CMPAC Launches Handbook on 'Islamophobia'.

On Thursday, June 4, the Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council (CMPAC) released a policy handbook addressing Islamophobia in Canada. This initiative aims to encourage the federal government to enhance protections for Muslim communities and implement longstanding recommendations to combat anti-Muslim hate.

“Five years ago, our family in London was murdered in a hate-motivated attack simply because they were Muslim,” stated CMPAC Executive Director Khaled Alqazzaz during a news conference in Ottawa. He referred to the June 6, 2021, attack that claimed the lives of four members of the Afzaal family in London, Ontario.

Alqazzaz emphasized that this tragic event was not an isolated incident, saying it highlighted the realities that Muslim communities across Canada have been warning about for years. He explained that Islamophobia extends beyond individual acts of hate; it is also woven into broader social and institutional systems that continue to harm Muslim communities.

“Despite years of studies, consultations, and public commitments, Muslims in Canada continue to face discrimination, harassment, violence, and unequal treatment,” he added. The handbook draws on insights from parliamentary reports, academic research, and government studies, and outlines key recommendations. These include stronger protections for mosques and Islamic schools, dedicated federal funding sources, and improved accountability within public institutions.

When asked about the federal government’s decision to replace the special representative on Islamophobia with an advisory council, Alqazzaz expressed his high expectations for meaningful action from the new council. “When the Prime Minister (Mark Carney) dismantles the office and replaces it with the advisory council, we expect even more from the new council to address Islamophobia tangibly and measurably,” he stated.

Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director of Justice For All Canada, pointed out that anti-Muslim violence is driven by a global ideology that transcends borders and connects numerous attacks worldwide. “The same ideology that motivated the attack on the Afzaal family was evident in the murders of six worshippers at the Islamic Cultural Center of Quebec City in 2017,” he noted. He also highlighted similar patterns in attacks in New Zealand and the United States, stating, “Different countries, different perpetrators, different circumstances, but a common thread is the dehumanization of Muslims.”

Ghayyur referenced Statistics Canada data indicating that hate crimes targeting Muslims surged by 94% in 2023, while overall hate crimes have more than doubled since 2019. “These statistics are not just numbers. Behind each figure is a person—a child afraid to wear a hijab, a family concerned about attending the mosque, and a community questioning whether they truly belong,” he remarked.

He also cited factors such as “white supremacy,” transnational hate, and foreign interference, identifying countries like India and China in connection with the persecution of Muslim minorities.

New Democratic Party House Leader Heather McPherson echoed these concerns, stating that Muslim communities across Canada continue to face discrimination, intimidation, and vandalism, including attacks on mosques in several cities. “Muslim Canadians report ongoing discrimination, intimidation, exclusion, and an increased need for security,” she said. McPherson emphasized that Canada must do more to address all forms of hate, including Islamophobia, antisemitism, anti-Palestinian racism, anti-Indigenous racism, anti-Black racism, and anti-Sikh racism.

The 30-page handbook, published to commemorate the Afzaal family, draws on academic research, parliamentary reports, and governmental studies to tackle the rising threat of Islamophobia in Canada. It outlines four main recommendations: