Build a region of harmony, not hatred
There is a problem with Islamophobia in Canada. There is a problem with Islamophobia in southern Ontario. And, yes, there is a problem with ignorant bigots aiming hate-filled words and actions — like missiles — at Muslims even here in Waterloo Region.
Make no mistake: This problem isn’t confined to the Muslim population alone, which admittedly would be bad enough. The fact is, Islamophobia hurts everyone. It is a corrosive agent that dissolves the vital glue of social harmony that holds together our multicultural, multi-faith, multiracial nation.
Myriad examples of this disorder from just the past month and a half show how depressingly and dangerously close to home it has become. Last week, a 40-year-old Cambridge man was arrested and charged with several criminal offences after two Muslim women walking in Ancaster received death threats and were chased by a car. Police consider the incident a hate crime.
Meanwhile, a Muslim woman in Waterloo told The Record how terrified she was recently when the driver of a parked van who was watching her suddenly began driving fast and straight at her as she crossed a street in that city. That was an eerie reminder of the tragedy that happened in London, Ont., last month when a pickup truck driver ran down and killed four members of a Muslim family and injured a fifth. Police believe the suspect, who faces four first-degree murder charges as well as an attempted-murder charge, was motivated by hatred against the Islamic faith.
Sadly, last Wednesday’s break-in at a Cambridge mosque only added to the feeling of many Muslims in Canada that they are under siege. It’s worth noting that while police arrested and charged a suspect in connection with this outrage, they do not consider it a hate crime.
Even so, the destruction of property at the Baitul Kareem Mosque, the trashing of cherished Islamic literature in the building and an estimated damage bill of more than $10,000 was surely traumatic to the faithful who worship there.
To survey this list of outrages is to conclude the challenge Islamophobia presents to Canada can be neither downplayed nor ignored. Of course it was good to hear local leaders say, in the wake of the Cambridge mosque vandalism, that hatred against Muslims has no place in this supposedly progressive region. Yes, indeed. But words are not enough.
Moreover, Islamophobia isn’t a social malady that can be eradicated only by our police and courts — after a crime has occurred. A concerted communitywide response is urgently needed.
Proof of how much such action can matter came after the break-in at the Cambridge mosque. People stopped by the mosque to offer money, flowers and smiles of encouragement. That show of solidarity was like a balm to those feeling pain.
But the people of this region must also be proactive. We have to be prepared to speak up, to denounce acts of bigotry and hatred in real time, as they are being committed. We must be ready to call police if we see a potential crime underway. We can also take advantage of an online reporting tool launched by the Coalition of Muslim Women of KW if we witness or experience acts of hate or discrimination.
It may seem a daunting task to uproot and end Islamophobia across this vast nation of ours. But we can start in our own community of Waterloo Region, in our own neighbourhoods and in our own homes.
On Tuesday, local Muslims celebrated one of their most important holidays — Eid-al-Adha. For many and for all the reasons listed above, the day brought sorrow as well as joy. Let’s all work together so that next year, Eid-al-Adha is an occasion only for joy.