On June 6, 2021, four members of the Afzaal family were murdered in London, Ontario in a hate-motivated terrorist attack. The attack on Our London Family was not an isolated tragedy, it exposed a reality many Muslim Canadians had warned about for years; that Islamophobia in Canada is an entrenched societal and systemic problem with devastating consequences.
Canada regrettably continues to record the highest number of targeted killings of Muslims among G7 nations, underscoring the urgent need for meaningful interventions at the federal government. The Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council (CMPAC) developed this Policy Handbook on Islamophobia and will launch it in commemoration of Our London Family, the victims of the June 6, 2021 London terrorist attack, and in response to the continued rise of Islamophobia across Canada.
Drawing upon academic scholarship, governmental studies, parliamentary reports, and recommendations advanced by experts and civil society organizations, the Handbook examines the rise and manifestations of Islamophobia in Canada alongside the institutional failures contributing to its persistence. Particular concerns continue to emerge regarding governmental practices and enforcement frameworks, including the conduct and accountability of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), such as in recent incidents blocking invited speakers attending the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) Convention, and legislative developments such as Bill C-9, which raise serious concerns regarding the protection of Charter freedoms.
Through this Handbook, CMPAC calls for substantive institutional reform, meaningful accountability measures, and concrete governmental actions capable of addressing anti-Muslim discrimination and protecting Muslim communities in Canada.
