Huzoor's Tour of Canada October-November 2016
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HUZOOR’S TOUR OF CANADA OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2016 PART 2 A Personal Account By Abid Khan 1 Introduction to Part 2 After an extremely blessed first week, Huzoor’s tour of Canada had now reached its second week. The days that followed proved to be extremely memorable, as Huzoor’s engagements continued in Peace Village before an extremely historic trip to Canada’s capital city of Ottawa. The Peter Mansbridge interview Soon after we arrived in Canada, the local Jamaat media team and other senior office bearers mentioned that they hoped that Huzoor could be interviewed by a journalist called Peter Mansbridge. They told me that he was known as the ‘Voice of Canada’ and had been considered the leading Canadian journalist for many years. In his role as Chief Correspondent of Canada’s national broadcaster CBC, he had interviewed many world leaders such as Barack Obama, Justin Trudeau, Hillary Clinton and Tony Blair. One thing, I reminded the local Jamaat members is that the dignity and status of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya is such that we should never think that an interview with any journalist, no matter how prominent, is an honour for the Jamaat or Khalifa-Waqt. Rather, it is a blessing for the journalist and the broadcaster to have the opportunity to interview Khalifatul Masih - whether they comprehend it or not. In terms of Huzoor’s own demeanour it does not change whether he is meeting a leading world figure or a guest from a local town or village. In all 2 such meetings, Huzoor meets the other person with respect, kindness and sees it as an opportunity to spread Islam’s true teachings. Nonetheless, where a journalist or broadcaster has a wide audience, it is of significance in the sense that it will allow for the views and message of Khilafat to reach far and wide. It was for this reason that the idea of Huzoor being interviewed by Peter Mansbridge was significant and appealing. A senior member of the Jamaat told me he had floated the idea of Peter Mansbridge interviewing Huzoor with members of the Canada media team before Huzoor’s tour but, perhaps, more in hope than in expectation. Generally, the media has its own agenda and we have seen for many years how Western media has preferred to highlight injustices and cruelties taking place in Muslim nations, as opposed to the constant worldwide efforts to promote peace undertaken by the Jamaat. Nevertheless, our local media team contacted the producers of Peter Mansbridge’s CBC ‘One on One’ television programme to see if an interview could be arranged, however initially they did not receive a favourable response. Yet, despite this, when Huzoor arrived in Canada there was a great deal of media interest from the off, whereby many national and provincial media outlets covered Huzoor’s arrival in Peace Village and requested the opportunity to interview Huzoor. 3 Perhaps having observed this, the day following Huzoor’s arrival, the producers of Peter Mansbridge contacted the Jamaat and now requested the opportunity to interview Huzoor. Safwan Chaudhry, in-charge of Canada’s media team, immediately came to me to discuss the proposal. He said that Peter Mansbridge wished to conduct an interview but had sought exclusivity, whereby we would decline other one-on-one interviews with Huzoor, until their interview was broadcast. Safwan seemed to be suffering from mixed emotions – on the one hand, he was excited and happy that the producers had requested the interview, yet on the other hand was concerned by the exclusivity part – particularly as Huzoor had already graciously approved an interview with Global News the following day. Though at that time, I did not fully appreciate who Peter Mansbridge was or the scale of his audience, as I had personally never seen any of his interviews, I could tell from the demeanour of Safwan that it was potentially a huge opportunity for the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat to be spread in Canada directly by Khalifatul Masih. However, my initial response was still that we should not cancel the interview with Global News but should also try to pursue the Peter Mansbridge interview in parallel. It did not feel right to cancel an agreed interview because a potentially better opportunity had arisen. As I wrote in part 1 of this diary, when I later informed Huzoor he instructed the same. 4 Alhamdolillah, there are always blessings in following the guidance of Khilafat and so despite the fact we did not cancel the Global News interview, Peter Mansbridge did still request the opportunity to interview Huzoor. Now their only condition was that in the period between the recording of the interview and its broadcast, no other one-on-one interview with Huzoor would be broadcast in Canada. We sought Huzoor’s guidance on this and he graciously granted permission for us to agree to this request. Interview Location The interview was scheduled for 12 October 2016 and so the day before CBC sent a team in advance to Peace Village and met our local media team. Having looked at different locations at complex, the producers stated their preference to conduct the interview in the Baitul Islam Mosque itself. Personally, I liked the idea of conducting the interview in the Mosque, as I thought it would look good on camera. However, initially Private Secretary, Munir Javed sahib was reluctant and said that the interview should be held in Huzoor’s office, as he felt it would be more convenient for Huzoor. After a few minutes, I was able to persuade him that holding it in the Mosque would be more convenient as the camera crew would require a lot of time to set up and wind-up their cameras and equipment. I then mentioned to Huzoor that our humble suggestion was to hold the interview in the Mosque and most graciously Huzoor approved it. 5 A conversational style The interview was scheduled at 11am and so at around 10.30am, I went to the Mosque and was introduced to Peter Mansbridge who had just arrived. He appeared quite friendly and told me how he himself had been born in England. Thereafter, Safwan and Asif Khan (Secretary Umoor-e-Kharija) told me that Peter Mansbridge’s style of interview was very conversational and that I should let Huzoor know this in advance. Personally, I did not think it was a big issue, as Huzoor had dealt with all types of journalists but out of respect for their request I did mention it to him as he walked towards the Mosque prior to the interview. In response, Huzoor smiled and said: “It does not matter to me what his style is. He can interview as he prefers.” The Interview The interview commenced at 11am and lasted for about 45minutes. During it, Peter Mansbridge asked Huzoor about the rise of extremism and terrorism and about what he perceived to be an increasing divide between Muslims and non-Muslims. He also asked about increasing tensions between the United States and Russia and the risk of a Third World War. He also asked about the values of our Jamaat and about the role of women in Islam. 6 Unsurprisingly, he also asked Huzoor his views on the prospect of a Donald Trump Presidency in the United States and his views on Canada. In response to a question about why the world was becoming more and more uncertain and why some Muslims were being radicalised, Huzoor said: “The present situation did not flare up after 9/11, in my view it flared up after the 2008 economic crisis, when a number of people, especially the youth, were made redundant from their jobs. They had nothing to do and this was a cause in increasing their frustration. Then, a new extremist group emerged, called Daesh or ISIS, and they benefitted from these frustrations.” Asked about the prospect of Donald Trump banning Muslims from the United States, Huzoor said: “If he tries to do it then it will lead to great chaos in the country. If he takes any measure or harsh step or tries to deny the rights of the Muslims living in his country, then there will be conflict and disturbance.” Huzoor continued: “If he tries to implement what he has been saying then I fear there is going to be a civil war. If the Government takes harsh measures and tries to deny the rights of people, then there will be a reaction. In order to create disturbance even a single person is enough. Thus, (the government) has to be sensible. I hope that no elected President of the United States will ever take a measure that is senseless.” 7 I vividly remember the look of surprise on the face of Peter Mansbridge when Huzoor warned of the prospect of a civil war if the US President sought to discriminate against Muslims. Yet, as I write this weeks later, Huzoor’s words of warning seem ever more far-sighted and prescient. In the past week, the newly-elected President Trump has started to place restrictions on Muslims and already there have been demonstrations of the frustration and anger of such policies have elicited. Under the guidance of Khilafat, no Ahmadi Muslim would ever partake in violence or harmful action against the State, yet there are millions of other Muslims and minorities who are not the beneficiaries of such guidance. Whereas, we Ahmadis, are instructed by Khalifa-Waqt to bow down in prayer and to show patience and restraint, there is no telling how other groups that may feel marginalised or oppressed will react.