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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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To: Parmy

Nor does their Book.


21 posted on 03/12/2017 12:17:43 PM PDT by sport
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To: CyberAnt

The muzzies in Central Florida miss no chance to get a table at any community event. Last Saturday they were at a farmers market doing “outreach” in the hour I was there, they sat like statues with no takers. I kept hoping a dog would mark their stall.


22 posted on 03/12/2017 12:19:20 PM PDT by lovesdogs
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To: nickcarraway

People I know invited some muslims to dinner and told me that the whole time they were there, the Sunnis were arguing with the Shiites. What does that tell you?


23 posted on 03/12/2017 12:19:48 PM PDT by Veto! (Opinions freely dispensed as advice)
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To: All

Taqiyya.

If you want to know about Islam, just read an old copy of the Qur’an. For further understanding, read the Hadiths.


24 posted on 03/12/2017 12:20:04 PM PDT by LegendHasIt
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To: nickcarraway

TaqiyahFest 2017!


25 posted on 03/12/2017 12:22:41 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
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To: nickcarraway

Sure. Why is is that when you put a bunch of muzzies together in one place, you always get violence?


26 posted on 03/12/2017 12:24:05 PM PDT by I want the USA back (Lying Media: completely irresponsible. Complicit in the destruction of this country.)
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To: nickcarraway

27 posted on 03/12/2017 12:24:21 PM PDT by doug from upland (Hey, traitor Democrats. I have a tree. I'm sure another FReeper has a rope.)
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To: traderrob6

16% of Muslims are actively involved in jihad against the infidels globally. The other 84% quietly support it in various ways. If you are a Muslim who doesn’t support the core tenant of Islam - jihad - then you are bad Muslim.


28 posted on 03/12/2017 12:24:39 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
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To: nickcarraway
"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"

OK. Simple solution: Start speaking out!

I don't see how this Muslim is doing that. He doesn't need to talk to non-Muslims; he needs to talk to his fellow Muslims and convince them to unite and eliminate this cancer from their religion; because if they don't, then the rest of the world is going to indiscriminately impose the solution from outside, and then there will be no such thing as Islam.

So this guy's little public relations "crusade", while well-intentioned, utterly fails to focus the persuasion and anger where it is most needed: on those who have ostensibly hijacked his religion: those are the people who need to be destroyed.

If there were Christians running around blowing themselves up and slaughtering civilians indiscriminately, we would take care of business and wipe such fools out.

Why can't Islam clean it's own house?

29 posted on 03/12/2017 12:25:03 PM PDT by sargon ("If we were in the midst of a zombie apocalypse, the Left would protest for zombies' rights.")
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To: Organic Panic

Islam can’t be reformed. It is unethical pagan monotheism that actively promotes the ends justifies the means no matter how evil it is.


30 posted on 03/12/2017 12:25:57 PM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
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To: gogeo

Danny Devito....

I’m A Lawyer!


31 posted on 03/12/2017 12:26:07 PM PDT by Big Red Badger (UNSCANABLE in an IDIOCRACY!)
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To: nickcarraway

on 9/11 3000 Americans met Muslims but they can’t talk about their encounter since they are dead


32 posted on 03/12/2017 12:31:49 PM PDT by Sarah Barracuda
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To: jazminerose

They’re always touting that 1.6 billion number. How many would be Islamic if they weren’t threatened to be so under penalty of death?


33 posted on 03/12/2017 12:35:57 PM PDT by abishai
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To: nickcarraway

How about someone wearing a T-shirt teaching them about Christ, in their enclave.


34 posted on 03/12/2017 12:37:51 PM PDT by tillacum (I'm still a Deplorable.)
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To: nickcarraway
So all the swords on muzzie flags are because you think they look cool?

P Off, lying servant of satanallah!

35 posted on 03/12/2017 12:41:42 PM PDT by rawcatslyentist (TETELESTI Read em and weep Lucy! Yer times almost up.)
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To: nickcarraway

The few Muslims who do bad things, the many Muslims who turn a bind eye and the mosques where they are indoctrinated are where this person’s work should be done.

There’s nothing wrong with Americans who want to live without Muslim violence, and also aren’t interested in living under Sharia law.


36 posted on 03/12/2017 12:42:57 PM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Ride To The Sound Of The Guns)
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To: Lurkinanloomin

Yeah, as soon as I saw that claim you know the rest is a lie.

In many of the attacks in Europe people KNEW where the attackers were but they say and do NOTHING.

The only question they need to be asked is if they believe our Constitution should be replaced by Sharia Law?

...we both know the answer.


37 posted on 03/12/2017 12:42:57 PM PDT by fuzzylogic (welfare state = sharing consequences of poor moral choices among everybody)
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To: nickcarraway

If Islam had been a peaceful religion for the past 1400 years, that would be their reputation. Anyone who can read the quran and the hadith can see what true islam is....a system of world domination, just like the nazis, only with a twist of religion so that you don’t dare criticize.


38 posted on 03/12/2017 12:43:18 PM PDT by JudyinCanada
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To: nickcarraway

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Ahmadis


39 posted on 03/12/2017 12:45:39 PM PDT by Honorary Serb (Kosovo is Serbia! Free Srpska! Abolish ICTY!)
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To: nickcarraway

Al-taqiyya sessions.

They can lie all they want to deceive infidels if they believe it will further islam.

You cannot trust them, their book tells them its their duty to lie until they can be in positions to openly do violent jihad.


40 posted on 03/12/2017 12:46:37 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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