"In Islam, sex before marriage, drugs and alcohol are not permitted, so sometimes youth get confused," said Abdussamad Khan, co-founder of the new hotline Naseeha (advice in Arabic).

Khan, a 27-year-old financial adviser, said Naseeha — launched late last month — offers Muslim teens a much-needed podium to pour out their social problems that might conflict with their religion such as dating.

Co-founder Yaseen Poonah, 28, a computer engineer, agrees.

"Youth are not calling to say: `What happens if I don't pray five times a day or I don't wear the hijab?' It's important, when they do reach out for help, they're speaking to somebody who has an understanding of their culture."

The self-funded 1-866-NASEEHA, modeled after the mainstream Kids Help Phone, operating from the city of Mississauga nightly from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Friday.

"We're working on staffing the line on a 24/7 basis, but we don't have the resources yet," says Khan.

All counselors are second-generation Muslim Canadians, aged 18 to 25, who have backgrounds in social work and psychology or are studying in those fields.

Muslims make up nearly two percent of Canada's some 32.8 million people and Islam has become the number one non-Christian faith in the country.

Cushion

The founders dismiss criticism that the helpline is having a hardline Islamic agenda.

"We're not here to judge anyone or come from an aggressive, negative manner. We just point out what the Qur`an says," Poonah said.

Khan added that the project rather served as a cushion for vulnerable youth against extremism and fundamentalist mentality.

"We were all born and raised here, as well. We understand the issues the kids are going through. We're able to reach out and be able to empathize and say, you know what, it's OK."

The helpline comes hard on the heels of the arrest of 18 Toronto-area Muslim males on terror charges and the tragic death of 16-year-old Muslim female, who was allegedly strangled by her father for refusing to wear hijab.

"After these two events, all eyes were on the Muslim community. People were asking, what influences did these kids have?" Poonah says.


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