Anti-Islamophobic Vigil Commemorated Anniversary of Family's Death In London

It was an incident that shook Muslims and the rest of the province as Stephanie Benn with New Canadians Centre (NCC) held a vigil outside city hall commemorating the lives lost from an attack last year in London, Ont. on Monday afternoon.

Hassan Mohamad, Kawartha Muslim Religious Association president, reflects on the Afzaal family killed on a Sunday walk in London, Ont. one year ago in an act of Islamophobia during a vigil. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Roughly 30 people with signs and flowers gathered to honour the sudden deaths of the Afzaal family (Yunmah Afzaal, Madiha Salman, Talat Afzall and Salman Afzaal).

Their lives were lost by a car that deliberately jumped a curb and struck them. Yunmah’s nine-year-old brother at the time was the only survivor of the incident.

The attack was considered ‘hate-motivated’ according to the London police.

"I was pretty shocked but I wasn't surprised because of the incidents that happened priors to those,” said Hassan Mohamad, Kawartha Muslim Religious Association president. “The Quebec incident and the Mosque here in Peterborough that the community helped us support and bring it back to life."

Members of the NCC detailed the lives of each member that was lost during the ceremony and preached how Islamophobia needed to be curbed.

“I think it's important to recognize the issue and the hate that Muslims have encountered, not only in Peterborough but across the province and across Canada," said Mohamad. "I think education is important and they need to understand what Islam is and how Islam is peace and the clothes you wear are a manifestation of that peace.”

Mohamad says the incident should create more awareness and education for everyone to help bring down any stigma of being Islamic.

“It's not just the clothes that make a Muslim,” he said. “It's the faith, it's the teachings and the practices so I think it's important that people understand those ideas.”

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