A Canadian Senate committee report has stated that Islamophobia is deeply entrenched in Canadian society, and that Black hijab-wearing women are the most vulnerable to attacks. The report
also noted that far-right and anti-Muslim hate groups are growing, as are incidents of hate. The report is set to be released in July, and it details day-to-day aggression against Muslim Canadians.
Police-reported hate crimes against Muslim communities across Canada increased by 71 percent in 2021 alone, with around eight incidents per 100,000 Muslims, according to Statistics Canada. Attacks against Muslims often occur in public and are more violent than attacks targeting other religious groups. Far-right and anti-Muslim hate groups are some of the driving factors behind these attacks.
In recent years, several high-profile incidents have occurred, such as the killing of a mosque caretaker in the Toronto area in 2020, and a gunman killing six Muslim men at a mosque in Quebec City three years earlier. However, the Senate committee began its work in June 2021 after a pickup truck ran over a Muslim family in London, Ontario, killing four members. A man is currently facing terror-related charges for the killings.
To investigate the extent of anti-Muslim hate in Canada, the committee’s senators, analysts, and translators traveled to various parts of the country to speak to Muslims who were survivors of attacks, along with doctors, mosque leaders, and others. The report will also include accounts from hijab-wearing girls in schools, many of whom do not report these crimes to the police.
Muslims in Canada have called for more protection and a serious engagement with Islamophobia. A man recently entered a mosque brandishing a weapon, threatened congregants, damaged mosque property, and tried to run over worshippers in the parking lot. A 28-year-old was arrested and is facing several criminal offenses.
The report’s release comes as the Canadian government is facing criticism for its response to the issue. The Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association has called for a national action plan to combat Islamophobia, while the National Council of Canadian Muslims has urged politicians to take action. Muslims are speaking out because there are so many attacks happening, and they are so violent, said committee chair Senator Salma Ataullahjan. Photo by Hutima, Wikimedia commons.