During his entire 2016 presidential campaign, now 45th American President Donald Trump, resonated with voters by continuously scapegoating and demonizing the entirety of the Muslim community. By using fear and hate as a winning strategy, he further instated existing prejudices against Islam, and the ideology that all Muslims condone or are associated with terrorism. His campaign and election inspired many hate crimes against Muslims, not only in America, but globally. His Islamophobic message has spread far beyond the borders of the United States, likely fueling the Anti-Muslim hate crimes rising in Canada.
This past January, a 27 year-old terrorist by the name of Alexandre Bissonnette attacked a Mosque in Quebec city, and shot six people whilst hundreds of attendees were peacefully praying. His actions were a wake up call for many Canadian citizens, as it generally seems Canada has a welcoming attitude towards immigrants and refugees. In 2016, the same mosque had received a pig’s head on their doorstep during Ramadan, and in 2013 another Quebec mosque was investigated after being smeared with what was seemingly pig’s blood. These are clear hate crimes that mock the Muslim practice of abstaining from eating the flesh of a pig. It has become clear that tensions are rising in Canada, and the people’s xenophobia and religious discrimination are increasingly encouraged by people in positions of power such as Donald Trump.
This past Friday (February 17th) over a dozen people rallied outside Masjid mosque in downtown Toronto with the message of banning Islam while several Muslims were praying inside. While the group was not large, their hate was heard loud and clear by shouting into speakers and holding signs that depicted messages such as “Say NO To Islam,” “Canadians Against Islamization” and “Muslims are Terrorists.” The protest was aggressively conducted on the holiest day of the week, blocking people’s path into the building. Toronto police say they are not investigating this rally. As a result of the recent terrorist attack, the Canadian Muslim community needs support and safety, and yet they faced threats and verbal harassment at the entrance of their place of worship.
Muslim Canadian Liberal MP, Iqra Khalid, received over 50,000 hate messages and death threats after putting forward M-103, a private member’s motion which is currently going before parliament. The motion proposes the government, “recognize the need to quell the increasing public climate of hate and fear” and opposition against systematic racism and religious discrimination. As a result of the backlash, she now fears for her safety, and police have offered her increased protection and investigation of online threats.
Video contains abusive, threatening, sexist, xenophobic, and racist language
I call upon my fellow Canadians to acknowledge that hate crimes against Islam are continuously occurring in our own country. The current political climate that negatively portrays the Muslim community and promotes xenophobia is affecting the minds of people everywhere. As Canadians, we have the capability and moral responsibility to open our minds, aid those in need, and uphold the belief that everyone is welcome in this nation.
