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Jan. 29 should be declared “Canada’s National Day against Islamophobia”
1-24-2018
About a year ago on January 29, 2017, Alexandre Bissonnette shot worshippers while they were praying inside a Mosque. His hateful action Killed six Muslims and woundered 19 others.
The Six Shuhada – Martyrs were Ibrahima Barry (aged 39), Mamadou Tanou Barry (aged 42), Khaled Belkacemi (aged 60), Aboubaker Thabti (aged 44), Abdelkrim Hassane (aged 41) and Azzedine Soufiane (aged 57)
This terrorist attack was the first of its kind on a place of worship on Canadian soil. Bissonnette was motivated by extreme-right white-nationalist views. The tragedy shocked Canadians his actions were condemned by all including the Prime Minister and the Premier of Quebec.
After the incident Muslims saw an outpouring support and compassionate across Canada in Mosques and in the streets.
Bissonnette hateful action sparked a discussion about the rise of Islamophobia in Canada and Many Muslim groups across Canada started to have a discussion on how to combat the rise of Islamophobia. One view that made most appeal was to declare January 29th as a National Day Against Islamophobia. The National Council of Canadian Muslims, a Muslim human rights organization called for making January 29 a day against Islamophobia in Canada.
The Muslim community continues to hope that various levels of Canadian governments will recognize January 29th as a day against Islamophobia in Canada.
Many Canadians have expressed a strong support within civil society across Canada for a movement against Islamophobia.
While the declaration alone will not eliminate Islamophobia but it will start a process that will eventually lead towards taking progressive actions and solidify support for the downtrodden, says Ehab Lotayef.
The hateful action of Bissonnette united many Canadians and made January 29th a shared national day of tragedy.
Although the Conservative Party has opposed calling it Islamophobia, it is noteworthy that Scott Reid, Conservative MP for Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston in Ontario, asked the House of Commons to support his motion to declare Jan. 29 as Canada's national day of solidarity with victims of anti-religious bigotry and violence.
Toronto City Councillor Neethan Shan says, “The national tragedy that occurred last January should serve to remind us all of the impact that Islamophobia, racism and bigotry can have on the lives of people.”
An official declaration will only validate that Islamophobia is real and has an impact on Muslims.
As Muslims, we have a duty uphold our religious identity while maintaining our social responsibilities to engage with other Canadians. Only then we can say we have started to combat Islamophobia.
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