Saskatoon’s Muslim community shocked and saddened
Islamic association president urges politicians to speak out against hatred and intolerance
Hasan Ahmed was home in Saskatoon early Friday morning when he saw his cousin posting online about an attack on mosques in his community of Christchurch, New Zealand.
“He sent me a text that this happened to our mosque and then I just, right away, asked him ‘How is your family? Your kids?’ ” said Ahmed, who has been living in Saskatoon for almost a decade.
Ahmed was one of dozens of people who converged on the Saskatoon Islamic Centre for prayer on Friday in the wake of the New Zealand mosque attacks.
Ahmed said his cousin was minutes away from the Al Noor Mosque when the shooting occurred; he was following members of the Bangladesh cricket team, who were in the community at the time.
“Their bus was delayed and similarly, my cousin, he was following the players, those who were visiting in Christchurch,” he said. “That’s why they survived.”
Ahmed said he thought “alhamd lilah” or “praise to god” when he heard his family was safe following the attacks, noting he’s been praying for the people who are suffering and who were killed. He does not know them, but he considers them his brothers and sisters, he said.
The attack at the two mosques left 49 people dead and dozens more injured. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called it a terrorist attack.
On Friday, New Zealand police said a 28-year-old man is charged with murder and other charges are pending.
To show support and ensure safety, Saskatoon police Chief Troy Cooper and other officers were present at Friday’s prayers. He said he felt it was important that police “stand beside” the Muslim community at a time when it’s feeling “particularly vulnerable.”
Police in Regina were also in communication with the Islamic community there. Spokesman Les Parker said the police force will be “adjusting our response in a way that will (address) the safety and security of the Muslim community.”
Both police forces stressed they were there to ensure safety and not as a result of any threats against people in Saskatchewan.
Dr. Habib Rehman, president of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat’s Regina chapter, said Friday’s sermon at the group’s east-end mosque would directly address the horror in Christchurch.
“It doesn’t matter what religion it is, or what community it is, it’s always, always shocking when innocent people are killed,” he said.
Omar Farag, an international student at the University of Saskatchewan, who came to Saskatoon from Egypt seven months ago, said he didn’t feel safe until he arrived at the mosque in Saskatoon on Friday.
There’s an unfair bias against Muslim people in the public sphere, but Islam is a religion of “love for all and hate for none,” he said.
“Muslims are not trying to separate themselves from anyone else. They’re not trying to impose their views on anyone. All they’re trying to do is to have a peaceful life.”
He said white attackers may get sympathetic coverage compared to attackers from minority groups.
“All I’m asking for from other people is more awareness,” he said.
In Saskatoon on Friday, Premier Scott Moe said there’s “no place” for this kind of hate, racism and action in the province.
“We are one people in this province, we are neighbours in our communities wherever we live here in Saskatchewan and let’s treat one another with precisely the respect that we expect to be treated (with),” he said.
“Speaking out against it publicly is part of what we have to do, but also just showing up in solidarity and being here,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili, who attended prayers in Saskatoon, expressing condolences.
Meili said those who hold anti-Islamic sentiments in Saskatchewan should reach out to their Muslim neighbours to develop a better understanding.
“The solution to ignorance and hate is exposure,” he said.
Munir Haque, president of the Islamic Association of Saskatchewan’s Regina chapter, said there are plans to organize a vigil to honour the people who died. A prayer was also said in Arabic to help ensure they “find peace and make their way into Allah’s good graces,” he said.
Ihsaan Gardee, executive director of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, was in Saskatoon this week to speak at a panel addressing hate speech at an event hosted by the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission. The gathering learned about the attack while a discussion was ongoing on Thursday night.
Gardee said there were feelings of shock and sadness, but he wasn’t that surprised because this type of attack seems to be getting more common.
He said there are steps governments can take, noting the NCCM has called for Jan. 29 — the date of the Quebec mosque shooting — to be declared a national day of action against hatred and intolerance.
The rise of online hate is “tremendously troubling,” he said.
“We have to ensure we come up with a Made in Canada solution,” he said.
“We have to look at it from all sides of the issue. What are the pros and cons and how can we ensure that we are walking that fine line where we are combating hate, while also vigorously defending our hard-won and hard-fought cherished rights to freedom of expression?
“It’s incredibly important that our elected officials speak out and speak out in unequivocal terms against hatred and intolerance targeting Muslims, and targeting anyone else for that matter. We look to our elected officials to be role models and to speak on behalf of whom they represent, and as the expression goes, with great power comes great responsibility.”
In a Tweet on Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the shootings “absolutely appalling,” noting Canada “strongly condemns” the act.
Zeeshan Ahmed, Imam of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Regina chapter, said the recent attacks will not stop people from practising their faith.
“We will not stop worshipping. It’s what brings us peace and tranquillity. We hold our mosque very dear to us and all places of worship very dear to us, and we will fill them regardless of what any extremists or any person that is full of hate does or says.”