The Consultative Table for the Muslim Community in Quebec, (QMCCT) condemned the campaign of intimidation and defamation that the Special Representative of the Federal Government to Combat Islamophobia in Canada, Ms. Amira Elghwabi, is subject to, which is not the first since her appointment to her position.
Today, Monday, the first of January, the(QMCCT) issued a statement in which it expressed its complete rejection and strong condemnation of “all forms of
defamation campaigns, incidents, crimes based on Islamophobia/hate, intimidation, and harassment to which activists are exposed.”
Here is the full statement
The ongoing smear campaign against Amira Elghawaby, the first special representative to combat Islamophobia, is part of a broader pattern of intimidation campaigns targeting figures, academics, activists, and ordinary citizens across the country. These campaigns aim to prevent individuals from exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of opinion, expression, and assembly—values that are supposed to be at the core of our democratic societies in Canada.
It is important to note that Amira’s positions along with those of her fellow activists, especially of which appertain to the war on Gaza, have been in line with Canadian federal government, the United Nations, and international humanitarian institutions.
In this regard, we, the Consultative Table for the Muslim Community in Quebec, express our dismay, complete rejection, and strong condemnation of all forms of smear campaigns, Islamophobia/hate-based incidents and crimes, intimidation, and harassment that activists have been facing. We emphasize that in Canada, across all provinces, we believe in the right to freedom of expression and assembly, as well as the right of young women and men to express their opinions while respecting laws and regulations without fear of repercussions.
We are astonished by the utter silence of political and executive authorities at the federal and provincial levels and insist that we will not accept the division of societies across the country into first, second, and third-class citizens.
All citizens are equal members of the larger society in the country. There is absolutely no disagreement or dissonance between communities in the country; quite the contrary, Canada is witnessing a consensus against hate, war, and calls for peace. As such, the Table calls for the rejection of political and societal polarization approaches, smear campaigns, and shameful targeting of individuals—all of which are entirely rejected and may lead to a state of tension and violent attacks against young women and men.
The Table urges everyone to respect privacy and laws throughout the country and stresses on preserving the right to assembly and freedom of expression, which are the foundations of the Charter of Human Rights in all provinces across Canada.
QMCCT includes the following associations:
Association Bel Agir
Association Musulmane Du Canada (MAC)
Centre Al Ansar
Centre Al Jisr
Centre Aman-Laval
Culturel Islamique de Laval Khalid Ben El Walid
Centre Communautaire Musulman de Montréal CCMM
Centre Culturel Musulman de Brossard CCMB
Centre Culturel Musulman de Montréal CCMM
Centre Communautaire Islamique CCI
Centre Islamic Badr
Fondation du Message de L’Islam / Islam’a Davet Vakfi
Forum Musulman Canadien (FMC-CMF)
Institutions Canado-Marocaine D’Amitié et de coopération
Le Centre Culturel Islamic de Laval
Le Centre culturel de Laval-des-Rapides
Regroupement Africaine Musulman de Montreal-Mosquée Tawuba
Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec CCIQ
Scout Musulman