Within the wake of a number of, deadly assaults on Canadian Muslims in recent times, the Nationwide Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) has launched 60 coverage suggestions to fight hate and racism throughout the nation.
The suggestions, which embody Prison Code amendments to raised take care of hate crimes, a curriculum overview and a nationwide fund for victims of Islamophobia, come upfront of a nationwide summit on Islamophobia this week.
“We can’t stand by and see any extra lives misplaced,” the council mentioned in a press release launched Monday.
“Islamophobia is deadly and we have to see motion now.”
Information conferences are being held on Monday in Toronto, London, Ont., Quebec Metropolis and Edmonton to announce the suggestions.
Anti-Muslim hate assaults in these cities in recent times embody the June 6 hit-and-run on the Afzaal household in London, Ont., the deadly stabbing of volunteer caretaker Mohamed-Aslim Zafis outdoors a Toronto mosque final September, the January 2017 assault on a mosque in Quebec Metropolis the place six males had been killed and dozens of others had been significantly wounded and at the very least six hate-motivated assaults on Black and racialized Muslim ladies in Edmonton in latest months.
Forward of the Nationwide Summit on Islamophobia, Nationwide Council of Canadian Muslims CEO Mustafa Farooq outlined what he needs every stage of presidency to do to assist struggle Islamophobia. 2:52
The coverage suggestions launched Monday are damaged down by federal, provincial and municipal ranges of presidency. A few of them embody:
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Funding for a proposed Nationwide Assist Fund for Survivors of Hate-Motivated Crimes.
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An investigation into nationwide safety companies and the way they take care of white supremacist teams, and whether or not they have infiltrated these companies.
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New provisions within the Prison Code round hate-motivated assault, homicide, threats and mischief that embody particular penalties corresponding to every infraction.
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A federal anti-Islamophobia technique by the top of 2021.
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Funding for Muslim storytelling.
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Provincial laws that bars white supremacist teams from rallying on provincial property.
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A overview of college curriculum with an anti-Islamophobic lens and assets for Muslim college students.
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Municipal road harassment bylaws that handle verbal assault.
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Local people-based anti-Islamophobic initiatives and anti-Islamophobia advisory councils.
The suggestions could be learn of their entirety on the backside of this story.
MPs voted unanimously in favour of a movement calling for a nationwide summit on Islamophobia in June, following the assault in London, Ont. It will likely be held on Thursday as a part of Canada’s anti-racism technique.
The identical day that movement handed, the federal authorities additionally introduced it might maintain a further summit on antisemitism. It will likely be held on Wednesday.
“There are lots of Canadians of all backgrounds who’ve been abiding allies of Canadian Muslim communities and various communities normally,” the NCCM mentioned.
“That is clear within the outpouring of assist after Islamophobic incidents by messages of condolences and hope, human shields round mosques at prayer instances, garden indicators to supply consolation as households go for walks and solidarity in demanding change. Thus, whereas there isn’t a doubt that we’ve an issue with Islamophobia in Canada, there may be additionally little doubt that we as Canadians even have the collective will to do one thing about it.”
