By Tanya Cronin

Kamloops Imam getting ready to leave

May 3, 2016 | 2:58 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Mosque will soon be in search of a new Imam. After serving for 2 years as the religious leader of the mosque in Knutsford, Imam Mazhar Mahmood’s contract is expiring, and he will be leaving the city later this month.

 He led a growing congregation, his wisdom and vision helping to bring people of all religions together. 

Imam Mahmood was known for using social media to defend his religion and used his knowledge to fight stereotype’s brought on by acts of extremism committed worldwide. 

He’s only been in Kamloops for 2 years, but it hasn’t taken long for Imam Mazhar Mahmood to have a big impact on the community.

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“I enjoyed my time genuinely in Kamloops and living in Kamloops was the best portion of my life I could say,” says Imam Mahmood. 

Since 2014, Imam Mahmood has lead the mosque in Knutsfor, but his contract expires at the end of May and he’s getting ready to leave the city. Imam Mahmood has been a leader and role-model for local Muslims, but also the broader community as well, connecting with religious circles of all kinds.

“I hope I re-echo the sentiments of many of our brother Kamloops community members who said you added to the diversity in Kamloops and this would be the biggest achievement for me, it was just for the sake of building that relation, building that comfort and nothing else, and that’s why I personally think the biggest job of the Imam is community outreach.”

Imam Mahmood has had strong relationships with some of the Christian Pastors in Kamloops. He has been active on twitter from the moment he arrived, and has never shied away from speaking to the media. Many have equated Islam with terrorism, and portrayed all Muslims to be terrorists, but the Imam worked hard to dismiss the stereotype of Muslim extremism. 

“I didn’t do anything extraordinary to present the goodness of my religion, I just presented the religion of Islam as is and people understood it as is, rather than understanding it from a second source or the media which often times perverts the religion of Islam in talking about it.”

Imam Mazhar Mahmood also served as Chaplain at Thompson Rivers University. He has also been very involved with the Syrian Refugees who have come to Kamloops.

“They’ve taught me the quality to be thankful to God for what we have because of the harsh conditions they’ve come from, coupled with this, I’ll always maintain a connection with all the Syrian refugees I was connected with here in Kamloops.”

Imam Mahmood says he will always have a place for Kamloops in his heart. He isn’t quite sure where the path will lead him next, but he hopes to be that refreshing voice, and continue to make change.   

“Wherever I go and wherever I may be, I always hope I may be utilized as a key of goodness and positivity in that society and that community hopefully,” says Imam Mahmood.