Valley Muslim community reacts to terror in Paris
Reymundo Nour steps up to the podium at the Islamic Society of the Coachella Valley to lead prayer.
“I intend to speak about what Islam is and what Islam isn’t,” Nour said of his Friday afternoon sermon.
His message is a reaction to recent media coverage of the terror in Paris, and its impact on the muslim community.
“You can’t put all of us in the same box. And to say Islam is responsible for the actions of a few is equal to saying we should blame all Germans for the actions of Hitler,” Nour said.
Sitting in the prayer room is Dr. Arlette Poland. She isn’t Muslim but agrees with Nour. She is Jewish and a professor of world religion at College of the Desert.
Poland brought her students to the prayer service to show them:
“The peace people here are seeking and expressing and sharing,” Dr. Poland said.
She wants her to students to understand religion doesn’t define whether someone is good or bad.
“Not all terrorists are Muslim. Terrorists are terrorists,” Dr. Poland said. “It’s important we understand each other because that’s the place where we can help each other.”
“We are against all aggression, whether it’s from Muslims to others or others toward Muslims,” Nour said.
Mosque leaders encourage anyone with hesitation or even fear toward the Muslim faith to attend a prayer service or speak with a religious leader.
“We are afraid of what we don’t know and if they’re people of intelligence we invite them to come speak with us,” Nour said. “We’re ordinary people with jobs and families. We just believe differently.”
