Just before 8 p.m. on January 29, soon after members of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City had finished their evening prayers, a man opened fire.
Six people were killed, nineteen were injured, and twenty-eight witnesses were spared of only physical injury. Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder with an illegal firearm. He will appear in court for a bail hearing on March 30.
Bissonnette was not charged with terrorism. Terrorism differs from similar acts of violence, like war crimes, in the fact that it must seek to send a message to a larger population. In other words, mass murder is an end, and terrorism is a means to an end. The end in the case of terrorism is communication of some sort of message.
The Supreme Court has determined that no message was attempted on Bissonnette’s part. Yet a message has been sent, and received by several people, most recently in Toronto. Less than three weeks later, last Friday, February 17, there was a small but audible anti-Muslim protest outside of Masjid Toronto. Less than 20 protesters were there, and the outpouring of support and condemnation for these far outnumbers them; however, the timeliness of these two events should not be ignored.
The reality we are being forced to come to terms with is that ideology is transient. It does not abide by borders or state sovereignty simply because we will it to. It festers and spreads, and now more than ever, it is so easily accessible but not as easily perceptible. Bissonette was an unassuming character. He was not a loud and proud racist or Islamophobe. His online activity was, for the most part, harmless, and he even had an active YouTube account. He did not outwardly preach his convictions or try to amass a following. He was simply someone emboldened by a growing international sentiment.
This in and of itself is becoming a trend. In the world of growing intolerance, Donald Trump is an anomaly – a zealot within his own political party. His leadership does not need to be replicated to incite this level of division and ostracism. He was, essentially, the straw that tipped the camel’s back. The sentiments that have been projected into the spotlight with Trump’s election are not new. They are simply gaining a more prominent platform and are slowly but surely becoming mainstreamed. Muslims have faced implicit discrimination and explicit scrutiny for over a decade – this reality is not new. The fact is that the Kellie Leitchs and Kevin O’Learys of Canadian politics are not necessary for this development. It is the general empowerment of these movements and the creation of platforms for them that has led to the Alexandre Bissonettes of the world and the blatant harassment of Muslims in Canada. This is by no means an isolated issue either. Since this rhetoric has become mainstreamed, Sikh Guruwaras and Jewish temples have become targets for racism, anti-Semitism and discrimination as well.
In Canada, this has come to manifest itself as a battle between the freedom of speech and Muslims, as the latest impromptu protest demonstrates. However, the notion that free speech has become a priority over individual dignity, safety and security is concerning, particularly because Muslims have become more and more marginalized over the past year. While freedom of expression is highly valued in society, it is not compromised by vowing as a society to stand against hate speech and animosity. There is ample room for dialogue and discussion without creating opportunities to incite hate.
It is a terrifying time to be a Muslim or a visible minority for that matter. We’ve witnessed the resurgence of intolerance, violence and aggression at new heights. We’ve also seen communities come together in support and defense of one another. During what is turning out to be a difficult time in our history, we have begun to lean on and protect one another in instances where we cannot sufficiently protect ourselves. Such was the case when Jewish and Christian Canadians formed a ring of peace around mosques across the GTA and likewise when an interfaith solidarity meeting was held in response to racist and anti-Semitic graffiti was found on mosques, synagogues and churches in Ottawa. Though this extreme right-wing, white supremacist mentality is on the rise, so too have efforts to solidify interfaith unity and solidarity.
As Canadians, it is not enough to compare ourselves and measure our progress to the United States. Our institutions and borders will not withstand the global presence of intolerance and Islamophobia. It is up to us as to demand better than the low bar that has been set. Muslim Canadians are bearing the brunt of this divisiveness and animosity. The safety and security of all Canadians is a fundamental right and is a shared responsibility. We set the standards for ourselves and it is up to us to demand better of ourselves, our leaders and this country. We have reached a critical turning point in history where we will need to decide what kind of values we uphold in our society, and what checks and balances we put in place to ensure safety and sustainable coexistence for all Canadians.
By Mariam Jammal
Please note that opinions expressed are the author’s own. They do not necessarily reflect the views and values of The Blank Page.
