A Canadian military information session being hosted at a Burnaby mosque was raising concerns before it even took place Wednesday night.

The Canadian Armed Forces were to hold the recruitment forum at the Al-Salaam Mosque and Education Centre at 5060 Canada Way at 6:30 p.m. as a means to increase the diversity of its recruits.

The mosque's youth director, Imaad Ali, 27, said the military initiated contact with the mosque and the event was deemed no different from other recruitment sessions it has held with the RCMP, fire department and ambulance service.

Aware concerns might arise, it was to be presented as an information session so people could learn more before forming any opinions.

But that hasn't eased the concerns of some.

"I think a mosque is an improper venue for something like this," said Toshio Rahman, a 23-year-old student of human rights law.

While he respects the armed forces and what they're doing, he doesn't support their mission right now, especially in Afghanistan, mainly because there's no clear mandate and they're not there as peacekeepers.

"It seems to me we're losing Canadian lives and a lot of money and a lot of resources and we've been there for a while and there seems to be no long-term solution."

In Islamic law, "Muslims shouldn't be killing anybody, especially other Muslims," Rahman said.

Muslims under Islamic law should only go to war for either self-defence or because an oppressed people has asked for help. The mission in Afghanistan doesn't fit under the first, he said, and it's not known yet whether it fits under the second.

Ali pointed out that the military's role in Afghanistan is a political issue, with decisions made by politicians. He believes Muslim Canadians can be helpful in making such missions more peaceful because they can speak the language and understand the culture.

There is debate in the Muslim community about the ability to get involved in the military, with some arguing that it's all part of being good citizens.

"I believe that if we're going to enjoy the rights of this country, we have to accept the responsibilities, which include defending it," Ali said.

Ali has an 18-year-old cousin who is interested in joining up and an uncle who served as a reservist in the 1980s.

Taken further, he said, the concerns raised about Muslims in the military could create more questions than they answer. Can Muslims work for the Canada Revenue Agency when, as tax collectors, they can charge interest which is against the Muslim religion? Can Muslims work for the B.C. finance ministry when they deal with money taken from gambling and liquor stores, both forbidden in their religion?

"It's a slippery slope to say that Muslims have to exclude themselves from government agencies or parts of the country that are diametrically opposed to our beliefs."

wchow@burnabynewsleader.com