House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights Releases Report on Rising Islamophobia in Canada

The report states that “Islamophobia in Canada today is a distinct and especially virulent form of hate—one that calls for its own, carefully tailored response.”

The report also addressed the rise of anti-Palestinian racism and its intersection with Islamophobia in the country.

According to the Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association (CMLA):

The Committee invited the CMLA to provide testimony to inform the report’s findings. Represented by CMLA’s Chair Husein Panju, the CMLA emphasized the need for the government to rebuild trust with our community, call out discrimination, acknowledge the lived experiences of intersectional groups. Our submissions drew on the rise of Islamophobia (post-October 7 ), including in the areas of: employment discrimination, national security and policing, and freedom of expression.

According to the National Council on Canadian Muslims (NCCM):

NCCM participated and recognizes the release of the House of Commons Justice Committee’s pivotal report, Islamophobia on the Rise: Taking Action, Confronting Hate, and Protecting Civil Liberties Together.

This report represents an important step by documenting the sharp rise in Islamophobia and reaffirmed through the study on the importance of recognizing Anti-Palestinian Racism (APR) as a separate and deeply entrenched form of hate.

You can see some selections of our comments here!

What the Report Says;

This comprehensive report highlights:

• Rising Hate After October 7, 2023: Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism have surged, with reported incidents increasing by a reported 1300% in late 2023.
• Targeting Protestors: Palestinians and their allies advocating for human rights are being doxxed, defamed, and subjected to harassment and threats. Students and activists are disproportionately targeted.
• Systemic Discrimination: Policies like Quebec’s Bill 21 and biased audits of Muslim charities show how Islamophobia is embedded in institutions.

The report’s recommendations include:

1. Denouncing APR: The Government of Canada is called on to publicly and unequivocally denouncing anti-Palestinian racism (APR).
2. Education Strategy: The report calls on the Government to work with provinces to support anti-Islamophobia education in schools.
3. Stronger Protections: The Government is urged to provide more funding for mosque security and dedicated hate crime units in police forces.
4. Research and Understanding: Conducting research is recommended to better understand anti-Palestinian racism and how it intersects with Islamophobia.
5. Community Engagement: The report recommends engaging directly with Palestinian communities to develop policies that protect their rights.

Just as importantly, we highlighted throughout the report how some politicians have, throughout the last year, marginalized our communities further rather than try to bring Canadians together.

To read the full report online, click here