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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The President Of Kawartha Muslim Religious Association Wrote This Love Letter To Community

Kenzu Abdella, President of the Kawartha Muslim Religious Association, posted a beautiful note to the Peterborough community on Facebook. Read it below...

"Dear Donors,

I am writing this letter on behalf of the Kawartha Muslim Religious Association (KMRA) to thank you for the heartfelt support you provided to us through the crowdfunding campaign for the restoration of the Masjid Al Salaam after the fire that occurred on November 14th, 2015.

While the tragedy of this hate crime has shocked and saddened our Muslim community, we are highly encouraged by the outpouring of support that people like you have provided to us at a time of great need for our community.

Although the perpetrator(s) of this crime intended to create fear, division and hatred it in fact had the opposite effect. We believe strongly that something remarkable has come out of this tragedy in the form of overwhelming community solidarity in Peterborough. We also believe that the crowdfunding campaign has had a mobilizing effect that has extended beyond Peterborough and we are deeply thankful to you for that. We feel that we are in the midst of special people who care about promoting tolerance, neighbourliness, and who respect diversity.

I am writing you this letter to advise you that the KMRA’s insurance will cover most of the restoration that your donation was intended to cover. The KMRA is proposing that the surplus funds be utilized to create a fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough – a charity that inspires giving to build a vital community for everyone. Through this newly created fund, initial grants will be made to two important charities that are addressing significant needs in greater Peterborough:

1. Five Counties Children’s Centre, which is dedicated to supporting and enriching the independence and general quality of life for children and youth with physical, developmental, and communication needs, and;

2. YWCA Crossroads Shelter which provides emergency shelter and support services for women and their children who are escaping abusive situations (a problem that cuts across all economic and social aspects of society).

We hope you will agree to join with KMRA in supporting the needs of women and children in our community as an ongoing and lasting expression of gratitude for the outpouring of support extended to us in a time of need. On the other hand, if you feel that your donation was specifically for reparation of damages to the Mosque and you would like your funds to be returned to you, please send an email to kmra.pe@gmail.com no later than December 22.

And rest assured that whichever option you choose, our gratitude for your support will remain the same.

Once again we would like to thank you for your immediate and heartfelt response to our crisis in this difficult time."

—Kenzu Abdella, President of the Kawartha Muslim Religious Association

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