Muslim communities across Canada urgently need greater protection from the rising tide of anti-Muslim hate and Islamophobia. Over the past several months, we have witnessed a deeply concerning rise in acts of anti-Muslim hate and Islamophobia across Canada. These incidents are not isolated and represent a broader and deeply troubling pattern of hostility and violence targeting Muslim communities across the country. While the Government of Canada has acknowledged the seriousness of this issue, the continued frequency and increasing severity of these incidents demonstrate that further action is urgently needed at all levels of government, including federal, provincial, municipal governments, as well as law enforcement.
In the last month alone, communities across Canada have witnessed at least half a dozen incidents of Islamophobia, each representing real harm experienced by individuals, families, and communities. Earlier this week, a fake severed bloody hand was thrown into MAC Islamic Centre in Verdun – Montreal, while families were gathered inside. In Moncton, New Brunswick, a Muslim woman and her seven-year-old child were targeted in an Islamophobic attack. In Halifax, a man was arrested following Islamophobic threats made inside a Costco. In Thunder Bay, a Palestinian man was physically assaulted while parking in a public park. In Regina, a so-called “Great Canadian BBQ” was organized outside a mosque where community members were gathering, with the apparent intent of intimidating and targeting Muslims.
It is important to reiterate that condemnation alone is not enough. While public statements denouncing Islamophobia are necessary, they must be accompanied by meaningful action. Existing policy interventions have failed to address the cultural, structural and systemic factors that allow Islamophobia to persist. Present policy interventions have not stemmed the rise of Islamophobic violence nor have they disrupted hate motivated violence. Combatting Islamophobia requires confronting its root causes through substantive structural and systemic reform, meaningful accountability measures and long-term proactive solutions that prevent harm. This work must be informed by meaningful engagement with Muslim communities.
It is high time that the government takes heed of the escalating threat of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate across Canada. The growing frequency and severity of these incidents make clear that Muslim communities continue to face unacceptable levels of intimidation, violence, and racism. Protecting the safety and security of Muslim communities must become an urgent national priority. Below, we have outlined a series of recommendations and policy interventions that can be implemented immediately to address the rise of Islamophobia and better protect Muslim communities. These recommendations were initially published in CMPAC’s Islamophobia Policy Handbook
Recommendations
1. Dedicated National Protection Funding
CMPAC recommends the establishment of a permanent, federal protection fund specifically designated for Muslim community safety and security. This fund should support physical security upgrades for mosques, Islamic schools, and community centres Covers costs for surveillance systems, lighting, reinforced entry points, and emergency response infrastructure
2. Expanded Security Infrastructure Support for Religious Institutions
CMPAC recommends significantly expanding and modernizing existing federal security funding programs to ensure equitable access for Muslim communities. This includes prioritizing mosques, Islamic centres, and Muslim educational institutions under national security infrastructure programs.
3. Community Safety Partnerships and Rapid Response Mechanisms
CMPAC recommends the establishment of formal community safety partnerships between Muslim organizations, local law enforcement, and municipal authorities. The partnerships should prioritize trust- building and preventative engagement rather than reactive enforcement alone.
4. Support for Victims and Post-Incident Recovery
CMPAC recommends strengthening support systems for communities and individuals affected by Islamophobic incidents.
5. National Strategy on Combatting Islamophobia and Protecting Muslim Communities
CMPAC recommends that the Government of Canada establish a comprehensive National Whole-of-Government Strategy on Combatting Islamophobia to coordinate federal efforts, strengthen accountability, and ensure a consistent approach across public institutions.
Combatting Islamophobia is a matter of strengthening Canada’s commitment to equality, democratic participation, religious freedom, and human rights for all. CMPAC therefore calls upon government agencies across this country to move beyond acknowledgment and toward implementation. The recommendations contained above provide a practical roadmap for advancing accountability, protecting vulnerable communities, addressing systemic discrimination, and building a more inclusive Canada in which all individuals can participate fully and safely in public life regardless of their faith or identity.
