NCCM MARKS “NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE QUEBEC CITY MOSQUE ATTACK AND ACTION AGAINST ISLAMOPHOBIA” AND FIVE YEARS SINCE THE QUEBEC CITY MOSQUE ATTACK
(January 29, 2022 – Montreal)
Today marks five years since the Quebec City mosque attack and the first National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia.
To honour the lives we have lost to Islamophobic violence, the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) is calling for all Canadians to join the Green Square Campaign to remember and stand against Islamophobia.
Alongside Canadian Muslims and allies from across the country, NCCM marks January 29th by calling on all Canadians to participate in the Green Square Campaign to honour the lives of those we lost in the Quebec City mosque attack and resolve to build the foundation for a safer, more equitable and inclusive Canada.
The green square represents the green carpets of the CCIQ mosque, where the victims last stood to pray. It is also a symbol that represents a call to action to join and support the resilience of Muslim Canadians and allies who have fought tirelessly in the past five years for a country without Islamophobia and hate.
“The past five years have been a pivotal time of reflection and growth for Canadian Muslims,” said Mustafa Farooq, CEO of NCCM. “The tragedy on January 29th, 2017 at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City forever changed the way Canadian Muslims relate to Canada as a country and home, and made it quite clear that things need to change. But we know that remembering is an important part of seeing that change. We call on all to join our Green Square Campaign to remember January 29th and to stand with us against Islamophobia.”
“I remember the heartwarming outpouring of unity, support, and prayer on the night of January 29th, 2017, but unfortunately this has not eliminated the climate of hate and Islamophobia that plagues much of Quebec and Canadian society,” said Lina El Bakr, Quebec Advocacy Officer at NCCM. “Islamophobia has claimed more victims since that night. There is no doubt that we as a country have our work cut out for us. We have heard our elected leaders denounce the violence Canadian Muslims have endured, but action has been slow and piecemeal. It is time for us all to go beyond words and take action.”
As part of the Green Square Campaign, monuments across the country will be lit green in solidarity including the CN Tower, Niagara Falls, and the Samuel De Champlain bridge in Montreal. For a full list of monuments and landmarks being lit on January 29th visit https://www.nccm.ca/monument-lighting/.