Québec City mosque attack anniversary a time for action against Islamophobia

Last year, Canada declared Jan. 29 the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia, to remember the attack on the Islamic Cultural Centre that killed six people and injured another 19. This tragedy struck Canada in the capital of Quebec on Jan. 29, 2017. That day, members of the Muslim community who made Quebec their home had gathered for their last prayers of the day. A 27-year-old, misguided man stormed the mosque, searching and killing them for no other reason than their Muslim faith. In less than two minutes, he not only killed and wounded those in the mosque but also terrorized the 10,000 Muslims who call the city home. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and then-Quebec premier Philippe Couillard called the shooting a terrorist attack, but the killer was not charged with terrorism. In 2018, Alexandre Bissonnette pleaded guilty to six counts of first-degree murder among other charges, and in 2019, a Quebec Superior Court sentenced him to life imprisonment with no parole for 40 years. The court said he carried out a "premeditated, gratuitous, malicious, and murderous attack" and found he regularly visited websites focused on firearms and the perpetrators of terrorist acts. In fall 2020, the Quebec Court of Appeal, however, found the decision too harsh and reduced his parole eligibility to 25 years. In a sharp, unanimous judgement, the three judges said "this nonsense cannot survive and constitutes, in itself, cruel and unusual punishment, degrading because of its absurd nature." The nonsense of Islamophobia, however, was not addressed. Waheed Khan is also the president of the Community of Federal Visible Minorities. Photograph courtesy of Waheed Khan On June 6, 2021, Islamophobia struck again when a man mowed down a family of five Muslims walking in their London, Ont., neighbourhood, killing four. While many do not report such incidents to the police because of the fear of reprisal and backlash, pictures and videos of incidents targeting Muslims, particularly Muslim women who wear hijab, surface from time to time. In March 2022, a man entered a mosque in Mississauga, Ont., and attacked worshippers with bear spray. Earlier this month, a disturbing video circulated on social media showing a girl student wearing hijab being assaulted in a Mississauga secondary school. Verbal and physical attacks on Muslims and their places of worship have not stopped in spite of well-meaning declarations in Canada and elsewhere. A resolution introduced by Pakistan proclaiming March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia was unanimously adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in March 2022, recognizing that Canada is not alone in facing Islamophobia. Earlier this month, Rasmus Paludan, a politician from the far-right Stram Kurs party, burnt a copy of the Quran in Stockholm, hurting the feelings of Muslims and taunting them. It is well known that Muslims consider disrespect towards the Holy Quran deeply offensive. Islamophobia has emerged as a new form of racism that includes hate speech, public humiliation of the Muslim faith, and targeting girls and women for their dress. It creates a devastating impact on Muslims, preventing them from making social and economic contributions commensurate with their qualifications and experience. While Muslims are, on average, younger and better educated than Canadian-born citizens they experience higher rates of unemployment and underemployment, even in comparison with other visible minority groups. About 4.9 per cent of Canadians identified as Muslims in the 2021 census Muslims are absent from decision-making tables where meaningful policies are made, and programs developed and implemented. The 12-member task force established by the Government of Canada to review the Employment Equity Act has no Muslim representation. Even Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy 2019–2022, with $45-million investment to combat racism, only mentioned Islamophobia in the context of the definition, and there was no program listed specifically to address Islamophobia. A study conducted by Geneviève Mercier-Dalphond and Denise Helly in 2021 found a connection between politically motivated initiatives such as the Québec Values Charter and Bill 21, the province's controversial secularism law, and the increase in hate crimes. Consequently, Muslim women are the first and most frequent victims in their daily lives. This act is discriminatory but is protected by the notwithstanding clause of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It is time that well-meaning statements and resolutions are backed by action. Leaders across the political spectrum need to recognize the negative impact of hate speech. And they need to make their position on it public, including with discriminatory legislation such as Quebec's Bill-21. Canada should prepare and implement a robust strategy that includes public education and building bridges between minority groups, including Muslims and mainstream Canadians. Canadian policies and programs should proactively uplift and integrate Muslims, and other minority groups, particularly new Canadians and immigrants. It should help them integrate in Canada's economic and social fabric, where they can contribute their qualifications and experience. The need for such proactive actions is heightened by the government's immigration targets to reach 500,000 newcomers annually by 2025. These steps are essential to creating equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplaces to help grow our middle class. It will also help build a country where every Canadian has a real and fair chance to succeed and contribute to the economy. Waheed Khan is a federal public servant who is also the president of the Community of Federal Visible Minorities and serves on the board of directors of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada. The Hill Times

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Québec City mosque attack anniversary a time for action against Islamophobia

Canada should prepare and implement a robust strategy that includes public education and building bridges between minority groups, including Muslims and mainstream Canadians.

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