Muslims say they feel safe, ‘satisfied’ in Montreal
Members of a local mosque who gathered to mark Eid al-Adha Friday said that, despite the recent incidents at a mosque in Quebec City, the community feels welcome and safe in Montreal.
Several hundred worshippers from Montreal’s Muslim community gathered in a Little Burgundy park for a special prayer service organized by the Shah Jalal Islamic Centre in St-Henri.
Earlier this week, news surfaced that the president of a Quebec City mosque had his vehicle set on fire outside his home in August. The same mosque, the Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec, was the scene of a mass shooting in January and has reported other hate incidents over the year.
But members of the Shah Jalal
We are lucky. Our police, they guide us every time. They even come to mosque ... and they check, they ask if everything is OK or not.
Islamic Centre, who are mostly from Bangladesh, said they have not experienced the same kind of hate crimes or violence as Quebec City.
Rahmat Syed, who helped organize the outdoor prayer session, said the community here has shown its support after what has been happening in the provincial capital.
“The community has been helping us in every way,” Syed said. “What happened in Quebec City, after that, we have lots of people around my area who came out to support us.
“Montreal especially is a very good city, very nice people here. There’s a lot of freedom.”
Syed moved to Canada 40 years ago and lived in Ottawa for 15 years before moving to Montreal 25 years ago.
Mosque member Mdnasim Uddin said he prays that things remain peaceful at the mosque.
“We are lucky. Our police, they guide us every time. They even come to mosque from time to time and they check, they ask if everything is OK or not. We are satisfied,” he said.
Muhim Ahmed said Quebecers “are very generous to each other,” adding that he feels safe in Montreal.
Member of Parliament for Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Îledes-Soeurs Marc Miller attended the service and said he felt it was important to be there to show support for the community.
“I think as an open and welcoming society, I feel it’s important to show up at a number of these events to show support,” he said. “The Muslim community is one of them that is fragilized, particularly by events around the world and the recent event in Quebec City.”
He added that he felt it was important for politicians to stand up and support the community “that has the right to live like you and me in Canada in peace.”