MERIDEN — A Connecticut Muslim community is trying to break, “Islamophobia” and in order to do so, the Baitul Aman Mosque, once shot at, opened its ...





MERIDEN -- A Connecticut Muslim community is trying to break, “Islamophobia" and in order to do so, the Baitul Aman Mosque, once shot at, opened its doors to the man responsible and all those who come in peace.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s Nationwide Campaign, “True Islam,” is a way to distinguish true Islam from extremism. A big part of the campaign is education, which is why the Connecticut chapter held a symposium on Saturday.

“Islam literally means peace and obedience,” Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Public Affairs Director Wajid Ahmed said. “We have True Islam because the extremists' interpretation distorts Islam, giving rise to the need for us to define what true Islam is.”

The Baitul Aman Mosque invited those of all religions to the symposium.

“There will be no peace on earth until there is peace among the religions,” Rev. Norm Erlendson of the Third Congregational Church said.

Ted Hakey Jr., 48, came to the mosque with a peace-offering, flowers and an apology.

Hakey pleaded guilty in February, to damaging religious property with a dangerous weapon.

“I just want to apologize to everybody,” Hakey said. “I really have no excuses and I don't think you could imagine the amount of regret I have and just the heartache I caused for everybody.”

Authorities say the mosque was empty and no one was hurt when Hakey shot at the Baitul Aman Mosque in Meriden with a rifle, shortly after the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people. Four bullets struck the mosque.

“I’d like to go forward with learning and helping other people not make the same mistake I did,” he said. “For years I was a neighbor. I did have fear and the fear was always when you don’t know something, the unknown, you’re always afraid.”

Hakey said if he had just knocked on the door of the mosque, and spent five minutes with the group, it would have made all the difference in the world.

Mosque leaders offered their forgiveness to Hakey.

“We are going to show him the love that we can bring to him,” Ahmadiyya Muslim Community President Dr. Mohammed Qureshi said.

The group’s outreach director Zahir Mannan called the shooting a blessing in disguise and a symbol of how coming together can bridge the gap between people.

“It meant the world,” Mannan said. “We all got emotional but it was an answer to our prayers.”

At the symposium, Mosque leaders also presented a special thank-you to Meriden Police.

“At the time of the shooting somebody called police,” Qureshi said. “They walked in the middle of the night. They walked around the mosque and put themselves in harm's way at that point to protect us.”

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community wanted to offer protection in return which is why it raised more than $6,000 for the police department to use to buy 100 life-saving devices to prevent blood clots.

Saturday’s event also included State Sentator Danté Bartolomeo, CCIU co-chair Ritu Zazzaro, Senator Richard Blumenthal and Vice President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, Imam Azhar Haneef.

“It really was a symbol of unity and love and peace and we hope to continue that dialog and we hope it doesn't die down,” he said.