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THANKS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: LOVE OVER FEAR RALLY AGAINST ISLAMAPHOBIA AND FOR HUMANITY
2-07-2017
On behalf of our entire Muslim community in the lower mainland BC We express our heartfelt thanks to the people of Vancouver who took to heart and took to the streets for the Love Over Fear Rally against Islamaphobia and for Humanity on Saturday February 4th, 2017
Organized by: Pakistan-Canada Association - Al Jamia Masjid Vancouver in association with Islam Unravelled, CMOBC, Youth Volunteers, countless individuals, Government and Non Government agencies, Interfaith Groups, Charities and people like you.
The Day of Action officially kicked off when nearly a thousand people came together despite cold and snowy conditions in the spirit of harmony amd love for interfaith services at Al-Jamia Masjd Vancouver (655 W. 8th Avenue) - Community Prayer and Vigil
As the day turned to night several hundred gathered in the heart of downtown at the footsteps historic Vancouver Art Gallery. 750 Hornby St. @ Robson) - Canadian Muslims of British Columbia organized a forum led by our brother Tarek Ramadan of diverse speakers whose voices echoed through the streets of downtown followed by a march through the streets of Vancouver where they joined Nearly 2000 people mobilized from all corners of the city for the culmination of the day of Action:
Love over Fear: A Rally for Humanity at Jack Poole Plaza (1085 Canada Place)
Commenced with an invocation of prayer from our Coast Salish Peoples on whose land we all share as brothers and sisters from across the planet who call this place our home.
Only a handful of times has the Olympic Cauldron been lit since 2010. The flames roared up into the wintry night sky and offered warmth as those assembled under a canopy of stars and snow with their hearts, minds and souls united in courage and compassion in remembrance of the fallen:
Abdelkrim Hassane
Ibrahima Barry
Aboubaker Thabt
Khaled Belkacemi
Azzedine Soufiane
Mamadou Tanou Barry
17 children lost their fathers, their wives lost their husbands but they have gained the hearts of the 36 million people that make up the nation of Canada and countless numbers touched by this tragedy around the world.
Young people: a group of friends from all ethnic and religious backgrounds staged an evening of inspiration amidst loss with poetry, prayer and heartfelt words that cut through the cold and darkness with the promise of light and hope for all humanity.
Mufti Aasim Rashid, Founder of Al Ihsan Education Institute and Islam Unravelled who officiated Islamic Prayers at all 3 events.
Event held with the kind support and participation of many but we would in particular like to thank:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, our country's leader who guided our nation during our time of grief and exhorted us all to be the best version of ourselves - and it showed in every city, and province across Canada. The many members of parliament who visited Mosques and community centres and rally's all over the nation.
Premier Christy Clark, Attorney General Suzanne Anton, Minister Peter Fassbender, MLA's throughout our Province of BC and Kavi Bal.
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson for his compassionate leadership of our beautiful city.
Michael Magee, Naveen Girn,
Geoff Meggs, Tim Stephenson, Andrea Reimer, all city Council and staff of the City of Vancouver
Chief of Police Adam Palmer of the Vancouver Police Department and their dedicated members who kept us safe and secure throughout this tumultuous week. Thanks to Matt Clarke, Tyler and Wes from the VPD and all of the officers who stood on guard for us all.
