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They personally visited four mosques and three Islamic schools in the Ottawa area, but also express concern in the study about alleged activities — including homophopic statements and promotion of Holy War — at certain mosques in Montreal and Toronto.

The study, titled “The Lovers of Death? — Islamist Extremism in Our Mosques, Schools and Libraries”, says what worried them was not the presence of extremist literature in Ottawa school and mosque libraries, but that they found only such writings.

This is nothing more than an attempt to sow fear and distrust towards Canadian Muslim communities

Examples cited in the study include: — “In the Shade of the Qur’an” and “Milestones” by Sayyid Qutb, an author seen by some as an inspiration for groups including al-Qaida — the complete works of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, the founder of Wahhabism, a fundamentalist form of Islam.

The authors contend Canadian Muslims with humanist and modernist outlooks are being eclipsed by those with extreme views. They acknowledge that further research would need to be done to “determine the depth and breadth of the problem.”

They argue the issue is crucial given that a number of young Canadians have become radicalized to violence.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims called the study an “exercise in shoddy research” that generalizes about Canadian mosques and Islamic institutions.

“If the writers have any evidence of criminal activity such as the promotion of terrorism and violent extremism, then they should report it immediately to the authorities,” the council said in a statement.