Local Muslim communities host blood drive, with message of peace

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Members of two Muslim communities in Indianapolis are speaking out against anti-American violence overseas, and they're doing it in a unique way.

The Shia and Ahmadiyya Muslim communities held a blood drive Saturday evening.

It’s a national movement, designed to remember the 9/11 victims.

It just so happened to fall on the same week protests against an anti-Islamic movie spread across the world.

“Given what’s going on in Libya and the riots, we thought we could counter that with the real message of Islam, which is peace: to be good to your neighbors, and to be a part of society just like everyone else,” said Ahmed Ibrahim. “We thought through this blood drive, we could demonstrate that,”

Ibrahim explains that their communities disapprove immensely of the anti-Islamic movie that ridicules the Prophet Muhammad. They say violence - or hacking a school website, like what happened to the Brownsburg School website this week, isn't the way to counter it.

“The majority of the Muslim community, they believe in peace. They believe in compassion and love for their neighbors and their community,” said Afia Naquvi of Indianapolis.

Naquvi says she hopes all Americans realize the violent acts overseas aren't representative of all 73 Muslim sects. She says it’s just a small group that’s catching media attention around the world.

“They love such moments,” Naquvi explained. “The movie was made, and the extremists use such things to incite hatred.”

They hope the act of giving of themselves through a blood drive will be a show of solidarity throughout the United States.

“The Muslim community stands with them, and condemns the acts of terrorism,” added Naquvi.

Across the nation, organizers are hoping to help 33,000 Americans with this nation-wide blood drive.