In response to the Islamic State group’s continued actions in the Middle East, an event Monday will address radicalism and extremism in the Middle East.
Salman Munir, biology sophomore and president of Ahmadiyya Muslim Student Association, the group hosting the event, said “Stop the Crisis” aims to condemn the Islamic State group’s actions abroad and address the domestic issue of Islamophobia.
Munir said he wants to make clear that Muslims as a whole condemn the Islamic State group’s actions, which have a negative effect on Muslims everywhere.
“Before ISIS really came into the picture you already had a lot of Islamophobia in the world,” Munir said. “But now you see ISIS — this huge political terrorist organization running through the Middle East — now you see them in the media almost every day, this Islamic extremist group, so then that kind of just pushes that idea of Islamophobia on to people.”
Munir said the event is key to raising awareness and working toward fixing the image of Islam.
“I think it’s important for people to know that we are Muslims, but we are also students, Americans just like everyone else,” Munir said. “We are just trying to protect our faith from being hijacked by these barbaric people and I think that it’s important for people to see that this is just a small percentage of the Islamic population of the world, that most Muslims are kind, loving, warm-hearted people.”
Sana Rahman, psychology senior, said the key to fighting Islamophobia is knowledge.
“Fear is bred by not knowing something or the unknown and all that stuff, so I feel like once people know more they feel more comfortable talking to you,” Rahman said.
Rahman said being a good Muslim is reflected in one’s actions.
“You can dress a certain way, you can wear a Hijab, but that doesn’t make you a good Muslim,” Rahman said. “Because there are people who will act one way in front of people and act another way behind closed doors. So you are supposed to be a good Muslim, and treat others kindly and do good deeds and that should reflect your religion as well.”
Nadeem said he believes that the differences that divide religion are just perceived.
“I feel like people think that Allah is a separate God than the God that Christians pray to, when in fact Allah, when you look it up, it’s an Arabic word for God. It’s just Arabic for God, and I hesitate to say this because when I say this people get upset. They say, ‘No way do we pray to the same god,’ but in fact I really do believe we all pray to the same God.”
Munir said he encourages people to come and ask questions.
“We want to make sure they know that we are like everyone else, our beliefs might be a little bit different, but at the end of the day we are all Aggies,” Munir said.
“Stop the Crisis” will begin at 7 p.m. Monday in MSC 2406B.