NCCM welcomes unanimous consent of federal motion condemning Islamophobia
– For Immediate Release –
(Ottawa – October 27th, 2016) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent civil liberties & advocacy organization, welcomes the unanimous passage of a motion condemning Islamophobia, presented for a second time last night in federal parliament.
The motion was based on an e-petition sponsored by Liberal MP Frank Baylis (Pierrefonds-Dollard) and signed by over 69,000 Canadians. It was first put forward earlier this month by NDP leader Thomas Mulcair and was subsequently defeated by some Conservative MPs. It was presented again this week; this time unopposed.
“This motion sends a strong message to Canadians that discrimination and hatred against Muslims is unacceptable,” says Ihsaan Gardee, NCCM’s Executive Director. “We look forward to seeing how our parliamentarians will work concretely to combat this rising phenomenon. Canadians want and expect strong leadership from our elected officials when it comes to fostering inclusive communities.”
According to NCCM’s online hate crimes and incidents map, the month of October has seen the largest number of alleged hate crimes and incidents targeting Muslims than any other month so far this year. The incidents this month include anti-Muslim flyers and posters distributed on campuses and in neighbourhoods in Alberta, as well as threats against elected officials, and the vandalism of an Islamic centre in Quebec.
It should also be noted that up to two-thirds of all hate crimes go unreported, according to Statistics Canada.
The NCCM launched a Charter for Inclusive Communities last summer which condemns all forms of bigotry. The Charter, which continues to gain signatories, has so far been endorsed by several municipalities, over a hundred elected officials, institutional representatives, and individuals.
Related Resources:
NCCM’s OpEd on the initial defeat of the Islamophobia motion
NCCM’s Charter of Inclusive Communities
Hate crimes against Muslim-Canadians more than doubled in 3 years (Global News)
NCCM Online Hate Crimes Map
NCCM Community Safety Guide
The NCCM is an independent, non-partisan and non-profit advocacy organization. It is a leading voice for Muslim civic engagement and the promotion of human rights.
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