Small murderous phrases, fear of walking alone on the street, Internet threats … Some Muslim Ontarians tell how they are affected by Islamophobia every day in the Waterloo region.
Noura Loubani cited as an example her return to work, after her maternity leave for her first child. When she announced she was pregnant with her second child, a colleague jokingly told her that she was not surprised because try to surpass us.
This is one of the reasons why Ms. Loubani, who lives in Cambridge, Ont., Said he feels fear associated with Islamophobia.
Not physical fear, he says, but rather fear of being judged in certain situations. According to testimonies collected by CBCnot only Mrs. Loubani the Muslim who lived in such fear.
In the eyes of Iman M’Hiri, of Kitchener, the climate worsened after the deadly car attack on the Afzaal family in London, in what police described as a hate crime.
Ms. M’Hiri, who wears a hijab, said she has been on guard since the sad tragedy.
The most heartbreaking is that until now many of my friends, myself included, when we walk in public places I have to look around me.said Mrs. M’Hiri.
” Sometimes I put on a hood at night because I don’t want to introduce myself, just because I’m scared, … what if it happens again? “
To coincide with the commemoration of the anniversary of the Afzaal family’s attack, the Muslim Women’s Coalition of Kitchener-Waterloo released a draft report examining discrimination and hatred in the area.
This document is not only about Islamophobia, but also about racism and xenophobia. It pulls data from a reporting site launched by the group in March 2021 for witnesses and victims.
Undeclared incidents
From April 2021 to mid -May this year, the site received 104 reports. Incidents of hate and discrimination were also reported via email, SMS, phone and WhatsApp, and most of the reports were made in Arabic, the coalition said.
More than half – 81 of the reported cases – are in person rather than online.
In addition, 54% of cases occurred in Kitchener and 26% in Waterloo.
According to Sarah Shafiq, director of programs and services for the Coalition, these numbers do not mean more incidents in Kitchener than in Waterloo. More community work and outreach has been done in Kitchener, he said, making it easier to report incidents.
It’s a spotlight, but it’s not a complete pictureshades Ms. Shafiq.
Although data from the Waterloo Police Service is not available for the same period, 54 hate crimes are known to have been reported in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge in 2020, according to the latest data sent by police. police word, André Johnson.
We recognize that incidents of hate and crime are often unreportedsaid Mr. Johnson in an email.
Police continue to work with community partners, such as the Muslim Women’s Coalition of Kitchener-Waterloo and its online portal to report hate incidents.he assured.
Based on information from James Chaarani, CBC
Radio Canada
Source: Radio-Canada
