Open Letter to the Prime Minister on the National Action Summit on Islamophobia

See our attached Open Letter to the Prime Minister in the aftermath of the London Terror Attack.

The Right Honorable Justin Trudeau

Prime Minister of Canada

Office of the Prime Minister

80 Wellington Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

Dear Prime Minister Trudeau,

June 6^th, 2021, marked yet another lethal attack on the Canadian Muslim community. As you are aware, a family was the victim of a premeditated, hate motivated terror attack as they were on a night-time walk. They have been survived solely by a nine-year-old son. Our community lost three generations in a single night.

The event signals the ongoing reality of Canada’s deeply rooted systemic Islamophobia. Community organizations rallied and asked for concrete action in the aftermath of the Quebec City Mosque shooting in 2017. Unfortunately, these efforts, as seen with the presentation of M-103, were often met with great resistance. The legitimacy of the violence Canadian Muslims experience was questioned, and the reality of Islamophobia was often ignored.

Outside of our borders Islamophobia continues to be a growing international phenomenon and an industry supported by many governments and organizations globally. Shootings motivated by anti-Muslim hate, paralleling the tragedies in Canada, have taken the lives of our community members in Chapel Hill and Christchurch. To take real action against Islamophobia is to be part of the solution not only nationally but internationally.

We strongly believe that putting an end to Islamophobia requires that all levels of government take concrete action in addressing Islamophobia at an urgent and systemic level.

This requires a whole of government approach. We need fundamental change at the federal, provincial, and municipal level to prevent another attack. From appointing a Special Envoy on Islamophobia, to removing discriminatory laws in Canada, to ensuring that anti-racism and anti-Islamophobia becomes part of our education system, to changing the way that municipalities deal with street harassment, a whole of government approach is needed. And change needs to happen now.

We ask that the Canadian Government immediately host, on an emergency basis, a National Action Summit on Islamophobia convening leaders from all levels of government to chart a path forward for Canada in ending violence against Muslims. The summit is a start. The outcome of the summit, in terms of concrete policy, will be the test of whether all governments and political parties are truly committed to preventing further loss of life.

As this issue has affected both our community here at home and abroad, in your powers as Prime Minister we ask that prior to the upcoming G7 meeting, you publicly commit to hosting a National Action Summit on Islamophobia, and work with the leaders of the G7 nations on sharing best practices and resources at the National Action Summit on Islamophobia.

Sincerely,

National Council of Canadian Muslims
London Muslim Mosque
Hikma Public Affairs Council London
Abbottsford Islamic Center
Abu Bakr Islamic Centre
Abu Huraira Masjid
Ahl-ill Bait Islamic Organization
Al Falah Center (Edmonton)
Al Falah Islamic Centre (Oakville)
Al Mustafa Academy and Humanitarian Society
Al Rashid Mosque
Al-Ihsan Educational Foundation
Amnesty International Canadian Section (English-Speaking)
Amnistie Internationale Canada Francophone
Anatolia Islamic Centre
Angel Aid Foundation
Annur Islamic Academy
Assunnah Muslims Association
Az Zahra Islamic Center
B.C.Muslim Association
Barries Mosque
BC Civil Liberties Association
Bosnian Islamic Centre
Brampton Islamic Center
British Columbia Muslim Association
Canadian Anti-Hate Network
Canadian Citizen
Canadian Council Of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jam’ah
Canadian Council of Imams
Canadian Council of Indian Muslims
Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW)
Canadian Council of Muslim Women Brampton–Mississauga
Canadian Council of Muslim Women Niagara Halton
Canadian Pakistani Support Group Association
Canadian Race Relations Foundation
Canadians Against Oppression And Persecution
Carleton University Muslim Student Association
CCMW Niagara Halton
Centennial College Muslim Students Association
Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec
Chatham Islamic Centre
Coalition of Muslim Women of KW (CMW)
Conestoga College’s Muslim Student Association
Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA)
Dalhousie MSA
Danforth Islamic Centre
Dar Al-Tawheed Islamic Centre
DAR Foundation
Durham Muslim Alliance
Faith Immigration
Fleetwood Islamic Academy Society of BC
Friends of Pakistan Canada Association
Galt Islamic Centre
Guildford Masjid
Halal Monitoring Authority
Halton Islamic Association
Hamilton Mosque
Hamilton Mountain Mosque
Hilm
Human Concern International
Ibrahim Jame Mosque
ICNA Canada
ICNA Milton
ICNA Relief
International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group
International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF)
International Muslim Organization of Toronto (IMO)
Iqra Islamic School
Islamcare Centre
Islamic Center of South Calgary
Islamic Centre of Oshawa
Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario
Islamic Community Centre of Milton
Islamic Foundation of Toronto
Islamic Information Society of Calgary (IISC)
Islamic Relief Canada
Islamic Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaat of Toronto
Islamic Society of Ajax
Islamic Society of Kingston
Islamic Society of Markham
Islamic Society of Peel
Islamic Society of Ridge Meadows
ISNA Canada
iTrust Foundation
Jame Masjid Mississauga
Jame Masjid Oakville : Noor-UL- Haram
Jami Omar
Justice for All Canada
Kanata Muslim Association
Khayr Project
Langley Islamic Centre
London Islamic School
London Muslim Community
Madinatul Uloom Academy
Malton Madjid
Manitoba Islamic Association
Markaz-ul-Islam
Markaz-Ul-Islam of Fort McMurray
Masjid Ali
Masjid Rahimah
Masjid Syyadina Omar Farooq
Masjid ul Haqq
Mount Sinai Professional Corporation
Muslim Advisory Council of Canada
Muslim Association of Canada (MAC)
Muslim Association of Hamilton
Muslim Community Foundation of Calgary
Muslim Council of Calgary
Muslim Council of Peel
Muslim Educators Network of Ottawa (MENO)
Muslim Neighbourhood Nexus
Muslim Student’s Association at the University of Alberta
Muslim Students’ Association at McGill University
Muslim Women of Vaughan
Muslims of Dufferin (MOD)
Muslims of Hamilton
Muslims of Shelburne Centre
Nabawe Mosque
National Zakat Foundation
Ontario Muslim Academy
Ontario Tech MSA
Ottawa Muslim Association
Pakistan Canada Association- Al Jamia Masjid Vancouver
Pakistan Canada Cultural Association
Pakistani Canadian Community Association
Pakistani Canadian Cultural Association of British Columbia
Pakistani Students Association UTM
Peace & Harmony Center
Penny Appeal Canada
Pickering Islamic Centre
Risalah Foundation
Ryerson Muslim Student Association
Sakeenah Homes
SALAM Project
Sayeda Khadija Centre
Scarborough Muslim Association
Scarborough Muslim Cultural Center
Seneca MSA
Seniors Forum Canada
Sikh Heritage Manitoba
South Nepean Muslim Community (SNMC)
Sri Lankan Muslims of Peel
Suffah Acadamy
Tarbiyah Learning Academy
Thaqalayn Muslim Organization York University
The Council Of Islamic Guidance Inc.
Think for Actions
UFCW Canada
Ummah Society
University of Manitoba Muslim Students’ Association
University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU)
uOttawa Muslim Students Association
Urban Alliance on Race Relations
Uyghur Mosque
Western University Muslim Students’ Association
Windsor Islamic Association
World Organization for Peace
World Sikh Organization of Canada
York Region Muslims
York University Muslim Students Association

