A 17-year-old Montreal Muslim is using social media to quell the “hatred” he says has been aimed at followers of his faith since last Monday’s attack of Canadian soldiers at the base in St. Jean sur Richelieu.
Ali Chebli started “Pas en mon nom,” or “Not in my name,” a Facebook page where fellow young Quebec Muslims can write a short text distancing themselves from radical groups such as ISIS.
Chebli was the first person to be featured, writing in his post that he doesn’t share the same vision of Islam as ISIS because “they deliver a message of terror across societies and use God’s name and religion as an excuse.”
He says he wants to help debunk stereotypes and stop prejudice because many Muslims who live in Quebec “are not fanatics, don’t treat women badly, (they) just want to go to school.”
Since last Wednesday, when the page was set up, it has featured seven other similar stories from young men and women, all accompanied by photos of them holding up a sign with the #PasEnMonNom hashtag written on it.
Each post has received hundreds of likes and shares. Chebli’s has been liked more than 18,000 times.
Many of those commenting on the posts commend the teen for his initiative, echoing his assertion that the acts of some Muslims should not taint society’s perception of all those who practice that faith.
