We request the Calgary Police Services and all levels of government to take stronger actions to prevent and stop Anti Muslim Racism and Islamophobia
Press Release
March 22, 2021. Calgary, AB
We request the Calgary Police Services and all levels of government to take stronger actions to prevent and stop Anti Muslim Racism and Islamophobia
Yesterday was March 21, 2021, United Nations declared it as the International Day for the Elimination of Racism. Yet, yesterday in Prince’s Island Park, two Canadian Muslim females who were wearing the hijab (Muslim garment on head) were verbally assaulted. As the females walked away from the verbal harassment the suspect followed them and continued slurring racial comments. As the confrontation escalated one Muslim female had her hijab torn off and beaten up. This incident follows several incidents of attacks on Muslim females in Edmonton.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland told the United Nations on March 28, 2019 that white supremacism and Islamophobia are among “the gravest threats facing the world”, she further said “this is ultimately an international problem and we need to act collectively to address it.”
Canadian Muslims have had their fair share of provincial and federal bills discriminating against them:
- Bill S7: Barbaric Cultural Practices Act, November 5, 2014
- Bill C75: The Hijab Ban at Oath Taking Ceremony, June 19, 2015
- Bill 62: An Act to Foster Adherence to State Religious Neutrality, October 18, 2017
- Opposition to Motion 103 presented in March 23, 2017 condemning Islamophobias
- Bill 21, ‘An Act Respecting Laicity of the State’, June 16, 2019
Hate crimes targeting Canadian Muslims increased 151% in 2017. The data released by Statistics Canada on November 18, 2018 indicated a significant increase in hate crimes against most racial, religious and other minority groups. Canadians are still reeling from the terrorist attack in Quebec that claimed six lives and injured 19 others when Alexandre Bissonnette opened fire on worshipers in a Quebec City Mosque on January 29, 2017. Terror attacks by Muslims receive 357% more press. Terrorist attacks committed by non-Muslims (or where the religion was unknown) received an average of 15 headlines, while those committed by Muslim extremists received 105 headlines, research by the University of Alabama has stated. (The findings are based on all terrorist attacks in the US between 2006 and 2015).
Canadian Community Engagement Study 2018 concluded:
- 2/3rd of Canadians believe that the atmosphere towards Muslims in Canada is negative
- 2/3rd of Canadian’s want the government to invest resources towards reducing and eventually eliminating systemic racism and discrimination on religious grounds;
- 2/3 of Muslims have personally experienced discrimination due to their race or ethnicity in the last 5 years; almost 1/2 of the incidences were verbal abuse or attack;
- 82% Muslims believe that discrimination against Canadian Muslims has increased in the last 5 years;
“Harper and Trump’s polarizing political rhetoric has promoted prejudice, racism and bigotry. Federal Bills S7 and C75; Provincial Bills 62 and 21 in Quebec have increased racism and discrimination by providing futile grounds to white nationalism, Neo-Nazis, and white supremacists. The government needs to take stronger action to address racism, violence and hate” said Dr. Mukarram Zaidi, Chairman Canadian Muslim Research Think Tank.
For further information and comments please contact:
Dr. Mukarram Zaidi,
Canadian Muslim Research Think Tank,
587 890 8321,
chairman@thinkforactions.com
