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The Ahmadiyya sect accounts for about one per cent of the world’s Muslims.

The crowd included several local politicians including newly-elected NDP MPs Cheryl Hardcastle and Tracey Ramsey, Mayor Drew Dilkens, Lakeshore Mayor and Essex County Reeve Tom Bain and Kingsville Mayor Nelson Santos.

Essex NDP MPP Taras Natyshak also attended and noted during remarks that his party is not about divisiveness.

“We are revered for respecting diversity and multiculturalism,” said Natyshak.

Sobhi said that while the Ahmadiyya community had good relations with outgoing prime minister Stephen Harper, the niqab issue was out of line.

A niqab is a face-covering veil worn by some Muslim women. Canadian permanent resident Zunera Ishaq recently won the right to take the Canadian citizenship oath wearing the niqab after the courts deemed it unlawful for the government to forbid women from swearing the oath with their faces covered.

“To make that issue of the niqab an issue during the election is something I personally didn’t agree with at all,” said Sobhi after his speech, stressing he was speaking on his own behalf and not the Ahmadiyya community.

“The result shows what the real values are of Canadians. I’m happy with the result and it shows what Canadians are really truly about. What the real issues are, that’s what they want to hear and that’s what the election showed.”

Sobhi said it is important that non-Muslims take the time to learn about the religion and not base their impressions on rumours.