By Kyra Gillespie
Adam Sadiqzai has been making a difference in the local community for decades; he is the owner of Khans Hospitality Services, a board member of various prominent organisations, including Outlook, the Casey Cardinia Foundation and the Cardinia Casey Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch.
He is also a proud Muslim.
In the wake of the devastating Christchurch terrorist attacks, which claimed the lives of 50 people and injured scores more, Adam is breaking his silence on the proliferation of hate speech and misinformation on social media.
“I have kept quiet for many years, but I can’t take it any longer. I am going to start being more vocal – as an Australian that happens to be a Muslim,” Adam said over a cup of coffee at his Vista Cafe in Lakeside.
“The vitriol on social media following this tragedy has showed that there are a lot of people out there with a lot of hate, a lot of bitterness, and a lot of uninformed views as to what’s happening both locally and worldwide.
“People don’t understand why we’re in the position that we’re at and are choosing to point at issues that have happened in the past and not understand why this is happening.
“I’ve found it really disheartening to see people undermine the gravity of what happened in New Zealand by saying things to the effect that ‘this is payback’, or that if you’re going to pray for this, then why don’t you pray for other things – and they list off other things that have happened.
“That mindset is normalising these horrible events. They’re saying ‘Well, it’s okay that happened, because all of this happened’. It just makes no sense to me.”
Before Adam knew what he’d stumbled across on the Friday, he’d watched the whole horrific video of the Christchurch attack from beginning to end.
He said he immediately called his brother, his wife and his children, warning them not to watch it.
“My heart sank, it was just brutal. Just as Waleed Ali said, it was death by appointment.
“I’m not in any way undermining what ISIS and Muslim fundamentalists have done around the world. It is equally tragic.
“But one life is no more valuable than the next; we should mourn the loss of all life, regardless of race, religion and belief. It breaks my heart that some people can see one soul as worth less than another because of the actions of a minority on both sides – it’s not like the world is full of white supremacists and it’s not like the world is full of ISIS extremists.
“Contrary to what people may think ISIS does not represent mainstream Islam by a far stretch. They do not.
“It would be like saying every Catholic priest holds the same values as (Cardinal George) Pell. They don’t. The overwhelming majority are good, decent, loving people.
“When people are making these comparisons it’s undermining.”
Adam describes himself as a ‘bad Muslim’ with a twinkle in his eye; he doesn’t attend a mosque every week or practice his faith daily. But a lot of his family does. He has attended weddings and services at mosques all his life.
“That could have been my father, my brother, my daughter, my son, me. It could have been anyone,” he said.
“I’m familiar with mosques, and I know what the energy inside that mosque would have been at the time; it would have been quiet and peaceful, community getting together, as it would be in a church.”
Adam cited a number of local social media pages that he says spread hate speech under the guise of ‘free speech’.
“I’ve been part of the Pakenham community for almost 20 years. As a Muslim I’ve given to many, many community churches, organisations, schools – race or religion doesn’t even come into my mindset.
“I consider myself a person of Cardinia, yet there are various local social media groups spreading hate speech – and that’s their opinion of me, of my children.
“We know we’re good people, but suddenly we’re in the process of having to justify why we’re good people.”
He wants those people to know the invaluable contributions that people of all different faith and religious groups are making in the Cardinia community.
“I’m not undermining or undervaluing what the minority of Muslim extremists have done. It’s horrific, and I hate them as much as anyone else. Not only have they taken innocent lives, but they’ve also hurt Muslim people around the world. They’ve given them a bad name.
“I’ve never heard in the community of anyone who supports that. And you look at the work these local multicultural groups are doing – fundraising for the fire relief, participating in Clean up Australia Day, the list goes on. They band as Aussies band together.
“Yet this goes unnoticed, it goes unspoken, but I think it’s time people were made aware of the good these people bring into the community.”
He implored people to find out the answers for themselves, not blindly believe what is written on social media.
“I ask people to go and visit a mosque; they will be greeted just like that man in New Zealand greeted that shooter. He said ‘Welcome brother’ and then he was shot dead.
“I could guarantee they would bring you into the mosque and ask you, what would you like to know? Would you like a cup of tea?
“They will find that there are not people running around in burqas with swords and guns and ISIS flags. It’s far from it. They will find children, fathers and mothers coming together as a community.
“People have to stop believing what they read on Facebook and Google. Take time to ask other Muslims what the realities are, or take time to pick up a book.
“Goodness always prevails, but we have to show a little bit of resistance to get there – because good things are worth fighting for.“
