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Delta mosque will be one of B.C.'s
largest Non-mainstream Muslim sect
plans opening for 2009 Suzanne Ahearne Vancouver Sun; with files from
Reuters
DELTA - When Canada's biggest
mosque was officially opened in Calgary last weekend, the Ahmadiyya Muslim
community announced plans to open a comparably large mosque in Metro Vancouver. The plan calls for a mosque of
25,000 to 30,000 square feet to be built on the 3.8-acre site of a
now-demolished school at 9570 River Road in Delta. Though shy of the
48,000-square-foot worship, education and cultural centre in Calgary, the Delta
mosque will still be one of the largest in B.C. Farhan Khokhar, head of
communications for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Ja'amat Canada, said the mosque, to be
completed in 2009, will be called Baitur Rahman, or House of Gracious God. The Ahmadiyya Muslims, who
number between 2,000 and 3,000 in the Vancouver area, are considered by some
other Muslims to fall so far outside the mainstream as to be declared
non-Muslims. The group originated in
Pakistan at the end of the 19th century. Founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is
considered by many Muslims to be one of the false prophets Mohammed warned
believers about almost 1,400 years ago. In the country of the
movement's birthplace, and in Bangladesh and Indonesia, members of the sect
have been targets of violence. Al Islam, the Ahmadiyya Muslim
community's website, claims worldwide membership exceeding tens of millions of
members. Sikhundar Khan, president of
the BC Muslim Association -- which represents most of the 50,000 Muslims in
B.C. -- said, "We don't recognize them as Muslims. Muslims in B.C. are
well aware of what is right and what is not right." However, while saying the
predominantly Sunni Muslim population in B.C. do not associate with the
Ahmadis, Khan added, "We stand by the Canadian government's position that
allows for all people of all faiths to practise their religion." The Calgary mosque, which cost
$14.7 million to build, will serve the same size community as the one in
Vancouver. Khokar said the group kept
costs low by employing a huge volunteer workforce alongside construction
trades. The Ahmadi community in Calgary raised $8 million, he said, with some
members re-mortgaging their homes to help fund the project. "Children donated their
pocket money too. It's all part of our faith." The Vancouver mosque is
expected to cost $7-$8 million and the group hopes to build it with the same
combination of member donations and volunteerism. |
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