CC:

Leader Erin O’Toole

Leader Jagmeet Singh

Leader Yves-François Blanchet

Leader Annamie Paul

Premier ministre Trudeau,   

Le 6 juin 2021 marque une nouvelle attaque meurtrière contre la communauté musulmane canadienne. Comme vous le savez, une famille a été victime d’une attaque terroriste préméditée et motivée par la haine pendant qu’elle faisait une promenade nocturne. Seul un fils de neuf ans leur a survécu. Notre communauté a perdu trois générations en une seule nuit.   

Cet événement témoigne de la réalité de l’islamophobie systémique profondément enracinée au Canada. Les organisations communautaires se sont ralliées et ont demandé des actions concrètes à la suite de la fusillade de la mosquée de Québec en 2017. Malheureusement, ces efforts, comme on l’a vu avec la présentation du M-103, se sont souvent heurtés à une grande résistance. La légitimité de la violence que subissent les musulmans canadiens a été remise en question, et la réalité de l’islamophobie a souvent été ignorée.  

À l’extérieur de nos frontières, l’islamophobie continue d’être un phénomène international croissant et une industrie soutenue par de nombreux gouvernements et organisations dans le monde. Des fusillades motivées par la haine anti-musulmane, à l’instar des tragédies survenues au Canada, ont coûté la vie à des membres de notre communauté à Chapel Hill et à Christchurch. Prendre des mesures concrètes contre l’islamophobie, c’est faire partie de la solution non seulement au niveau national mais aussi international.   

Nous sommes convaincus que pour mettre fin à l’islamophobie, il faut que tous les niveaux de gouvernement prennent des mesures concrètes pour lutter contre l’islamophobie.  

Cela nécessite une approche pangouvernementale. Nous avons besoin d’un changement fondamental au niveau fédéral, provincial et municipal pour empêcher une autre attaque. Qu’il s’agisse de la nomination d’un envoyé spécial pour l’islamophobie, de l’élimination des lois discriminatoires au Canada, de l’intégration de la lutte contre le racisme et l’islamophobie dans notre système éducatif et de la modification de la façon dont les municipalités traitent le harcèlement de rue, une approche pangouvernementale est nécessaire. Et le changement doit se produire immédiatement.   

Nous demandons au gouvernement canadien d’accueillir immédiatement, en urgence, un Sommet d’action national sur l’islamophobie réunissant des leaders de tous les niveaux de gouvernement, afin de tracer la voie à suivre pour que le Canada mette fin à la violence contre les musulmans. Comme ce problème a affecté notre communauté ici et à l’étranger, nous vous demandons, en votre qualité de Premier ministre, de vous engager publiquement, avant la prochaine réunion du G7, à organiser un Sommet d’action national sur l’islamophobie et de travailler avec les dirigeants des pays du G7 pour partager les meilleures pratiques et les ressources lors du Sommet d’action national sur l’islamophobie.  

