Islam and the Freedom of Conscience — Page 98
~ 98 ~ Muslim leader calls for peace, limits to speech over incendiary video By Graham Lanktree Metro Ottawa The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Fifth Khalifah, called on Muslims across the world to peacefully unite in their opposition to the film ‘The Innocence of Muslims’ Sept. 21. After weeks of violence erupted over an amateur video criticizing the Muslim faith, members of Ottawa’s Islamic community will call for an end to the violence and limits to free speech at a meeting Saturday. “It is against the teachings of Islam to burn flags, burn property and kill people – including an ambassador,” said Imtiaz Ahmed, an Islamic missionary and community leader. “There is a fine line between freedom of speech and hurting people’s sentiments. When we hurt people we have to draw a line on freedom of speech. ” Ahmed hopes to draw a crowd of 400 members of Ottawa’s Ahmadi community, a small Muslim sect persecuted in Pakistan, to share the message of rejecting violence.