Peterborough takes a stand against hate
We, as Canadians, mourn the loss of six innocent men who were murdered, shot in the back
while praying at their Quebec City mosque, by a French Canadian white nationalist. This is the first time in Canadian history that members of a church were gunned down in their place of worship, a place of peace, love, and harmony. We are truly sorry for this tragic loss of innocent lives.
Magdy Kumar, President of the Kawartha Muslim Religious Association, stated that “The Peterborough Muslim and non-Muslim community are shocked to see this happen here in Canada. I never believe that true Canadians would ever do this. It proves that terrorism has no religion.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Parliament called the attack an act of terrorism. The killing of six men and the 19 that were injured is a hate crime against the Muslim community.
No one is born to hate. The effect of the rhetoric of hate from the south is making its way to Canada, giving permission to hold hateful views and incite violence. A message of being fearful of “others,” demonizing those who are different from the majority, those from other religions, races, sexuality and culture. We are a country created by “others,” a settler-state where those who are not First Nations people are immigrants. This country must take pride in the many cultural and religious backgrounds of its citizens and work towards forming an inclusive environment.
When asked if Magdy Kumar felt that his safety was a problem here in Peterborough he said, “To be honest, No. I never had a problem or a security problem in Canada. It’s such a small small minority that is causing the problem, that I don’t have to worry about it. The overwhelming support that we got from the Peterborough community when our Peterborough mosque had the arson …it was very very nice response. It was unexpected and expected. But not surprising to get, Canadian are generous. The joke is that if you step on a Canadian shoe, they say sorry. Or Canadians are so nice they take their anger out by playing hockey. Canadians have been good to me.”
Even so, to be on the safe side, there has been more security presence at the mosque at their evening prayer and at their weekly Islamic School.
Members of the Muslim community were joined by people from Peterborough last week at the mosque to symbolically stand against similar violence here in Peterborough.
There was also an event at Trent, organized by Trent’s Muslim Student Association, for students and members of the public, where people of any faith or religion were encouraged to come pray to show unity.
Also, a busload from the Peterborough community went to the targeted mosque in Quebec City last week to show that Peterborough stands with that community, too.
Let us, as Canadians, as Peterboroughians, not give into the culture of fear. “In the end, we remember not the words of our enemies but the silences of our Friends,” said Martin Luther King. Speak out against racism, against Islamophobia, against homophobia and transphobia, against all forms of discrimination.