National Day of Remembrance and Action Against Islamophobia

January 29th marks the National Day of Remembrance and Action Against Islamophobia.
On this day in 2017, six worshippers lost their lives, and nineteen suffered severe injuries from the terror attack at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec City. Today we honor and remember Ibrahima Barry, Mamadou Tanou Barry, Khaled Belkacemi, Abdelkrim Hassane, Azzedine Soufiane, and Aboubaker Thabti. Today we come together as Canadians from all plains of this country to take a moment and mourn this loss caused by a senseless act of hate, because no matter what part of Canada we come from, the mountain ranges or the busy cityscapes, we can ALL stand to and renew our commitment to combating Islamophobia, radicalization, and hatred.
The Muslim family murdered by a bigoted driver in London, Ontario on June 6, 2021, the victims of the terror attack on the Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec City; these are the people we need to renew our commitment for. The loved ones left behind to mourn the loss of these victims are the people we need to renew our commitment for. The vulnerable Muslim youth that doubts their faith based on their safety are the people we need to renew our commitment for. The people who will end up victims to more senseless acts of hate tomorrow are the people we need to renew our commitment for.
No meaningful change can be achieved until we work together as a society to ensure tolerance and equality and the elimination of Islamophobia in our communities.
Human Concern International stands in solidarity with the victims’ families, the survivors, the Muslim community, and all Canadians on this day, but remembering and commemorating them is not enough. Islamophobia is a daily reality for the Muslim community. It is up to us all to stand up and strive towards a truly inclusive society where no family has to experience these tragedies again, where no community has to fear these tragedies again.
Let today be a day to take stock of what we have learned and done in the fight against Islamophobia. Let today be a day to remind us that changes must be embraced at the very foundation of our country. There is an obligation on the part of the Government of Canada to establish legislation and policy to combat all kinds of Islamophobia, including systemic Islamophobia inside government institutions.
Justice and Equality and Dignity and Love are two of Human Concern International’s core values in our recently released five-year strategic plan that have been inspired by our resolve to fight injustice and inequality. We want to do our part, but we need everyone to do theirs. Let us all work together to ensure that Islamophobia has no place in our future.
Mahmuda Khan
Executive Director”
Source: mail.google.com