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“It’s a lesson for everyone to be more responsible for what they say … it could have greater repercussions,” he said.

On the air Monday, Gormley expressed regret for the tweet.

Photo by File photo / StarPhoenix

“It was a dumb thing to say. You shouldn’t counsel shooting people, so I clearly apologize if I offended anybody,” he said.

Aqeel Wahab of the Islamic Association of Saskatchewan said people need to understand that “Allah Ahkbar” is a phrase practising Muslims use around 200 times a day and that it has nothing to do with terrorism.

“It’s a really good example how the media can turn something that is said 200 times a day into something bad,” Wahab said.

Wahab was born and raised in Saskatoon. He said he is confident the city and its people will not react negatively against the Islamic community.

Still, Amira Elghawaby of the National Council of Canadian Muslims said Muslims should be cautious in the wake of the attacks.

She said the firebombing of a mosque in Peterborough, Ont. over the weekend was proof that a backlash against Muslims is already happening.

“It’s important that Canadians remain vigilant against any kind of hate,” she said, noting police in her hometown of Ottawa have been in touch with Muslim leaders, asking them to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity.

Maurice Jr. M. Labelle, a historian at the University of Saskatchewan who specializes in Arab history and the Middle East, said it’s not uncommon for average Canadians to misunderstand Islam.

“Islamophobia is not new. Western misunderstanding of Islam is not new,” Labelle said.

Following terrorist attacks like those in Paris, the misunderstandings often become more prevalent. Labelle said he hopes Muslims across the country work hard to defend their religion and show that it has nothing to do with terrorism.

“What I am most concerned about is the lack of defence, the lack of condemning Islamophobia,” he said.

cthamilton@thestarphoenix.com

Twitter.com/_chamilton