“The ongoing impact being felt within the Quebec Muslim community one year after the attack speaks to the urgent need for our elected leaders to stand firmly against Islamophobia.”
Canadians urge government to designate a day for remembrance and action on Islamophobia
“The ongoing impact being felt within the Quebec Muslim community one year after the attack speaks to the urgent need for our elected leaders to stand firmly against Islamophobia.”
It is close to the one-year anniversary of the devastating terrorist attack on a mosque in the city of Quebec, Canada, which claimed the lives of six men and left many more injured. The attack, which left the country stunned and united everyone in solidarity, has reshaped the way that people think of Islam and yet, Quebec opposition parties say that they oppose designating the anniversary of the attack as a national day to combat Islamophobia.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), with the support of over 70 Canadian Muslim associations recently wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, asking him to designate January 29th as a National Day of Remembrance and Action on Islamophobia. The federal government says it has ‘received and noted’ the proposal but it seems that the independent political parties in the province of Quebec are not keen to do so for several reasons, including being uncomfortable with using the term ‘Islamophobia.’
The right-wing party Coalition Avenir Quebec “does not intend to support this demand. We believe January 29 should be devoted to commemorating the memory of the victims of this terrible tragedy. It was an intolerable act committed by a single person and not by an entire society. Quebecers are open and welcoming, they are not Islamophobic.” However, in light of recent fake allegations against a mosque at the hand of a leading Quebec media agency leave us to wonder if this is really true.
Muslim leaders in Canada believe that turning January 29 into a day to combat racism and Islamophobia will enable Canadians to collectively remember the victims of the attack. It will also enhance public education about the perils of hate, bigotry and Islamophobia; all this and more is noted in the open letter from the leaders.
“The ongoing impact being felt within the Quebec Muslim community one year after the attack speaks to the urgent need for our elected leaders to stand firmly against Islamophobia,” says Ihsan Gardee, the NCCM executive director.
As a response, the Canadian government has yet to accept or decline this request. Simon Ross, a spokesperson for the government has said that “Canada continues to condemn this terrorist attack on Muslims in a centre of worship and refuge. Canadians continue to stand with the victims and the families affected by this attack. Our government will continue to work toward promoting a diverse and inclusive Canada. We condemn all forms of discrimination, including Islamophobia.”
