National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) Holds Reception on Parliament to Mark Eighth Anniversary of the Quebec Mosque Attack

Their last moments were spent in devotion—in a house of peace, among their brothers, as they turned their hearts toward God. And yet, even there, hate found them. Even there, violence shattered the stillness of prayer.

Tonight, we wear the green square as a memory, a promise. With the knowledge that, with the Mercy of the Merciful, those who lost their earthly lives will be raised as martyrs in a garden green.

Across this country, monuments will glow green, a signal in the night that we have not forgotten, that we must not forget. Because memory is not passive. It does not simply settle into the past. It asks something of us. It demands that we reckon with the truth: that Islamophobia did not begin or end on that night in Quebec City, as we saw at the IMO Mosque in 2020, and as we saw on the streets of London Ontario in 2021. We’ve seen it explode over the past year. It is woven into the quiet prejudices, the whispered fears, and the policies that cast entire communities as suspect.

Indeed, we understand that the Legault government has chosen to table legislation in the coming days - around the anniversary of the Quebec City Mosque massacre - that will further point the finger at our communities.

That is why we are calling for:

A national summit on anti-Islamophobia that addresses the extremely high rise of anti-muslim sentiment and hatred, and the attacks on civil liberties in places like Quebec.

Tonight, as we mark this anniversary, we remind ourselves that remembrance is not enough. Memory must move. It must speak. It must be built. It must change Canada. As such, National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) will be holding a reception in Ottawa to commemorate this solemn occasion.

Statements on Social Media from Elected Officials who attended this reception:

Member of Parliament Leah Gazan:

I was honoured to share remarks at the NCCM reception in remembrance of the Quebec Mosque Shooting. At a time of rising extremism and hate, we must stand in unity to ensure we protect the dignity and security of all people to freely practice their culture and beliefs. I echo NCCM’s call for a National Summit on Islamophobia to find a way to address rising acts of hate and to ensure this violence never happens again.

Member of Parliament Robert Oliphant:

Eight years ago a gunman stormed into the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec and killed six Muslim men who were there to pray. Today we name them and remember them. Thank you to the NCCM for hosting a moving ceremony for these victims of Islamophobia — it has no place in our country.

Member of Parliament Yasir Naqvi:

Today, as we honour the memory of those who lost their lives in the Québec City mosque attack, we reflect on the alarming rise of Islamophobia in Canada. While that tragedy underscored the devastating consequences of hate, Islamophobia (in particular, anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian discrimination) has only intensified in recent years. I encourage you to read House of Commons Justice Committee’s report, “Islamophobia on the Rise: Taking Action, Confronting Hate and Protecting Civil Liberties Together”

Member of Parliament Salma Zahid:

Tonight, NCCM brought together MPs and the community on Parliament Hill for the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia. We reaffirm our commitment to end Islamophobia and all hatred and discrimination.