Muslims Against Terrorism (MAT) was founded in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on January 11, 1999. The main objective of MAT is to create awareness about the dangers of violence and terrorism.  The tragedy of 9/11 brought more focus to MAT and this small Calgary based organization spread rapidly all over the world.  We now have chapters in several cities of Canada, USA, UK, Netherlands, Pakistan, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore. MAT also works with other organizations to promote tolerance and peace in the society. 

We do recognize and honour the victims of various genocides and holocausts including the holocaust and genocide of Jews, Christians, Aboriginals, and several other communities. However, we are very surprised that neither the Canadian media, nor any other world body recognizes the Muslim victims of various Holocausts and Genocides.

In 2002, MAT and several other Muslim organizations declared July 15 as a “Muslims Holocaust and Genocide Remembrance Day”.   

The first Holocaust against Muslims was carried out by the crusaders. On Friday, July 15, 1099 the crusaders captured Jerusalem and murdered thousands of Muslims. More than 70, 000 dead bodies of Muslim children and women were found in the Mosque of Omar in Jerusalem alone.

There have been several other Holocausts and genocides of Muslims;

1. Ganges Khan and his forces killed more than a million Muslims during the occupation of Iraq and neighboring areas.
2. Thousands of Muslims were killed / forced to change religion by Spanish Crusaders in South America
3. More than a million Muslims were killed / displaced by Spanish and other European extremists during the rebellion against the Ottoman Empire.
4. More than 3 million Muslims were killed / displaced by the European colonial powers during and after the occupation of Muslim countries after World War I and II.
5. More than 5 million Muslims were killed / displaced by Tsars of Russia
6. More than a million Muslims were killed / displaced by Communist Government of Russia
7. More than 1.5 million Muslims have been killed in China, Cambodia, Vietnam, and other Far East countries since the world war II
8. More than half million Muslims have been killed / displaced in Burma since World War II
9. More than half million Muslims have been killed in India and Kashmir since 1947
10. More than half million Muslims were killed by Serbs and Croats in Bosnia during early 90s.
11. More than 100,000 Muslims were killed in Kosovo and Albania during mid 90s.
12. More than 5 million Muslims have been killed / displaced in Palestine since 1948
13. More than 5 million Muslims were killed / displaced by the Russian occupation of Afghanistan
14. Thousands of Muslims have been killed by the secular governments in Muslim countries, backed by the Western Governments, since the independence from the colonial powers.
15. One million Muslim children died due to malnutrition during UN/US embargo on Iraq in 1990s.
16. Currently, hundreds of innocent civilians have been killed by the American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan

We request the Canadian and international media to honour the Muslim victims of so many genocides by recognizing “Muslim’s Holocaust and Genocide Remembrance Day” on July 15.

MAT, Alberta chapter will be holding a memorial service on Friday, July 8, 2005 at the Monterey Park Community Centre, 2707 Catalina Blvd. NE Calgary, AB at 1:30 PM

MAT, Ontario chapter will be holding a memorial service on Friday, July 15, 2005 at the Burnhamthorpe Community Centre, 1500 Gulleden Drive in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Coincidently, this year July 15 falls on Friday. The first holocaust of Muslims was also on Friday, July 15, 1099.

For details please contact Syed B. Soharwardy @ Ph: (403)-208-7148 (Alberta) OR Ph: (647)-294-4833 (Ontario)

Note: According to our research the above mentioned numbers are correct. But if  someone can prove them wrong, we will rewarded him/her CDN$1000.00

References:

1. H.G. Wells, “A Short History of the World,” Penguin Books, 1949
2. “Chambers Dictionary of the World History,” Chambers, 1994.
3. G. C. Kohn, “Dictionary of the Wars,” Doubleday, 1987.
4. Erna Paris, “The End of the Days,” Lester Publishing, 1995.
5. David Brownstone and Irene Franck, “Timelines of the War,” Cittle, Brown and    Company, 1994.
6. A. Hourani, “A History of the Arab Peoples,” harvard University Press, 1991.
7. Roland Oliver and J. D. Fage, “A Short History of Africa,” 1968.
8. J. Burne, Editor, “Chronicle of the World,” Longman, 1989.
9. N. Davies, “Europe, A History,” Pimilico, 1997.
10. P. Hitti, “History of the Arabs,” Mcmillan, 1990.
11. T. Pakenham, “The Scramble For Africa,” George Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1997.
12. J. A. hammerton, “The Outline History of the World,” The Amalgamated Press Ltd., 1993.
13. Cox, George, W, The Crusades (1886); Laffan, R.G.D (ed. and trans.), Select Documents of European History 800 - 1492, (1929)

Mahmood Y. Abdullah

M. Abdullah Zakir