Vancouver Convention Centre: Anita Sodhi-Cavezza, Adam Radiziminski
Canada 150, Cael Hopwood, Tim Hopkins
Fortis BC who in conjunction with the city of Vancouver, and Province of BC generously let flow the fuel for the fire that lit the sky and kept us warm that night. Special thanks to Naveen Girn and Kavi Bal
LOVE OVER FEAR: A RALLY AGAINST ISLAMAPHOBIA AND FOR HUMANITY
Acknowledgements:
Al Jamia Masjid Program:
Special thanks to Imtiaz Popat of the Coalition against Bigotry Pacific who organized the interfaith service. Our own Raza Mirani who eloquently officiated the proceedings along with PCA Chairman of the Islamic Trust, Ihsan Malik, an address by Dr Hedy Fry, the Consul General for Pakistan Dr Muhammad Tariq, Spirit drumming by Daina Day, Jewish Prayer and blowing of Horn, Rabbi David Mivasir, BCMA, Daud Ismail, Musa Ismail, Shahzad Mansoory, Al Ameen, Canada Blood Services, Zhikr, Seemi Ghazi, Mufti Aasim Rashid, Haroon Khan
Vancouver Art Gallery Program:
Canadian Muslims of BC - Muslim Association of Canada
Tarek Ramadan,
Luay Kawasme
Don Davies, MP
Adrian Dix
Geoff Meggs
Martha Robinson
Derek O'Keefe
Mufti Aasim Rashid
Kashif Ahmed
Musa Ismail
Haroon Khan
Shahzad Mansoory
Jack Poole Plaza: program:
Vancouver Convention Centre: Anita Sodhi-Cavezza, Adam Radiziminski
Canada 150, Cael Hopwood
Tim Hopkins .
Our youth: No name just a group of friends working together to get it done...
Sumaiya Tufail
Samaah Jaffar
Indigenous Youth
Haytham Al Hamadehya
Matthew Perzow
Ava Nasiri
Estello Hill
Haroon Khan
Abubakar Khan
Mufti Aasim Rashid
Pakistan Canada Association - Al Jamia Masjid - Board and Trustees:
Haroon Khan, Ihsan Malik Jamil Chaudhry,
Shaukat Khan, Raza Mirani, Amaran Tyab,
Farrukh Alam,Saif Pannun, Liaqat Ali Khan
Imran Gehlan, Malik Irfan, Adeel Hussain, Akmal Gundhra
Al Jamia Masjid Vancouver: Maulana Sarfraz, Salim Karim, Shafqat Bajwa
BC Muslim Association - Daud Ismail, Musa Ismail, Qari Abdul Wahab - all chapters and members
Masjid Al Salaam and Education Centre: Farida Bano, David Ali
Bilal Cheema
Maulana Naumani
Fiji Islamic Centre
Sikandar Hayat
Masjid Al Hidayah: Imam Saad
Linda Hepner, Mayor City of Surrey, Mike Starchuk, Tom Gill
Richard Stewart, Mayor of Coquitlam
National Council of Canadian Muslims: Kashif Ahmed
Rabbi Phillip Bregman
Mira Oreck
Sid Shniad
First United Church
Sikh Awareness Foundation
Nisa Homes
Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers
Voices of Canadian Muslim Women
Dr Hedy Fry, MP
Sukh Dhaliwal, MP
Randeep Sarai, MP
Ken Hardy, MP
North Shore Unitarian Church
Philippine Women Centre of BC
International Socialists of Vancouver
BC Humanist Association
BC Green Party
NDP, John Horgan, Harry Bains, Jinny Sims, Jagrup Brar and all MLA's and members
Al Ihsan Education Foundation, Islam unravelled: Mufti Aasim Rashid, Tariq Tyab, Muhammad Azim and many others
Al Ameen Newspaper: Shahzad Mansoory, Jafar Bhamji
Miracle Newspaper: Nasser Pirzada
Canada Community Times: Haris Hafeez Khan
Community Times: Sanaullah Chaudhry
Canada Blood Services
Global TV, BCTV, Omni TV, CBC, Tsing Tao News, Vancouver Sun, The Province, News 1130, CKNW, Globe and Mail
Decibal Entertainment
And finally... thanks to you the people: we are all Brothers and Sisters united as one in this place we call home and at one with the spirit that binds us all.
Love Over Fear - Always...
For further details contact:
Haroon Khan - 604-720-8054
Abubakar Khan - 778-865-3435
Pictutres See Link Below
https://www.facebook.com/alameenpost/posts/1185668028215945
https://www.facebook.com/alameenpost/posts/1185634948219253
https://www.facebook.com/alameenpost/posts/1185629734886441
Footnotes:
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