Safety focus of new working group
The safety of Muslim women and girls and how to make improvements in the fight against Islamophobia was before Halifax regional council this week.
The motion to combat Islamophobia and improve the safety of Muslim women and girls brought forward by Coun. Pam Lovelace passed unanimously Tuesday.
Between 2016 and 2021, more Muslim people were killed in targeted hate attacks in Canada than any other G7 country, according to the National Council of Canadian Muslims. A report by Statistics Canada last month stated that Muslims have the second-highest rate of religious-motivated violence against them, while people of the Jewish faith have the highest rate of hate crimes.
Police reported that violent hate crimes against Muslims were more likely to victimize females.
Halifax Regional Municipality social policy strategist Amy Brierley said the city lacks a co-ordinated and coherent approach against Islamophobia.
She said that nearly 100 Muslim women and girls participated in a community engagement exercise. They shared safety concerns and suggested solutions, such as increasing their visibility in municipal promotional materials and raising anti-islamophobia awareness through public education campaigns.
“These initiatives are critical and contribute to combating Islamophobia and supporting the safety of Muslim women and girls,” Brierley said.
Councillors’ discussion followed the presentation by Brierley.
“I have spoken to Muslim women and girls. They’ve shared with me what they’ve been exposed to in our municipality, and it angers me that’s happening,” Coun. Tony Mancini said.
The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights reported in 2023 that Muslim women and girls who wear visible indicators of their faith, such as the hijab or niqab, are more vulnerable to Islamophobia, as they face the compound effects of racism, sexism, ableism and xenophobia.
The report also noted gendered Islamophobia is common in Canada.
“We need to stand up and do whatever we possibly can to say what they’re being exposed to is wrong and celebrate all faiths, religions and culture,” added Mancini.
He said he was angry with the Quebec government over its handling of religious minorities and is proud of the diversity in the Halifax region.
The 2013 Quebec Charter of Values banned public employees from wearing the hijab and other head coverings. It’s unfair toward people affiliated with religion, particularly Muslim women, the HRM report to council stated.
In 2017, a gunman opened fire at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec City for two minutes, killing six people and seriously injuring five others.
Halifax Mayor Mike Savage agreed with Mancini.
“We need to make sure that we recognize that there are still shortcomings in the way that we view people who are different than some of us,” Savage said.
Savage recalled the Barho family, who came to Halifax as Syrian refugees in 2017. A house fire in 2019 took the lives of seven children in the family. The Muslim community came together in support and organized multifaith gatherings following the tragedy.
“It was a great thing, but we need to continue to work at it,” Savage said.