM PDT by nickcarraway

"Terrorism has nothing to do with our religion," American Muslim Iftikhar Khan said

Iftikhar Khan, donning a white T-shirt with an American flag imprinted on it, graced the streets of San Jose on Saturday to teach the public about one topic: Islam.

"The vast majority of Americans don't know a Muslim and a lot of Americans are afraid of Muslims," he said. "I can understand why. There are a lot of negative things that a very, very, very small percentage of Muslims across the world are doing and the rest of us (Muslims) are not speaking out and so that's what I'm here to do today, to educate my fellow Americans."

Khan's plan unfolded as part of the the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association's inaugural #MeetAMuslim Day, which featured hundreds of Muslims answering questions about their faith in several cities across the county.

As terrorist attacks across the Middle East and Europe dominate the headlines and some ordinary citizens associate the religion of Islam with the bloodshed, Khan and others remain committed to teaching people about the religion's true principles.

"The vast majority of the 1.6 billion Muslims, like 99.9 percent, are peaceful," he said. "Islam means peace."

Khan added that Islam preaches respect for one's neighbor and instructs followers to live one's life to the highest moral standard. The associated connection between terrorism and Islam comes when people misinterpret the religion's teachings and then convince "ignorant people to follow their agenda." That agenda could be one person or group promoting violence in order to assume power. But as Khan emphatically noted, living by that thinking is simply not the way of Islam.

"Terrorism has nothing to do with our religion," he said.

In order to break the bond that links violence with Islam, Khan helped create a website coined TrueIslam.com to help educate outsiders about the religion's key principles as well as key misinterpretations.

"There is not a contradiction between being a proud American and a proud Muslim," Khan said. "I think there is a perception that you have to choose one or the other. You don't." Khan put his work on the website into physical action Saturday by speaking with strangers in the South Bay. He may have only reached a few people, but that feat is better than nothing.

"Through this process, at least we'll meet 10 people today and now, at least, now they know a Muslim," he said. "And now they know that, you know what, I've met a Muslim and that Muslim was logical. That Muslim loved America and, you know what, wasn't that different from me. Cause I'm not that different from you. I'm really not."

Aside from terrorists attacks being a focal point of media coverage for several years now, President Donald Trump's recent executive orders pertaining to travel have put the spotlight back on people hailing from countries in the Middle East where Islam is the primary religion. Khan is taking the time to understand both sides of the travel ban discussion.

"The people that support the travel ban, I understand why they do," he said. "They don't know Muslims. They are worried. They are genuinely worried about their families and their safety. I'm out here to try and revert some of that fear."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: islam; muslims; terrorism
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1 posted on 03/12/2017 11:56:20 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

ONE WORD: BENGHAZI

THAT TAUGHT ME ALL I EVER WANT TO KNOW ABOUT ISLAM.

THANK YOU.


2 posted on 03/12/2017 11:57:22 AM PDT by CyberAnt ("Peace Through Strength")
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To: nickcarraway

Liar.


3 posted on 03/12/2017 11:58:16 AM PDT by Fungi (Five genera of fungi are responsible for 90% of all inhaled fungi. The remaining 10% will be named.)
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To: nickcarraway

Will they shake hands and talk to women or Rape them at this meet


4 posted on 03/12/2017 11:59:33 AM PDT by butlerweave
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To: nickcarraway

“Islam means peace.”

* * * * * * *

Islam means submission.

But he knew that.

He also knows about taqiyya.


5 posted on 03/12/2017 11:59:45 AM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizen Means Born Here Of Citizen Parents - Know Islam, No Peace -No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: nickcarraway

Muslim history doesn’t support all of this gibberish.


6 posted on 03/12/2017 11:59:46 AM PDT by Parmy (II don't know how to past the images.)
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To: nickcarraway
"Terrorism has nothing to do with our religion," American Muslim Iftikhar Khan said
Taqiyah
7 posted on 03/12/2017 11:59:57 AM PDT by Trillian
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To: nickcarraway

Pure unadulterated goat $hit.


8 posted on 03/12/2017 12:01:00 PM PDT by beethovenfan (I always try to maximize my carbon footprint.)
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To: nickcarraway

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) has started carrying printed ads for countering “Islamophobia.” Saw one in a train car the other day. I thought it was some public service health ad until I took a closer look.


9 posted on 03/12/2017 12:02:03 PM PDT by thecodont
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To: nickcarraway

10 posted on 03/12/2017 12:02:41 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both)
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To: nickcarraway

Not all Muslims are terrorists.....but the vast majority of terrorists are Muslims.


11 posted on 03/12/2017 12:04:04 PM PDT by traderrob6
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To: CyberAnt

Benghazi—one of many splendid examples of how ‘Islam means peace’.

He failed to cite a source for his assertion that ‘99.9%’ of 1.6 billion muslims are peaceful. The actual numbers are closer to 10% are radicalized and the majority support Jihad and believe Sharia is the true law.

Ten percent of 1.6 billion is a whole lot of muslims.

There’s a whole lot of Bandini piled pretty high here.


12 posted on 03/12/2017 12:04:58 PM PDT by jazminerose (Adorable Deplorable)
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To: nickcarraway
The World Trade Center Bombing
Mogadishu
Khobar Towers
Bombings of Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania
The U.S.S. Cole
9/11 WTC

These and multiple other Islamic terrorist attacks taught me all I need to know about Muslims.

13 posted on 03/12/2017 12:05:28 PM PDT by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: nickcarraway

Show me a peaceful Muslim and I’ll show you a heretic of the Koran and the Islam faith in Allah. A false and evil idol they love created by the first muslim , a brigand and thief who hated jews back in 586 AD.


14 posted on 03/12/2017 12:06:45 PM PDT by kindred (Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour. Trump is helping make America great again.)
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To: kindred

Bring your daughter to violence day?


15 posted on 03/12/2017 12:07:24 PM PDT by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God Bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: nickcarraway

Until Islam has its own internal reformation it will remain violent. Its core teaching is violence. It spread through violence amd conquest.


16 posted on 03/12/2017 12:07:36 PM PDT by Organic Panic (Flinging poo is not a valid argument)
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To: nickcarraway

I am immediately suspicious of any Muslim named Khan. Their ‘rock’ is not our “Rock’... and there is NO way the two will be joined... regardless of how much money is exchanged.


17 posted on 03/12/2017 12:08:19 PM PDT by Just mythoughts
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To: nickcarraway

#howboutnot


18 posted on 03/12/2017 12:12:27 PM PDT by ronnie raygun
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To: nickcarraway
For some reason, I'm reminded of the movie Mars Attacks!
19 posted on 03/12/2017 12:12:57 PM PDT by gogeo (When your life is based on a false premise...you are indeed insane.)
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To: nickcarraway

“The vast majority of the 1.6 billion Muslims, like 99.9 percent, are peaceful,” he said. “Islam means peace.”

Deport his arse. Liar.


20 posted on 03/12/2017 12:13:34 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi - Monthly Donors Rock!!!)
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