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“We all have a responsibility to tell politicians to take a tougher stance on Islamophobia both in legislation and policy, and by providing funds and resources to combat Islamophobia. It shouldn’t take another attack to force our political leaders to act.” — Larry Brown, NUPGE President
Ottawa (26 Jan. 2022) — January 29, 2022 marks the first National Day of Remembrance of the Québec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia. It has been 5 years since a domestic terrorist murdered Mamadou Tanou Barry, Azzeddine Soufiane, Abdelkrim Hassane, Ibrahima Barry, Aboubaker Thabti and Khaled Belkacemi at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Québec City. The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) stands with the victims, survivors’ families and communities.
No terrorism charges were brought against the killer due to a narrow definition of terrorism in Canadian law. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole before 40 years. Québec’s Court of Appeal overturned the sentence and reduced it to 2 concurrent life terms with no possibility of parole for 25 years. The attorney general and the Crown prosecutor’s office applied for leave to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court of Canada. The leave was granted and the initial hearing is scheduled for March 24, 2022 (Global News).
Increase in violent attacks
Islamophobia is sadly not a new phenomenon in Canada, but the number of violent attacks in recent years shows an alarming escalation of hatred. There is likely a link between this increase in hatred and the election of former US President Donald Trump. In particular, Trump's Executive Orders regarding travel, immigration, and refugee programs were criticized and nicknamed a "Muslim Ban" for the way they impacted travelers from predominantly Muslim countries. His stated reasoning behind the Executive Orders was to prevent terrorism.
There is no link between citizenship and terrorism. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Intelligence and Analysis Unit came to a similar conclusion when asked to draft report on Trump's Executive Order. According to AP News, the department found that, "citizenship is an 'unlikely indicator' of terrorism threats to the United States." Despite the resistance from Muslim leaders, non-profit organizations, etc., Trump's comments and actions reignited an unfounded and harmful link between Muslims and terrorism, similar to the anti-Muslim sentiment that grew stronger in North America after 9/11.
Though not as blatant as Trump, Maxime Bernier, leader of the fringe group the People's Party of Canada (PPC), has made room for Islamophobia in his party's politics; particularly his stance on being against "mass immigration" and the lack of consequences for a PPC candidate who called Islam "pure evil" (Global News). In the 2021 federal election, the PPC failed to win a seat but they did receive 4.94% of the vote, placing them ahead of the Green Party of Canada.
Terrorist attacked Muslim family in London
In June 2021, a domestic terrorist intentionally rammed into a family with his car. 4 of the 5 victims died. Their names were Salman Afzaal, Madiha Salman, Yumna Afzaal, and Talat Afzaal. Fayez Afzaal, age 9, was the sole survivor of the attack. Police confirmed that the attack was premeditated and the victims were targeted because they were Muslim (The London Free Press).
The federal government held a National Summit on Islamophobia in July, but some Muslim leaders and organizations have expressed frustration with a lack of action post-summit. "There's this underlying sense that all the things that were said on that day were just words and didn't really mean much beyond words," said Imam Aarij Anwer, the London Muslim Mosque's director of religious affairs, “It cements in the hearts of the people, the thought that our government doesn't care for us. They don't care enough for us to act, even after 4 of our community members were murdered in cold blood in broad daylight. It makes us wonder, 'Do we belong here?' That sentiment is now simmering in the community.” (CBC News).
Islamophobia in politics
During his run for a seat on the Québec City Council, Boufeldja Benabdallah faced Islamophobia from Alain Giasson, a candidate who was running for mayor. Giasson accused Benabdallah of promoting the Islamization of the provincial capital. In his party platform Giasson also called Islam a cancer (Montreal Gazette).
A Québec City resident filed a complaint to Elections Québec for the hate speech in Giasson’s party platform. A spokesperson for Elections Québec said there is no law in Québec that addresses the content of political platforms or statements such as Giasson’s (Global News).
The instances of Islamophobia in politics are increasing and becoming more direct. Just this week, Independent MPP Randy Hillier called federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra a terrorist (Global News). Despite hundreds of people reporting the tweet, Twitter has not removed it at the time of this story's publication.
Bill 21 continues to discriminate
Bill 21 prohibits teachers, police officers, judges, and other state workers in Québec from wearing religious symbols while at work. Critics of Bill 21 (which include NUPGE) argue that it discriminates predominantly against immigrants and racialized people. Mustafa Farooq, CEO of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, called Bill 21, “racism on the books” (CBC News).
In April 2021, Québec Superior Court Justice Marc-André Blanchard ruled part of Bill 21 violates Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. However, the province appealed the ruling, meaning Bill 21 is still law until the province’s challenge is heard in court — which could take a year or more.
Action on Islamophobia can’t wait
There are terrorist attacks against Muslims that capture national attention. But there are also attacks and threats motivated by hatred that don't dominate the news cycle. Ones that only have 1 or 2 articles written about them. Like when young Black woman wearing a hijab was threatened by a man at Century Park LRT Station in Edmonton last February. It was the fifth attack in Edmonton on Black Muslim women in 10 weeks. The woman, only identified as M.W., said in a statement that, “This incident was traumatizing and has left me shaken. In that moment, I felt helpless and afraid for my life…When I contacted the police station in my area, I was not given the support that I needed” (CBC News).
And then there are the daily instances of hate that don't make the news.
“We want a Canada that’s safe for everyone to walk down the street or go to pray, regardless of their religion. Unfortunately, that’s not the current Canada,” said Bert Blundon, NUPGE Secretary-Treasurer. “Downplaying Islamophobia and domestic terrorist attacks will lead to more of both.”
“Anyone who participates in Canadian society has a moral obligation to stand up and say no to Islamophobia,” said Larry Brown, NUPGE President. “We all have a responsibility to tell politicians to take a tougher stance on Islamophobia both in legislation and policy, and by providing funds and resources to combat Islamophobia. It shouldn’t take another attack to force our political leaders to act.”