On March 15, Canada will celebrate International Day to Combat Islamophobia, an observance designated by the United Nations in 2022.
This day highlights the challenges encountered by numerous Muslims and calls for renewed dedication to ending prejudice and bigotry. Its designated day represents the anniversary of the Christchurch mosque shooting, where two consecutive mass shootings took place in Christchurch, New Zealand, on March 15, 2019.
Islamophobia is not a recent phenomenon in Canada. According to Canadian Encyclopaedia, hate crimes targeted toward Muslims increased by 253 per cent between 2012 and 2015. During this period, the 2017 Quebec City mosque shooting that claimed the lives of six Muslims and the 2021 pickup truck assault on the visibly Muslim Afzaal family in London, Ont. resulting in four fatalities took place.
“People often associate Muslims with numerous misconceptions, such as the belief that all Muslims are violent and aggressive people,” said Duha Emardi, the education coordinator at the Canadian Council of Muslim Women. “That Muslims constitute a homogeneous community or that Muslim women, particularly those who wear hijab or niqab, are inherently subjugated.”
She explained that these prejudices are propagated by Western media, especially in mainstream outlets, increasingly in the aftermath of the 9/11 attack. European colonialism also shaped perceptions of Muslims and contextualized these biases historically.
“These perceptions not only encompass individual biases, but also extend to institutional and systematic levels,” said Nuzhat Jafri, the executive director at the Canadian Council of Muslim Women.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims said that from 2016 to 2021, Canada experienced the worst homicide incidences targeting Muslims among the G7 nations. They recorded a 1,300 per cent rise in hate acts against Muslims and Palestinians since Oct 7, 2023. The existence of legislation targeting Muslims, like Bill 21 in Quebec and the Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act at the national level, indicate that Islamophobia continues to affect numerous lives across Canada.
According to Sherry Morley, the corporate communications specialist of the Region of Waterloo, the region stands against Islamophobia and any other forms of hate and discrimination. She said the region is committed to addressing Islamophobia and any forms of hate and discrimination by acknowledging the day’s significance including Ramadan and Eid to raise awareness about the Quebec City mosque attack through the Green Square campaign. This initiative was started by the National Council of Canadian Muslims to remember the victims of the Quebec City mosque attack and provide staff with opportunities to learn and create awareness about topics related to Islamophobia and other forms of discrimination.
“The growing xenophobia, fear and attacks on migrants also have correlations with Islamophobia. We also see the intersections of it and other forms of oppression in the experiences of women, Black Muslims, disabled Muslims and queer Muslims,” Elmardi said.
Jafri explained how this can serve as a reminder that all oppression is connected and that to fight Islamophobia, we must fight against all other forms of oppression.
The first step to combat Islamophobia is to educate ourselves and increase awareness, but it’s a constant process that requires simultaneous action.
“We continue to hold out hope that we can unite and do what
is necessary to make sure that Islamophobia and racism are not accepted or normalized in our communities and that this work is not limited to one day a year but rather is an ongoing and sustained effort,” Jafri said.
Morley said that the region shows no tolerance for Islamophobia, racism and all forms of discrimination and hate. It continues to work to address these issues in our policies, including the Code of Use By-law. With this by-law, the Region of Waterloo will continue to work to create a positive space by deterring hate and harassment and addressing non-compliance.
Contributed Photo/UN Human Rights on YouTube
