As Canada approaches its April 28 federal election, Muslim Canadians are calling on political leaders to move beyond symbolic gestures and adopt concrete policies to combat Islamophobia and uphold human rights—both domestically and abroad.
The urgency stems from a disturbing trend. Canada currently holds the grim distinction of leading G7 nations in targeted killings of Muslims, including the 2017 Quebec mosque shooting and the 2021 vehicular attack on a Muslim family in London, Ontario. Despite these tragedies, Islamophobia has received scant attention in election debates, Anadolu Agency reported.
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“Canadian Muslims are looking for real commitments on issues like a national strategy to combat Islamophobia, concrete action on hate crimes, and a clear stance on global human rights, especially when it comes to Gaza,” said Reem Sheet, senior principal of communications and public affairs at the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM).
Representing a community of nearly 1.8 million, with 200,000 NCCM supporters, Sheet expressed concern that rising anti-Muslim sentiment is being overlooked. She pointed to the influence of U.S. politics—particularly former President Trump’s policies targeting Muslims and Palestinians—as a warning sign for Canadians.
“We are seeing what’s happening with the Trump administration across the border with horror … That means we must fight hard to make sure those ideas don’t take root here, whether we’re talking about Muslim bans, the annexation of Gaza, or other dangerous attacks on civil liberties,” she said.
Concerns extend to Canada’s own institutions. The Advocates’ Society recently cancelled a speaking event featuring Syrian peace advocate Tareq Hadhad after he condemned Israel’s war on Gaza. Though the group later apologized, the incident reflected growing intolerance toward pro-Palestinian voices.
Awareness Needed
While progress has been made—such as the 2023 appointment of Amira Elghawaby as Canada’s Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia—advocates say more is urgently needed.
“Hate crimes against Muslims are still happening, and our legal and education teams are overworked,” said Sheet.
She emphasized the need for education that goes beyond awareness to active resistance against Islamophobia. NCCM is engaging all political parties but has stopped short of endorsing any.
“We continue to engage with all candidates and we’re calling on all leaders to commit to protecting human rights, combatting Islamophobia, and standing against hate in all its forms,” Sheet said.
Canada’s foreign policy on Gaza is also under scrutiny. Muslim voters expect the next government to show leadership and integrity. “We need consistent action on the issues that matter most to Canadians,” Sheet stressed.
“That means advocating for the immediate protection of civilians, ensuring unrestricted access to humanitarian aid, and standing up for international law. Canada has a responsibility to lead with integrity.”
She also called out the role of media in shaping public attitudes. “Representation matters, and too often, Muslims in media are reduced to harmful stereotypes,” she said, linking this to real-world discrimination and violence.
With election day looming, Muslim Canadians are urging candidates to listen—not just with words, but with action.