Quebec parties oppose making mosque shooting anniversary a day of awareness

The head of an influential Muslim group said he’s disappointed Quebec’s main opposition parties do not support a call by his organization to make the anniversary of Quebec City’s deadly mosque shooting a day of action on Islamophobia.

Last Friday, the National Council of Canadian Muslims wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, asking for the Jan. 29 anniversary of the mass shooting one year ago to become a national day of remembrance and action on Islamophobia. Six Muslim men were shot and killed and 19 others were wounded in an attack on the mosque during prayers last Jan. 29. Alexandre Bissonnette is to stand trial in March on six charges of first-degree murder and six of attempted murder.

But this week, the province’s two main opposition parties made it clear that, while they support a commemoration, they believe Islamophobia is a loaded term.

The Parti Quebecois says the term is too controversial, while the Coalition Avenir Quebec deems the word inappropriate because Quebecers “are not Islamophobic.”

Ihsaan Gardee, director of the Muslim council, attributed the parties’ position to identity politics in an election year in Quebec.

“In our view, when arguing semantics, it draws attention away from the core issues of hate and Islamophobia and anti-Muslim discrimination that are being discussed and how to effectively address them,” Gardee said Tuesday.

While still waiting for a decision from Heritage Minister Melanie Joly, Gardee said such a designation would help enhance public education about hate, bigotry and Islamophobia and that a day of remembrance is supported by dozens of other Canadian Muslim groups and community partners.

He said the term Islamophobia is understood as the rational fear and hatred of Muslims.

“Fear and hatred, if left unchecked, is certainly capable of leading to discrimination and violence, which we saw culminate on Jan. 29 of last year when six innocent Muslim men were killed in their place of worship,” Gardee said.

A PQ spokesman said in a statement the party believes the tragedy should be remembered every year, but notes the term Islamophobia is already a controversial term, while the Coalition says the day should honour the victims of the shooting.

“The attack at the Quebec City mosque is a serious tragedy that has struck all of Quebec,” said Bruno-Pierre Cyr, a spokesman for Leader Jean-Francois Lisee. “We are obviously open to it being commemorated every year.”