(Ottawa) A curb on freedom of expression compounds the pain Canadian Muslims already feel over the tragedy in the Gaza Strip, said Canada’s special representative for combating Islamophobia.
“People are muzzled,” said Amira Elghawaby, in an interview with The Canadian Press. Many members of Canada’s Muslim, Arab and Palestinian communities don’t really feel safe sharing their views on what’s happening in Gaza. »
Annual data is still being compiled, but police forces across the country have reported a marked increase in the number of crimes targeting both Muslims and Jews since the conflict began to escalate in October.
According to Mme Elghawaby, this adds to the trauma stemming from the ongoing horrors in the Middle East, which have killed the loved ones of many Canadians.
Appointed a year ago, Mme Elghawaby monitors issues and policies that impact the lives of Muslims in Canada and advises governments on how to best prevent anti-Muslim hatred.
The tenor of his work changed radically after October 7.
That’s when Hamas fighters launched a brutal attack on civilians in Israel, who responded with an intense series of bombings in the Gaza Strip. Protests ensued across Canada and some of them were particularly heated.
In Ottawa, a mosque was covered in feces. Near Vancouver, a rabbi’s home was destroyed and vandalized with a swastika. Students clashed in Montreal. Protests in Toronto were marred by death threats.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said she had never seen an international issue cause so much division in Canada.
“The tensions, violence and anti-Semitism that we see in Montreal and Toronto are heartbreaking,” lamented Mr.me Joly, earlier this week. We must be able to trust each other, because we must be able to live in a country where we are not afraid of our neighbor. »
The federal government has offered more money to add security cameras and guards to places of worship. His conservative rivals say it is too little, too late.
According to Amira Elghawaby, better government coordination would allow more precise measures to be taken, which would eliminate criminal acts of hate targeting any community, while preserving everyone’s right to express themselves.
She works in partnership with Deborah Lyons, former Canadian ambassador to Israel and now special envoy to combat anti-Semitism, to propose a multi-sectoral approach.
“People have the right to express their opinions on issues without fear of reprisal,” says Amira Elghawaby. At the same time, people have the right to feel safe, and if the speech turns into hateful rhetoric, there will be consequences. »
Deborah Lyons’ office declined an interview request.
Among the many demonstrations organized so far in favor of a ceasefire in Gaza, only a few have broken the public peace, and yet those who participate are often accused of supporting terrorism, laments Amira Elghawaby.
“On any subject, there will always be a risk that a line will be crossed. And if that happens, individuals will face consequences, she said. But it is completely unfair to describe the protests as, for example, displays of hatred or to assume support for a particular ideology. »
As a result, Muslims and others of Palestinian origin face hostile comments when they express concerns about Israel’s actions in Gaza, which have left thousands dead.
The University of Ottawa has suspended a resident doctor over pro-Palestinian social media posts that a colleague called anti-Semitic. The doctor was eventually reinstated. A similar case occurred with a nephrologist at a hospital in Richmond Hill, Ontario.
Hundreds of law students, lawyers and professors across Canada have signed a petition denouncing a “widespread suppression of speech,” where those who express solidarity with Palestinians or criticize Israel are reported to their bosses for anti-Semitism presumed.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights warned last November of a “global wave of attacks, reprisals, criminalization and sanctions” targeting victims of the conflict. Artists, academics and athletes have been blacklisted for showing solidarity with Palestinians, the statement noted.
“There is real trauma in our communities because of the horrific loss of life we have witnessed,” says Amira Elghawaby.
“A very distressing aspect of this trauma is the fact that we are seeing a rise in Islamophobia and anti-Semitism which is affecting people’s sense of belonging and security. » Not to mention their ability to express themselves publicly.
According to Carmen Celestini, lecturer in religion and social theory at the University of Waterloo, the growing cultural divide is only making things worse, particularly when it comes to social media.
“We already feel preoccupied with what we are going to say,” says the woman who studies the intersections between religion, extremism, conspiracy theories and politics.
“But it can also push this narrative of, ‘well, we can’t talk about And somehow people are silent because of it. »