WITH his biker vest and stern face, you’d be forgiven for thinking he’s a character from the hit TV series about a violent biker gang, Sons of Anarchy. Well, Vince Focarelli is really a member of a gang – only his “gang” comprises Muslim NGO Sahaba MC (motorcycle club).
Instead of running drugs or committing murder, Focarelli’s MC is spreading a message of peace and love among citizens of the world while battling Islamophobia. The patches on his vest represent a brotherhood, not a gang of criminals, he says.
“Who says only criminals can wear patches, anyway. The biker look is not meant to intimidate anyone, it is meant to attract people to the movement. Who says Islam cannot be cool!” the Italian-Australian says with a laugh during a recent interview at the Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.