Canadian Muslims' Council Concerned over Anti-Muslim Hate Incidents in Ottawa, Toronto
Ibrahim Hindy, a
local Toronto Imam, has been the target of violent threats in recent days,
linked to a bitter anti-Muslim campaign against prayers in the Peel District
School Board (PDSB). Other Muslim advocates and students have also been
targeted.
In Ottawa, two
local institutions have also been the target of hate in recent days.
The Ottawa Muslim
Association (OMA) had several windows broken, as did the Islam Care Centre
(ICC) last week. A man was charged with two charges of mischief relating to
religious property, and one charge of assaulting a police officer.
And overnight on
Wednesday 19 of April, the ICC was targeted again when someone left a hateful
note and set fire to the building. The incident is being investigated, and
there are some concerns that the perpetrator may be linked to a white
supremacist group.
"The fire could
have destroyed the food and clothing that we collect to distribute to the
homeless and to the needy,” says Omar Mahfoudhi, executive director of the ICC.
"It’s troubling that anyone would try to hurt our communities in this way,
impacting not just Ottawa Muslim communities, but the most vulnerable people
that we serve across the city.”
"Community members
are justifiably concerned about their safety and well-being,” says Sehrish
Amjad, NCCM’s Human Rights Officer. "Our police services must do everything to
assure communities that these issues are being taken seriously and that
everything is being done to protect individuals and institutions. Our elected
officials also have a role to play in speaking consistently against hatred.”
Hindy says that
police have assured him that there will be increased patrols around his home
and the mosque he leads."It’s up to all Canadians to stand together
against all forms of hatred,” says Hindy.
The NCCM continues
to call on police services to provide an annual report detailing hate crimes
and hate incidents happening in their communities, as outlined in an open
letter following the tragic shootings at a Quebec City mosque.
Communities
currently rely on data from Statistics Canada which reports on police-reported
hate crimes two years after the fact.
Municipalities,
provincial legislatures, and other public institutions and community members,
are also being encouraged to endorse NCCM’s Charter for Inclusive Communities.
Several municipalities, including the cities of London, Kitchener-Waterloo,
Hamilton, and Toronto, have already signed on.
The NCCM encourages
community members to report suspicious activities to police services and to
human rights organizations. It documents hate crimes and incidents on its
national interactive online map. The NCCM also encourages community
members to refer to its Community Safety Guide.
Source: Islamic News
