OTTAWA – A study claiming that Canadian mosque and Islamic schools are endangering young people with extremist teachings has been widely slammed by Canadian Muslim leaders as an “attempt to vilify” the community which has been quick to denounce radicalization.

The study is “yet another anecdotal attempt to vilify” members of the religious community and their institutions, the National Council of Canadian Muslims said Tuesday, Ottawa Citizen reported on Wednesday, August 24.

The study, titled “The Lovers of Death? — Islamist Extremism in Our Mosques, Schools and Libraries” was conducted by co-authors Thomas Quiggin, a former intelligence analyst with the Privy Council Office and the RCMP, and Saied Shoaaib, a journalist originally from Egypt.

The study results were based on their findings on research conducted quietly on four mosques and three Islamic schools in the Ottawa area.

The authors contend Canadian Muslims with humanist and modernist outlooks are being eclipsed by those with extreme views.

They acknowledge that further research would need to be done to “determine the depth and breadth of the problem.”

They argue the issue is crucial given that a number of young Canadians have become radicalized to violence.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims called the study an “exercise in shoddy research” that generalizes  Canadian mosques and Islamic institutions.

“If the writers have any evidence of criminal activity such as the promotion of terrorism and violent extremism, then they should report it immediately to the authorities,” the council said in a statement.

“Otherwise, this is nothing more than an attempt to sow fear and distrust towards Canadian Muslim communities without any evidence of wrongdoing or proper context. Such writing only fans the flames of ignorance at a time when vandalism of mosques and hate incidents against Canadian Muslims are increasing.”

Canadian Muslims have “repeatedly and categorically rejected terrorism and violent extremism” in all their forms, the council added.

Mohammad Iqbal AlNadvi, chairman of the Canadian Council of Imams, said he completely disagrees with the findings.

He added in an interview that while his job is to explain what Islam is, he often ends up explaining “what Islam is not.”