The Islamic Social Services Association and Winnipeg Central Mosque hosted an evening of sharing and healing on Friday following recent attacks in France.
"Many of us are in anguish. We are hurting and I think when we are hurting, we want friends around us," said Shahina Siddiqui, president of the Islamic Social Services Association.
Siddiqui said the event is sending a clear message through conversation, prayer and a moment of silence.
"If we don't stand together, the terrorists have won," she said.
Two days after a deadly attack killed 12 people at a satirical newspaper in Paris, there are more casualties. At least four people, including the hostage taker, died after a hostage standoff at a supermarket in eastern Paris.
The suspected gunmen who stormed Charlie Hebdo Wednesday are also dead after being cornered by police in another hostage taking.
Shahina Siddiqui said it was terrorists, not the Muslim faith, who were responsible for the 12 murders at the newspaper, which had published caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.
"But it seems that when anything is done by a so-called Muslim - anything, any crime anywhere in the world Muslim communities everywhere come under a microscope and come under suspicion," said Siddiqui.
The event, which ran from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday night, was open for all Winnipeggers to attend.
"I'm sure there are some who have families in France who are feeling it at a very personal level and we are there for them. They have a shoulder to cry on," said Siddiqui.
