Muslims buoyed by support
Security hiked at local mosques following tragedy in Quebec City
Hundreds of emails and phone calls poured into the Islamic Association of Saskatchewan (IAS) on Monday, from people eager to support the city’s Muslim community or simply share words of sympathy after the Sunday evening attack on a Quebec City mosque.
Dr. Abdullah Patel, spokesman for the IAS, said support from the Muslim and non-Muslim communities is “not surprising” and to his knowledge there hasn’t been a single incident of violent islamophobia in Saskatoon — a fact confirmed by city police Chief Clive Weighill when he spoke to reporters Monday afternoon. “We spent years building this amazing relationship, so we feel quite safe (in Saskatoon),” Patel said. “I’m hoping it stays that way.”
Police are working to guarantee that safety, reaching out to leaders of the community to give reassurance and discuss any concerns.
One of those calls was made to Shamoon Rashid, local president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Saskatoon.
“They called us making sure we didn’t have any negative reactions locally to our community,” he said. “They wanted to make sure that during our prayers the people going to the mosque are safe.”
Although Weighill confirmed there have been no threats against the city’s Muslim residents, he said he is taking the ‘better safe than sorry’ approach.
Weighill said he will personally visit each mosque in the city and add extra patrols during prayer times, to show Muslim residents that police take the issue seriously and are focused on keeping everyone safe, regardless of the current threat level.
“We certainly believe in our Muslim community here and they don’t have to look over their shoulders; we know they’re peaceful and law-abiding people,” he said.
Premier Brad Wall also spoke highly of the Muslim immigrants who decided to make Saskatchewan home, but said it would be surprising if the attack did not have farther reaching effects countrywide, so the provincial government is working to ensure protocols are in place to help guarantee safety.
“I just want them to know that we are going to do whatever we can so they continue to feel welcome, that this is their home but it is also a safe place for them.”
Rashid, whose family immigrated from Pakistan, cited safety as a main reason for making the journey to Canada after his uncle was killed for being a Muslim.
“We’re not used to these sort of attacks in our homeland so it was a big shock,” he said.
“I’ve been in Canada since 1987 because my parents moved out of Pakistan because of persecution against the Muslim community ... My dad decided to move to Canada for a more peaceful life.”
This was the first time in the 29 years since he moved here that he had ever heard of an attack of this magnitude against Muslim Canadians, he said.
University student Arisha Nazir said she sees the shooting as a tipping point in U.S. President Donald Trump’s Muslim travel ban, which she described as “completely racist.”
After learning of the attack, Nazir and a group of friends began planning a vigil early Monday morning, realizing an act of solidarity was needed to help the community mourn.
She also hopes it helps change certain people’s outlook, she said.
“We have to come together as a community and realize how this impacts us ... this kind of thing should really bring us together rather than forcing us apart.”
The solidarity vigil began Monday night and is expected to continue today in front of city hall at 6 p.m.
All city facilities are flying their flags at half-mast in solidarity with the Muslim community and victims. City council has scheduled a special meeting today to discuss the shootings in Quebec City and the U.S. travel ban.