Quebec’s Muslim Community Reflects on Mosque Shooting as Concerns Grow Over Bill 21

IQNA – Almost eight years after the Quebec City mosque attack, the tragedy continues to cast a shadow over the province’s Muslim community.

Boufeldja Benabdallah, co-founder of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City, emphasized that the memory of those lost remains vivid. “We have not forgotten our brothers who today are buried underground. You are in our hearts and our collective memory,” he said during a gathering at Montreal City Hall on Friday. 

The event marked the start of Montreal’s seventh annual Muslim Awareness Week, created to honor the victims of the 2017 mosque shooting, Montreal Gazette reported on Saturday.

The initiative aims to educate the public about Muslim life in Montreal and foster understanding between the Muslim community and other residents of Quebec, according to the event organizers. 

On January 29, 2017, a gunman opened fire at the Islamic Cultural Centre, killing six worshippers and injuring 19 others in an act of anti-Muslim hate. The attack shocked the nation and highlighted the vulnerability of Canada’s Muslim communities. 

This year’s awareness week comes amid heightened concerns about Islamophobia, which activists say has worsened in Quebec, Canada, and beyond.

Samira Laouni, president of Muslim Awareness Week, pointed to a rise in hate incidents following recent Israeli war on Gaza. “There are no words to describe this rise in hate, this polarization, this loss of solidarity. Those who understand the gravity of the situation must come together on the ground, save our humanity and strengthen our lives together in Quebec,” she said. 

Muslims in Quebec also continue to express concerns over Bill 21, a provincial law that bars public sector employees in positions of authority from wearing religious symbols, including hijabs. The law, which has been described as discriminatory by critics, disproportionately affects Muslim women.

Benabdallah highlighted the importance of broader community support in opposing such legislation. Referring to the recent Supreme Court challenge to Bill 21, he said, “The federal government is against Bill 21, Quebec developed Bill 21, but it falls on our backs.” 

 Recently, Bill 21 has faced renewed scrutiny as the Canadian Supreme Court agreed to review the legal challenges against it. Critics argue that the law violates fundamental rights protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, including freedom of religion and equality.

Source: Agencies