BURNABY 鈥� Leaders of a large Burnaby mosque kicked Parliament Hill shooter Michael Zehaf Bibeau out of their congregation more than a year ago because of his drug use.
鈥淗is behaviour was not normal,鈥� said David Ali, vice-president of the Masjid Al-Salaam mosque on Canada Way.
Mufti Aasim Rashid of the B.C. Muslim Association, which oversees the Burnaby mosque and several dozen Sunni places of worship in B.C., said Zehaf Bibeau was asked to leave because he had 鈥済otten a hold of keys and stuff from the mosque, and when he got out of jail, he just started sleeping there.鈥�
Al-Salaam mosque officials estimate Zehaf Bibeau worshipped at the Canada Way place of worship from one to three years ago 鈥� during what many believe was a process of self-radicalization.
Rashid said it appeared Zehaf-Bibeau was 鈥渞adicalized鈥� through the Internet, and not through any local connections.
Mosque leaders met with Zehaf Bibeau after he had complained about some programs, particularly those that were interfaith. 鈥淗e had a problem with that. He said, 鈥榃hy are you allowing non-Muslims into the mosque?鈥� So the chairman sat him down and said, 鈥楲ook, our mosque has always been very open, and we plan on staying that way. Either you respect the way we are running it in an inclusive way, or it鈥檚 probably better you go somewhere else.鈥� 鈥�
