Regina Muslim community denounces attacks on soldiers

Debra Schubert was born and raised in Regina. She converted to Islam 12 years ago because she believed it was a peaceful way of life. She wants to remind people the recent attackers, who both converted to Islam, do not represent or understand the religion.

"It's a very selfish act and I feel like they are very uneducated because if they knew about the religion they would know that this is completely unjustified and denounced in every way," Schubert said.

Muslim groups here in Saskatchewan and across Canada have denounced the recent attacks on Canadian soldiers.
According to court documents, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, the Ottawa shooter, had been a devoted Muslim for 7 years in 2011, when he went to jail for a drug related conviction. The man involved in the Quebec incident a day earlier, was described as a recent convert.

"For me 'recent convert' means they actually don't know anything about the religion and that they are just taking authority into their own hand and not caring about the society at large," she said.

Schubert said the attacks initially gave her pause. "There was a fear when I heard about it. I was extremely nervous about how I would be reacted to going out with a scarf on my head what I've come to notice is that it's fine," she said.

Schubert wants people who are curious about Islam to ask someone who follows the religion. Not to read on the internet or fall into stereotyping.

"I thought it was really peaceful way of life and I identified with it, so I decided to join and I've been following ever since," said Schubert.