Demand Action Against Rising Islamophobia
On International Day to Combat Islamophobia, federal officials and Muslim leaders united in a call to confront surging anti-Muslim hate, spotlighting systemic barriers and violence faced by Canada’s Muslim communities. Yet, as voices like the Canadian Muslim Forum push for bolder steps, the gap between rhetoric and action remains a flashpoint.
Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, marked the day with a sobering statement: “Muslims endure racism, stereotypes, and hostility—too often seen as security threats at institutional levels.” She pointed to Ottawa’s bolstered Canada Community Security Program and Anti-Racism Strategy as progress, but stressed the need for more. Governor General Mary Simon joined the chorus, decrying a “recent rise in hostility” that undermines Canada’s strength and urging citizens to reject bigotry online and off.
Shafqat Ali, Liberal MP for Brampton Centre—a riding with a vibrant Muslim population—added his voice, drawing from personal and community experience. “In Brampton, we’ve felt the pain of Islamophobia deeply,” Ali said Saturday. “After the London attack, I couldn’t let my daughter walk to school alone—it’s a fear no parent should face. We need stronger laws and real support for our mosques and families, not just promises.” Ali, who endorsed Mark Carney in the 2025 Liberal leadership race, called for education and security funding to match the urgency of the moment.
The Canadian Muslim Forum’s president, Samer Majzoub, echoed Ali’s urgency, slamming federal efforts as insufficient. “Words won’t stop hate—we need tougher hate speech laws and systemic change,” he said, citing Quebec’s Bill 21 as a glaring example of enshrined discrimination. The secularism law, banning religious symbols for public workers, heads to the Supreme Court this year, with Ottawa intervening to defend religious freedom.
The push comes against a backdrop of global and domestic alarm—Canada’s grim record of targeted Muslim killings, from Quebec City in 2017 to London in 2021, looms large. Online, reactions range from solidarity to skepticism, with some questioning if new measures will bridge the divide. As leaders pledge unity, the pressure mounts to turn commemoration into concrete change.