Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged Monday a “disturbing rise” in anti-Muslim hate incidents within the nation as Canadian Muslims marked seven years for the reason that lethal shootings at Quebec City mosque.
Six males had been shot to loss of life by a lone gunman and 19 others had been wounded on Jan. 29, 2017, whereas attending night prayers on the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City.
The crime shocked all the nation on the time. However, seven years later and regardless of the appointment of a federal consultant to fight Islamophobia, hate incidents are rising.
“Canada’s Muslim communities across the country have experienced a disturbing rise in hate speech, discrimination and Islamophobia,” Trudeau stated in a press release.
“This is absolutely unacceptable and we will continue to take action so that Canadians can feel safe and secure in their homes, communities and places of worship,” he added.
But extra motion is required, advocates insist.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), citing the mosque assault and the homicide of 4 members of a Muslim household in 2021 in London, Ontario, urged motion to stem hate incidents.
“It is time for all of us to step up …and ask your local city officials and businesses to step up in the battle against Islamophobia,” the NCCM stated in a press release.
Fareed Khan, founding father of the anti-racism activist group Canadians United Against Hate, criticized Ottawa’s inaction.
“Eleven Canadian Muslims have been murdered in acts of hate since 2017, but the Trudeau government has been reluctant to even take symbolic actions to address the concerns of Canadian Muslims around hate against the community,” he stated.
“While the government declared a National Day of Action Against Islamophobia (every Jan. 29) and appointed a special representative on combatting Islamophobia, these actions were taken only after years of lobbying by Canadian Muslims.”
Khan stated Trudeau’s refusal to sentence Israel for its assaults on Palestinians in Gaza has additionally fueled Islamophobia.
To mark the Quebec mosque assault, monuments throughout the nation had been bathed in inexperienced mild, together with the British Columbia legislature constructing. Green is the colour of the carpet within the mosque the place the shootings occurred and is taken into account sacred in Islam.
A remembrance ceremony was scheduled on the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City on Monday night with Trudeau in attendance.
Source: www.dailysabah.com