Canadian Muslims face 'perfect storm' as xenophobia rises

Toronto, Canada – Ahmed, 14, was walking home from the Toronto Islamic Centre after evening prayers in mid-March during Ramadan. But something unexpected happened: a man began yelling racial slurs, grabbed Ahmed by the neck and pushed him to the ground. Ahmed's 2-year-old sister screamed. The family suffered severe psychological trauma. The incident occurred right in Canada's most multicultural city.

Ahmed, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “It was really scary. I can't sleep.” The attack was reported by local media, and the mosque said the suspect was arrested. However, experts and community members question whether such cases are handled appropriately.

Risk of a 'perfect storm'

According to Amira Elghawaby, Canada's former special representative on combating Islamophobia, “xenophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment are merging, creating a perfect storm.” Canada has witnessed several deadly attacks against Muslims over the past decade. A Canadian Senate report found it has the highest number of anti-Muslim killings among G7 nations. The 2017 Quebec City mosque shooting that killed six people was the deadliest mosque attack in Canadian history. In 2021, four members of a Muslim family were killed by a man driving a truck while they were walking in London, Ontario.

Since then, the housing crisis, rising food prices and a sharp increase in temporary immigration have fueled anti-immigrant sentiment. In 2024, polls showed that for the first time in more than two decades, a majority of Canadians believed “there is too much immigration.”

The accusation: 'The Liberal Party brought you here, didn't they?'

According to the Toronto Islamic Centre, the suspect in the attack on Ahmed shouted: “The Liberal Party brought you here, didn't they?” – a question alluding to Canada's long-serving Liberal government, which right-wing politicians have accused of encouraging mass immigration for political gain. Centre manager Shaffni Nalir called this a clear act of xenophobia: “The question carries the message that you don't belong here, you came to beg, you contribute nothing.”

Experts say the “othering” of Canadian Muslims is a key factor in anti-Muslim violence. Fahad Ahmad, assistant professor of criminology at Toronto Metropolitan University, explained: “Muslims are portrayed as violent, barbaric, outside the Canadian polity – a white, Western nation. So, interpersonal violence is not taken as seriously as when someone attacks a Jew for wearing a yarmulke or entering a synagogue.”

Government response

The Canadian government says it treats all hate-motivated violence seriously. In 2024, Ottawa launched the Anti-Hate Action Plan with more than CAD 270 million over six years. However, earlier this year, Prime Minister Mark Carney's government closed the offices of the anti-Islamophobia and anti-Semitism special envoys to create an advisory board on rights, equality and inclusion. The move drew “deep disappointment” from the Canadian Council of Muslim Communities, which said “Islamophobia is still rising.” Canadian Heritage said the new board will continue the envoys' work, aiming to “promote social cohesion and unite Canadians,” and announced its members on June 1.

Community self-protection

Back at the Toronto mosque, manager Nalir said the community has set up a “buddy system” to ensure no one goes to or leaves the mosque alone, after an additional attack and a threatening phone call. “We don't want to wait for more people to be attacked. We protect ourselves,” Nalir said. Still, he stressed the community “does not want to be seen as victims… We want to be seen as members of the community.” Ahmed, 14, also highlighted the importance of education: “Muslims are not what you hear on the media. Muslims are no different.”

*Some names have been changed to ensure anonymity.