National Muslim advocacy organization denounces attack on Muslim students

-For Immediate Release-

(Ottawa – October 9, 2013) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent Muslim advocacy organization, today condemned an assault this past Saturday evening on six Muslim youth in Kingston, Ontario which is being investigated as a hate crime by Kingston Police.

According to a media report the victims – all Muslim – were chased down the street and attacked by four perpetrators, with one of the suspects brandishing a weapon. Kingston Police have also released an image of one of the suspects that was taken by one of the victims.

“Such hateful and cowardly acts are abhorrent to all Canadians – Muslims and non-Muslims – who stand united in our condemnation of this attack and all crimes motivated by xenophobia and hatred,” says NCCM Executive Director Ihsaan Gardee.

“While disturbing, we believe this attack on members of the Kingston Muslim community does not represent the sentiments of the vast majority of Canadians.

“We call on the authorities to prosecute the perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law in order to send a strong message against potential hate crimes and intolerance. NCCM further urges elected leaders and security officials at all levels to publicly condemn these hateful acts and to support public awareness campaigns around the issue,” says Gardee.

“We also urge community leaders to remain vigilant and to immediately report suspicious behaviour to the proper authorities, as well as to the NCCM, in order to establish a clear record of such incidents.”

Anyone with information is requested to contact Kingston police Det. Jay Finn at 613-549-4660, ext.  6228 or via email at jfinn@kpf.ca. Alternatively, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8744 so that the accused perpetrators can be held to account and a clear message be sent that these kinds of attacks will not be tolerated. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers or on www.tipsubmit.ca. Tipsters are eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.

This latest attack on Canadian Muslims comes on the heels of an Angus-Reid poll highlighting that anti-Islam sentiment is on the rise in Canada.

NCCM presents workshops to educate communities about their rights and responsibilities when confronted with a possible hate crime.

NCCM is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit grassroots advocacy organization. It is a leading voice for Muslim civic engagement and the promotion of human rights.

CONTACT:  Ihsaan Gardee, Executive Director, 613.254.9704; 613.853.4111

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