Islamophobia and the Unsettling Reality for Muslim Canadians
Ramadan has become a central target for hate against Muslims.
By Aftab Ahmed
What is Ramadan and why is it important? In appreciating a foundational pillar of their faith, Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn until dusk – and focus on somewhat of a profound spiritual reset. In the context of rising Islamophobia, Ramadan has become a central target for hate. Just this April, two mosques were attacked in Markham and Montreal in despicable acts of bigotry.
Let’s get a few basics out of the way. Islam has not landed from Mars. Similar to Christianity and Judaism, this religion is very much embedded in the key tenets of its affiliated Abrahamic faiths. Love thy neighbour, do no harm, be a good person, pray for peace, and give charity – all the “good” stuff is rooted front and centre within Quranic literature and Islamic theology.
Adherents of the world’s second largest religion have faced relentless burdens and deadly repercussions from radical elements operating within it. More recently, the rise of right-wing populism and white nationalism has nudged political elites in Europe and North America to toe a dangerous line: Islam threatens the Western way of life, and it should be constrained, curtailed, and in extreme cases, banished using policy levers.
In this climate, Muslims living in the West face a predicament: How can they deal with self-proclaimed Islam haters, while reinforcing the notion that their faith, like other ideologies, has simply been misused by a bunch of “bad” actors? As Canadians, they wonder what more they can do to show their unwavering loyalty to the country. However, it is on all Canadians to tackle Islamophobia and acknowledge the anxieties of their Muslim neighbours.
Growing Islamophobia is a Problem
With 4.9 percent of the population consisting of Muslims, it is the patriotic duty of Canadians to unambiguously reject the narrow-mindedness of Islamophobes. The same should be said for “haters” of other faiths. To put it in simple terms: there is a clear and explicit line between hate, and the discomfort one may have with certain customs institutionalized in mainstream religions.
A recent federal study revealed that Islamophobic crimes increased by 71 percent in 2021, compared to the previous year. This has become somewhat of a common trend, with North American and European Muslims reporting an incessant surge in incidents of harassment and discrimination.
In 2018, Mohammed Abu Marzouk and his family fell victim to a ghastly hate crime in Mississauga, Ontario. Two strangers hurled Islamophobic slurs at them and proceeded to kick the vehicle in which they were sitting. Marzouk stepped out to speak with them and was brutally beaten, resulting in life-threatening injuries. This incident is a clear indication that Islamophobia is a real issue in Canada.
So what is Islamophobia exactly? Well, based on the experiences of Canadians, it is a phenomenon that can range from derogatory comments, hate speech, acts of vandalism, to physical violence targeted at Muslims. In a survey conducted by the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, over 35 percent of Canadian Muslims, 50 percent higher than the population at-large, narrated suffering discrimination based on their religion and ethnicity.
At the risk of over-simplification, immigrants, and particularly middle-aged and older individuals who may lack proficiency in English or French, tend to sweep such occurrences under the rug – with the hope of simply “fitting in”. Be certain that there are more Canadians out there, who face religious discrimination than what is publicly reported.
A Word on Quebec
Remember the mosque attack in Quebec City which resulted in the death of 6 Canadians? Yes, that happened in this country. In no way does this mean that Islamophobia is inherently a “Quebec” problem. In fact, the killing of the Afzaal family in London, Ontario, in 2021, reminds us that this is a nationwide concern. But for political reasons, Quebec seems to be at the heart of conversations underlining anti-Muslim proclivities.
A study conducted by the Angus Reid Institute suggests that 30 percent of Quebecers have a “very negative” perspective of Islam, with 16 percent of respondents from the rest of Canada sharing the same view. Now, what is more difficult to understand is whether these opinions translate towards Islamophobic actions. Alternatively, do they merely represent a view on a religion whose customs seem foreign to some Canadians?
Beyond this deliberation, if you are a Muslim woman in Quebec who wears the hijab as a component of your identity, then you are pretty likely to feel that your religious rights have been violated via the notorious “Secularism Bill”. Premier Francois Legault says that Bill 21, which bans civil servants, including teachers, nurses, and law enforcement personnel, from wearing religious symbols, is reasonable. Minority Quebecers think otherwise, with fresh research suggesting that they feel “less accepted, less safe, and less hopeful” under this legislation.
On every account, Bill 21 is against the symbolic essence of the Canadian story. It is the antithesis of the kind of nation which Canada aspires to be. But hey, we all remind ourselves that Quebec is not a signatory to the federation’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Whether this absolves the provincial government from protecting the rights of minorities is something that I leave up to readers to make a valued judgement on.
This brings us to a discussion around the idea that Canada represents a multicultural mosaic. In a comparative lens with other Western nations, this maybe true. And then you think, well is it all about the optics? Quebec, in being its own distinct entity in the federation, has ditched the optics, and said very clearly: Islam is not compatible with the province’s history, culture, and for reasons which I will never understand, it’s brand of secularism.
In defending Bill 21, Premier Legault asks us to “think of what’s best for our children”. In the process, he has no problem singularly targeting Muslim women via a discriminatory law. Quebec’s Minister of Education is tapping into the “secularism” torch once again this Ramadan, and has informed us: prayer rooms will be banned in public schools. How shameful. How tragic. And how un-Canadian.
Having an Opinion about a Religion is Not a Problem
Let’s face it: we all have opinions about religion. Some of us believe in a higher power, while others think it’s all nonsense. Some may even categorize certain practices or beliefs to be downright infuriating. But here is the thing: just because you dislike the practices of a specific religion, it does not mean you should hate it. And in a country like Canada, where diversity is not simply a token for political grandstanding, but a demographic reality, this distinction is very important.
Bringing it back to Muslims, the difference between having a negative outlook on Islamic practices and despising its followers is not just a matter of semantics. And unfortunately, self-described Islam-haters have sprung up more than their share, sowing division and hatred towards Muslim communities. We need to challenge this conventional wisdom and turn it on its head.
Canadians need to ask themselves the age old question: what kind of society do they want to live in and what lessons should they leave for the next generation? A society where hate crimes against Muslims and other minorities are on the rise, or one where diversity and acceptance are part and parcel of everyday life?
So if you have a Muslim colleague who is fasting this Ramadan, maybe try and understand why they are doing it. Exhibit the kind of empathy which you would expect when you undertake an action that represents an intrinsic element of your personal beliefs. And be respectful, kind, and non-judgmental.
Most importantly, like Legault, don’t try and justify the unjustifiable.
Aftab Ahmed is a Master of Public Policy candidate with the Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University, where he is the editor-in-chief of the policy newsletter The Bell. Aftab is a freelance columnist for the Bangladeshi English-language newspapers, The Daily Star and Dhaka Tribune — and his interests lie in global affairs, international relations, and political trends in the Indo-Pacific.
Well said Aftab!