Edmonton's Muslim community speaks out against extremism

People in Edmonton's Muslim community are speaking out against extremism.

The comments follow revelations by CBC News that at least three Calgary menhave gone overseas to fight with militant groups.

Local imam Zacharia Al Khatib told dozens gathered forFridayprayer at theUniversity of Alberta that engaging in violence and threats toward thewest isn't following the teachings of Islam.

"What good does it do to anyone.... for somebody to make a YouTube clipand burn their passport and start insulting the west?" the 29-year old asked.

Al Khatib was born in Edmonton but has connections to Syria, which is in the midst of civilwar. He did his religious studies degree there and still has familymembers who live in the troubled country.

Al Khatib's 27-year-old cousin a mother of four was killed whengovernment forces shelled her village.

"We see that there are all sorts of horrible situations that have come upon people there and we wonder what can we do?" he asked.

Khatib insists the best way to help struggling Middle East countriesis to support legitimate charities or lobby for change.

"If we're sincere people and we really want to help, these are the things that we should be doing," he said.

Increased radicalization

Farah Mohamed Shirdon, a Calgarian in his early 20s, is fightingoverseas with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, CBC News revealedlast week.

Shirdon, who was enrolled in the Southern Alberta Institute ofTechnology until at least 2012, appears in an ISIS video released twomonths ago.

Before burning his Canadian passport, Shirdon, in full view of thecamera lens, issues a threat to Canada, the U.S. and "all oppressors."

"We are coming and we will destroy you by the will of God," Shirdon says on the video.

Shirdon is the latest young man from Calgary to be identified by CBCNews as a Canadian fighting overseas.

In January, the CBC first reported on the death of Damian Clairmont, a22-year-old Canadian-born Muslim who left Calgary for Syria in 2012and was killed by rebel infighting there.

CBC News also reported on Salman Ashrafi, a Calgary man involved in aNovember 2013 suicide mission in Iraq under the banner of ISIS.

Calgary's police chief estimates up to 30 Calgarians could be overseas fighting.

'Shocked and appalled'

Adil Hassan, with the Edmonton Council of Muslim Communities, says recentnews about the Calgarians has shocked local Muslims.

"I think reaction was the same across the board... we were shocked andappalled and kind of surprised that this wouldhappen," he said.

In an unrelated case in Edmonton, a man is currently fighting extradition to the United States on terrorism related charges.

Sayfildin Tahir Sharif is accused of murder and supporting a terrorist group that killedfive U.S. soldiers in 2009 in his native Iraq.

Al Khatib says the actions of Canadians linked to overseas militant groups have a negative impact on Muslims everywhere.

"Suspicion is cast on everyone else, right," he said. "Can we really trust people here?"

And Canadian Muslims end up having to work harder to show they aren'textremist, violent or enraged, he suggested.

"We're just normal people living our lives, taking care of our familiesand trying to contribute positively to society."