ANTI-ISLAM PROTESTER LEAVES WITH HUG, QUR’AN
Ohio, 30 Dhulhijjah 1436/13 October 2015 (MINA) – An Ohio woman who showed up with anti-Islam placards at the Noor Islamic Cultural Center in Ohio was greeted by a hug, an invitation inside the mosque, and a free copy of the Noble Qur’an.
“The ONE protester, Annie from Lancaster, did not want to come inside the mosque when invited to share coffee and bagels with us,” Cynthia Eugenia Cox DeBoutinkhar who was present recalled in a Facebook post on Sunday, October 11, On Islam quoted bgy Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.
The woman, identified as Annie in the post, showed up Saturday at the Noor Islamic Cultural Center in Dublin, Ohio, as part of a nationwide protest against Muslims in the US.
Carrying multiple signs including one stating ‘No Shari`ah law” Annie was met by multiple counter-protesters who engaged her in a lively welcome.
“Something came over me and I went up to her and asked if I could give her a hug. I wouldn’t let go of the hug,” Cox wrote.
“I felt her body go from tense to soft and I asked her to please come inside with me. She was actually AFRAID! I asked if I look scary to her. She said I didn’t. I promised her I’d stay right by her side the whole time.”
With Cynthia’s assurance, Annie agreed to visit the Mosque.
Annie was given a tour of the Mosque including the male and female prayer areas and the classrooms in which children were studying. She also observed the women pray the Asr prayers.
Annie also spent two hours with Cynthia and another member of the Mosque discussing various aspects of the faith, including the three Abrahamic faiths and misconceptions about Islam.
While being at the mosque, Annie told Cynthia that “a friend of hers from Turkey who used to be Muslim, but his family was killed and he ‘quit’ Islam. He’s been telling her terrible things about the religion. She watches Fox News for most of her info about Islam. And she googles things.”
“After everyone went about their day, myself and a brother took Annie into a conference room to continue the discussion FOR TWO HOURS! The three of us discussed the Bible, the Torah, the Quran, Eid, Mecca, Jesus, miracles, and on and on,” Cox said.
Annie was presented with an English translation of the Qur’an and she left with a smile.
“You were all really nice. I don’t approve of the violence or killings (neither do we), but I’ll read this book. I had no idea Muslims could be nice to me, even after I stood out there with those signs. Sorry.”
Data released Tuesday from the 2010 US Religion Census shows Islam was the fastest growing religion in America in the last 10 years, with 2.6 million living in the U.S. today, up from 1 million in 2000.
Un-official figures put the number at between seven to eight million.
Anti-Muslim sentiments have reached an all-time high after the rise of the so-called Islamic State, formerly known as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
The weekend’s anti-Muslim armed protests, promoted as a “Global Rally for Humanity,” aimed to target mosques, high-traffic Muslim communities and government buildings under the campaign slogan, “The World is Saying No to Islam.”
A flyer was also widely circulated by the group referring to the “3%ers and Oathkeepers.”
Responding to the calls of hate groups, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) urged Muslims to engage with their wider society, building coalitions and relationships. (T/P006/R04)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