Salutations,  

Le Conseil national des musulmans Canadiens
London Muslim Mosque
Hikma Public Affairs Council London
Abbottsford Islamic Center
Abu Bakr Islamic Centre
Abu Huraira Masjid
Ahl-ill Bait Islamic Organization
Al Falah Center (Edmonton)
Al Falah Islamic Centre (Oakville)
Al Mustafa Academy and Humanitarian Society
Al Rashid Mosque
Al-Ihsan Educational Foundation
Amnesty International Canadian Section (English-Speaking)
Amnistie Internationale Canada Francophone
Anatolia Islamic Centre
Angel Aid Foundation
Annur Islamic Academy
Assunnah Muslims Association
Az Zahra Islamic Center
B.C.Muslim Association
Barries Mosque
BC Civil Liberties Association
Bosnian Islamic Centre
Brampton Islamic Center
British Columbia Muslim Association
Canadian Anti-Hate Network
Canadian Citizen
Canadian Council Of Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jam’ah
Canadian Council of Imams
Canadian Council of Indian Muslims
Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW)
Canadian Council of Muslim Women Brampton–Mississauga
Canadian Council of Muslim Women Niagara Halton
Canadian Pakistani Support Group Association
Canadian Race Relations Foundation
Canadians Against Oppression And Persecution
Carleton University Muslim Student Association
CCMW Niagara Halton
Centennial College Muslim Students Association
Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec
Chatham Islamic Centre
Conestoga College’s Muslim Student Association
Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA)
Dalhousie MSA
Danforth Islamic Centre
Dar Al-Tawheed Islamic Centre
DAR Foundation
Durham Muslim Alliance
Faith Immigration
Fleetwood Islamic Academy Society of BC
Friends of Pakistan Canada Association
Galt Islamic Centre
Guildford Masjid
Halal Monitoring Authority
Halton Islamic Association
Hamilton Mosque
Hamilton Mountain Mosque
Hilm
Human Concern International
Ibrahim Jame Mosque
ICNA Canada
ICNA Milton
ICNA Relief
International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group
International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF)
International Muslim Organization of Toronto (IMO)
Iqra Islamic School
Islamcare Centre
Islamic Center of South Calgary
Islamic Centre of Oshawa
Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario
Islamic Community Centre of Milton
Islamic Foundation of Toronto
Islamic Information Society of Calgary (IISC)
Islamic Relief Canada
Islamic Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaat of Toronto
Islamic Society of Ajax
Islamic Society of Kingston
Islamic Society of Markham
Islamic Society of Peel
Islamic Society of Ridge Meadows
ISNA Canada
iTrust Foundation
Jame Masjid Mississauga
Jame Masjid Oakville : Noor-UL- Haram
Jami Omar
Justice for All Canada
Kanata Muslim Association
Khayr Project
Langley Islamic Centre
London Islamic School
London Muslim Community
Madinatul Uloom Academy
Malton Madjid
Manitoba Islamic Association
Markaz-ul-Islam
Markaz-Ul-Islam of Fort McMurray
Masjid Ali
Masjid Rahimah
Masjid Syyadina Omar Farooq
Masjid ul Haqq
Mount Sinai Professional Corporation
Muslim Advisory Council of Canada
Muslim Association of Canada (MAC)
Muslim Association of Hamilton
Muslim Community Foundation of Calgary
Muslim Council of Calgary
Muslim Council of Peel
Muslim Educators Network of Ottawa (MENO)
Muslim Neighbourhood Nexus
Muslim Student’s Association at the University of Alberta
Muslim Students’ Association at McGill University
Muslim Women of Vaughan
Muslims of Dufferin (MOD)
Muslims of Hamilton
Muslims of Shelburne Centre
Nabawe Mosque
National Zakat Foundation
Ontario Muslim Academy
Ontario Tech MSA
Ottawa Muslim Association
Pakistan Canada Association- Al Jamia Masjid Vancouver
Pakistan Canada Cultural Association
Pakistani Canadian Community Association
Pakistani Canadian Cultural Association of British Columbia
Pakistani Students Association UTM
Peace & Harmony Center
Penny Appeal Canada
Pickering Islamic Centre
Risalah Foundation
Ryerson Muslim Student Association
Sakeenah Homes
SALAM Project
Sayeda Khadija Centre
Scarborough Muslim Association
Scarborough Muslim Cultural Center
Seneca MSA
Seniors Forum Canada
Sikh Heritage Manitoba
South Nepean Muslim Community (SNMC)
Sri Lankan Muslims of Peel
Suffah Acadamy
Tarbiyah Learning Academy
Thaqalayn Muslim Organization York University
The Council Of Islamic Guidance Inc.
Think for Actions
UFCW Canada
Ummah Society
University of Manitoba Muslim Students’ Association
University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU)
uOttawa Muslim Students Association
Urban Alliance on Race Relations
Uyghur Mosque
Western University Muslim Students’ Association
Windsor Islamic Association
World Organization for Peace
World Sikh Organization of Canada
York Region Muslims
York University Muslim Students Association