Toronto mosque claims to “detoxify” extremists

The Masjid el-Noor mosque in Toronto has begun offering an intervention program to young local Muslims that aims to shield youth from radical ideologies. Mohammed Shaikh, the mosque’s director, told news agencies, “We just want to encourage them to be faithful and not to take the law into your own hand” by offering a 12-step specialized “de-radicalization intervention program.” The program intends to provide treatment to young Canadian Muslims sympathetic to Al-Qaeda ideology. “As Canadians of Muslim faith, it is our ardent desire to become leaders in the championing of anti-terror values,” said a document outlining the program, which is based on the idea that extremism can be fought theologically, by challenging the dark extremist vision with an alternative interpretation of Islam. It is the first program of its kind in Canada.

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