'A huge step for the Muslim community': New mosque opens its doors in St. James
CTV
A Winnipeg family hopes to bring together the Muslim community with the creation of a new mosque in the St. James neighbourhood.
A Winnipeg family hopes to bring together the Muslim community with the creation of a new mosque in the St. James neighbourhood.
The Beit Nabala Mosque opened its doors late last week – welcoming the community to come and pray together for the first time in this area of the city.
"Praying together is very important in Islam and for Muslims. In St. James, there isn't anywhere for people to gather together and pray together," said Ramsey Zeid, the president of the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba.
"This is a huge step for the Muslim community, especially in St. James."
Zeid helped set up the mosque with his parents. He said it has been a dream of theirs to create a mosque in the St. James area.
"A place where people can come and gather and pray together and worship together – a safe place for Muslims and Palestinians in Winnipeg to come together," he said.
The name of the mosque holds a special place for Zeid's father Wajih. It is named after the Palestinian town where he was born.