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More than three hundred Edmontonians gathered outside city hall Friday evening demanding an end to violence against Muslims after two sisters were attacked in St. Albert this week, the latest in a series of apparently hate-motivated attacks in recent months.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), leading the rally, is calling for all levels of government to immediately hold a bipartisan committee by the end of July. The group is calling for an action plan to combat Islamophobia and protect racialized communities.
Amira Shousha, Alberta lead for NCCM, said Edmontonians can’t allow this violence to continue. There’s a lot of fear and anxiety in the Muslim community, given an escalation in violence in the last six months, she said.
”We want to be able to go out on a walk with our family and not be hurt,” she said before the rally. “These attacks are getting worse, they’re getting more bold. And now, most recently, there was a weapon involved in the last attack.”
At least eight apparently hate-motivated attacks have been reported on Muslim women in the Edmonton area since the end of last year. Several were Black women. Edmonton police have laid charges in seven incidents. This week’s attacks come in the wake of the killing of a Muslim family in London, Ont. earlier this month which police believe was motivated by hatred. Last week, an Edmonton mosque was also vandalized with a swastika.
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Sahra Kaahiye, a family friend of the women attacked at Southgate last year, said people can’t be complacent and need to stand with them.
”It doesn’t matter if we’re by ourselves, it doesn’t matter if we’re in a group … it doesn’t matter, day or night, it doesn’t matter the circumstances … we are the target,” she said at the rally.
After each attack in recent months politicians say they stand with them, but no laws have changed, she said.
”Statements will not keep us safe. Statements won’t save my family,” she said. “We are done talking. We want action.”
Kaahiye asked attendees to show up for court dates for those accused in the attacks.
Africa Centre, the Edmonton Council of Muslim Communities, and the Al Rashid Mosque were among organizations part of the rally.
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Attendees held signs calling for action on social media laws, and to end hatred against Muslims. One sign said, “Criminalize hate crimes now. Your words don’t protect us.”
Shousha echoed calls for action, along with condemning Islamophobia with words.
“We’ve come a long way with Islamophobia being addressed and being spoken about, but the words are not doing anything unless (there is) action,” she said. “People (should) face consequences when they hurt the Muslim community just as much as they would if they hurt somebody else.”
On Wednesday, two Muslim women were attacked by a knife-wielding man, according to police. A white man, about 50 years old, allegedly grabbed one of the women by the hijab and threw her to the ground, knocking her unconscious. Police said he pushed the other woman down and put a knife to her throat, threatening them with racial slurs.
One woman was treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and the other was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Police have asked the public for help identifying the suspect in the assault.
— With files from Jonny Wakefield
