TORONTO: An unnamed mosque in Toronto received threats over Thanksgiving weekend, and Muslim politicians are taking it up with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The text of one of the threatening messages is reproduced below [censored for distribution] and released by the National Council of Canadian Muslims:
“F*** ISLAM! We will murder every muzzie…! We have a right to defend ourselves from terrorists! F****g Islam! The police will take our side. Islam will not defeat us. We have the guns to do a Christchurch all over again in our office. We have…soldiers who have experience as snipers. F**k ISLAM!”
On Tuesday, Trudeau addressed the threats that were sent to the Toronto mosque. He said: “Islamophobia and right-wing extremism have no place in our country or our communities. We must always stand united against hate or intolerance of any kind.” Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole called the messages “appalling.” “I am appalled by revelations of threats against a downtown Toronto mosque,” O’Toole wrote.
“Neo-Nazi cults and other hate groups that threaten violence and intimidate have no place in Canada. My thoughts are with Canada’s Muslim community tonight.” Premier Doug Ford tweeted:
“These threats to a Toronto mosque and the Muslim community are unacceptable and disgusting. There is no place for hate and Islamophobia in Ontario. I stand with the Muslim community and ask anyone with any information, please notify TPS.”
Mayor John Tory called the threats “completely unacceptable” and said they will not be tolerated.
The Liberal Muslim Parliamentary Caucus issued a statement saying the caucus is ‘raising grave concern around recent events in Toronto and elsewhere across the country’ related to systemic racism.’
The Caucus members are: Omar Alghabra, MP, Mississauga Centre, Ali Ehsassi, MP, Willowdale, Ahmed Hussein, MP, York South-Weston, Iqra Khalid, MP, Mississauga-Erin Mills, Maryam Monsef, MP, Peterborough-Kawartha, Yasmin Ratansi, MP, Don Valley East, Arif Virani, MP, Parkdale-High Park), Salma Zahid, MP, Scarborough Centre and Sameer Zuberi (Chair), MP, Pierrefonds-Dollard.
“We have watched with grave concern acts of violence that have occurred around the world due to racism, Islamophobia, and white supremacy. The Quebec City mosque shooting left 6 dead and many seriously injured at the hands of a terrorist who espoused far-right extreme views and peddled hate. We have also seen harassment, intimidation, and violence against those who are perceived as Muslim, in particular, Muslim women.
“We acknowledge our government has acted to combat white supremacy, racism, and Islamophobia… However, incidences of hate, violence, and murder continue to occur and far-right hate groups fester in dark corners of the web and in person.
“…we the Liberal Muslim Parliamentary Caucuss will be speaking to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Safety in the coming days on the recent events, and how we must act with urgent to confront far-right movements that threaten the safety of Canadians and our society.”
“Enough is enough”, said Mustafa Farooq, CEO of the National Council of Canadian Muslims. “…We need action now from the federal government to develop a national action strategy on dismantling xenophobic groups that preach violent ideologies of hate and violence.”