continued from p.4 Father's choices put his family in chaos for a long time the family home led Ebrahim's mother to cut off contact with his father. The family changed its name from Nosair to Ebrahim and moved repeatedly. "It was an extremely difficult time. My father was the breadwinner in our home. My mother was planning on being a Muslim housewife for the rest of her life and in a single night, she went from being that to being the single mother of three children, so it was very difficult for us. We were very poor and we moved around a lot for many years," said Ebrahim. "It led to all sorts of things from being bullied to growing up in poverty. I think our father, the decisions he made, turned our lives into complete chaos for a long time." As Ebrahim grew older, he came to question the things his father had taught him. He said bullying he experienced growing up created empathy in him for people unfairly judged based on race, religion or sexuality. Following 9/11 and the U.S.-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, Ebrahim became involved in America's anti-war movement. After years of hiding his father's identity, and even telling people his father was dead, he began telling his story to show Muslims and others simply want to live in peace. "I thought perhaps I could share my story with people and I could show them I was exposed to an ideology that so many Americans were afraid of and I chose to promote peace," said Ebrahim. "If I could choose to promote peace, what does that say about the vast majority of Muslims?" Ebrahim said he is a firm believer that when people interact, stereotypes fall apart. After Ebrahim began speaking publicly, Nosair emailed him and the two corresponded, but Ebrahim broke it off as it was not healthy for him. "One of the hard parts of being in communication with him was figuring out whether what he was telling me was the truth or if it was just what he thought I wanted to hear so he could be in contact with part of his family. "He expressed regret for things that had happened without being too specific. I wasn't sure if it was regret for committing the act, or for being caught, or for the pain that he caused other people, or the pain he caused his family. I'm not really sure." When Nosair learned Ebrahim was no longer Muslim, he called on his son to return to the faith. "That wasn't something I was really interested in hearing," said Ebrahim. The Oakville YMCA Peace Breakfast is at the Oakville Conference Centre, from 7-9:30 a.m. Tickets are available at www.ymcaofoakville.org. Ebrahim noted a portion of the advance for his book went to Tuesday's Children, an organization that supports victims of terrorist attacks all over the world. 5 | Friday, November 13, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Nosair's terrorist actions began in 1990 with the assassination of the Jewish Defense League leader Rabbi Meir Kahane. Nosair shot Kahane following a lecture at a New York City hotel, and was shot by police at the scene. Ebrahim said there had been no indicator of what his father had been planning... he had left for work as usual that day. "My mother was watching television and it was interrupted by breaking news that said the Rabbi had been shot and so had his assailant and neither was expected to live," said Ebrahim. "Then they cut to a shot of my father covered in blood being put into an ambulance. This was her introduction to this ideology my father had chosen." Nosair did recover and was sent to prison. Following his father's arrest, Ebrahim said he and his siblings left their public school as he said they did not feel welcome there, nor in the local Muslim community. After the World Trade Centre bombing in 1993, it was revealed Nosair had participated in its planning from behind bars. Plans had also been in the works to bomb other targets throughout New York, but information from an FBI informant led to the group's arrest before the attacks could be carried out. While Nosair proclaimed his innocence to his family during prison visits, the police discovery of bomb-making plans and other evidence at A STEP BEYOND IN CARE Do you have: Salima Kassam Reg. Chiropodist · Foot/Arch Pain? · Ingrown Toenails? · Diabetes? · Swollen Ankles? · Corns, Calluses? Call for an appointment 905-632-1414 728 Burloak Drive www.footandhealthclinic.com The experts are more affordable than you think. LocaL carrier Your The year's best offer. DeaLer p! Hurry u offer Carrier es expir 015 ,2 Nov 15 It's easy to do the math this Fall up to Receive $1,465 Plus No Payments, No Interest Voted Best Financial Planner & Best Investment Company in rebates with Carrier® Cool Cash* Don't Pay for 90 Days*** Also, receive up to $650 in incentives when you participate in the saveONenergy HEATING & COOLING INCENTIVE* DIAMOND We Service All Makes of central air conditioners and gas furnaces SHOWROOM 2086 Speers Rd. Oakville 24 hr hotline OAKVILLE HAMILtOn Jennifer Watson and Peter Watson Mon - Fri 8aM - 5pM Saturday 11aM - 4pM SHoWrooM pHonE 905-825-1893 905-540-9153 905-335-3203 BURLInGtOn 905-825-1929 220 Randall Street, Downtown Oakville 905-842-2100 www.applebysystems.ca peterwatsoninvestments.com