Representatives of major Canadian Muslim groups gathered Thursday to reiterate their denunciation of terrorism in the name of Islam at a news conference in Ottawa, even as fear of harassment and violence grows in the Muslim-Canadian community.
“Our message to anyone who believes in violent extremist ideologies is that you have nothing to do with Islam,” said Ihsaan Gardee, the executive director of the National Council of Canadian Muslims and one of several speakers at Thursday’s event. “You have nothing to do with the noble principles of our faith, which categorically condemn the taking of innocent life.”
Muslim associations across Canada were quick to issue statements of solidarity with their fellow citizens as events unfolded in Ottawa on Wednesday and the killer of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was identified as Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a recent convert to Islam.
Speakers at the news conference expressed grief and extended condolences to the families affected by the attack, but they also hinted at the strains the event will likely put on Muslim-Canadian communities. A representative for the Canadian Council of Muslim Women spoke of living “under a microscope” of suspicion since Sept. 11, 2001.
Canadians, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, have to work “to heal the toxic wounds of recent history,” Farhat Rehman said.
Muslim community leaders, who placed a wreath at the National War Memorial where the fatal shooting took place, spoke with numerous media outlets as well as other Ottawans about what had taken place in the city, with Imam Sikander Hashmi of the Kanata Muslim Association telling Postmedia News that it was “a very emotional day.”
“Obviously there’s a lot of sadness and perhaps some anger as well,” Hashmi said in a phone interview. “This is my country. I haven’t lived anywhere else and I call this home, so for someone to spread bloodshed and violence in my homeland, I don’t take that very kindly. I take great offence to that.”
“We’re feeling exactly the way a lot our fellow Canadians are feeling,” he added.
Hashmi, who also works with the Canadian Council of Imams, said mosques and Muslim associations across Canada started responding to the tragedy even before the identity of the shooter was revealed, although learning that he was a Muslim was troubling.
Law enforcement is already preparing for any ugliness that might arise in the days and weeks to come. Amid the emergency response in the capital on Wednesday, police in Ottawa and Toronto sent letters to local Muslim community centres assuring them of their security.
“The Ottawa Police Service has a long standing collaboration with our various faith and communities leaders that have allowed us to build strong and positive relationships,” Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau wrote. “With this in mind, I want to take this opportunity to reiterate my commitment to ensure the safety of all of our communities.”
Hashmi said the letter was a positive sign of trust and cooperation, although some community members have already experienced harassment since the shooting.
“We did hear reports of children being bullied at school, having a tough time yesterday because of the events. We had reports of a woman wearing a hijab being verbally assaulted. But you know what? We’re all in this together [despite] the anger that people feel,” Hashmi said.
“I also know that an overwhelming majority of Canadians believe and understand that taking out anger and frustrations against innocent people in response to the loss of innocent life is wrong, and that two wrongs don’t make a right.”
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idaro@postmedia.com
