Disturbing rise’ of Islamophobia imperils Canadian Muslims: Senate report

The report, Combatting Hate: Islamophobia and its impact on Muslims in Canada, outlines the committee’s findings from its year-long study into the sources of Islamophobia in Canada, incidents of discrimination, physical violence and online hate against Muslims, and the effects of these events on individuals and communities.

The committee makes 13 recommendations to address the disturbing rise of Islamophobia in recent years. The recommendations include calls for new educational campaigns and resources, new Criminal Code offences for hate-motivated crimes, and enhanced data collection by the Canada Revenue Agency’s charities directorate, which disproportionately scrutinizes Muslim charities.

While there is no single solution to the complex problem of Islamophobia, the committee’s recommendations are grounded in ensuring Canadian Muslims are empowered to live, work and pray in safety — and on an equal basis with their fellow citizens.

The committee is deeply grateful to the witnesses who testified for this study, particularly those who courageously shared their individual experiences of Islamophobia. The committee also extends its heartfelt thanks to the resilient Muslim communities that welcomed senators into their neighbourhoods, mosques and schools.

Quick Facts

The committee began its study on Islamophobia in June 2022. In total, 138 witnesses testified before the committee; many other people spoke to senators informally during the committee’s fact-finding mission to communities across Canada.
Muslims have lived in Canada since before Confederation. As of late 2022, they represent 4.9% of the Canadian population.
Within the Canada Revenue Agency’s Review and Analysis Division (RAD), three quarters of the decisions to revoke an organization’s charitable status were directed at Muslim charities, despite Muslim charities representing less than 1% of Canadian charities.

Quotes

“Islamophobia is an acute threat to Muslim Canadians and the committee believes urgent action by the federal government is needed to reverse this trend. We must commit to building a more inclusive country and to better protecting our Muslim relatives, friends, neighbours and colleagues.”

- Senator Salma Ataullahjan, Chair of the committee

“Violent incidences of Islamophobia have reached a disturbing and unprecedented level in Canada in recent years. Discrimination and hate-motivated attacks have long-standing and debilitating effects on individuals and communities. Concrete action must be taken to stem the tide of this rise in hate.”

- Senator Mobina S.B. Jaffer, member of the committee

“To effectively combat Islamophobia, it’s crucial to consider that its impact is shaped by its intersection with other forms of discrimination, including those related to gender, race, disability and sexual orientation. Our study found that this intersectionality can intensify the challenges faced by people with multiple marginalized identities.”

- Senator Amina Gerba, member of the committee