Islamophobia in Canada has increased significantly in recent years according to multiple surveys. Polls from 2009-2017 show an increasing percentage of Canadians holding unfavorable views of Islam and Muslims, with a majority believing Muslims have fundamentally different values. Attacks on Muslim women and mosques have also increased, including the deadly attack at a Quebec City mosque in 2017 that killed 6 people. Resources for combating Islamophobia include academic papers, reports, and organizations that track Islamophobic incidents and promote education.

1. Islamophobia in
Canada
An Overview
By Navaid Aziz

2. “The fear of and hostility towards
Muslims and Islam that is rooted in
racism and that results in individual
and systemic discrimination, exclusion,
and violence targeting Muslims and
those perceived as Muslims.”
Todd H. Green- The Fear of Islam

3. Objectives of Organized Islamophobia
Islam as Monolithic
and Static
Islam as Separate and
Other
Islam as Inferior
Islam as the Enemy
The Runnymede Report

4. v An Angus Reid poll in 2009 found that 68% of Quebecers surveyed held an unfavourable view
of Islam. This had risen just slightly in 2013 to 69%. However, the same poll showed that the
increase of Islamophobic attitudes in the rest of Canada was greater than it was in Quebec,
rising from 46% in 2009 to 54% in 2013.
Geddes, John "Canadian anti-Muslim sentiment is rising, disturbing new poll reveals". Maclean's Magazine (2013).
v A survey in 2012 shows 52%of Canadians feel that Muslims can only be trusted “a little” or
“not at all”. 42%of Canadians think discrimination against Muslims is “mainly their fault.
Csillag, Ron “Survey finds deep mistrust for Muslims in Canada”. Washington Post 2012
v A 2015 survey conducted in Quebec found that 49% of respondents would be bothered if
they received services from someone wearing the headscarf.
Solyom, Catherine "Survey reveals troubling data on religious tolerance in Quebec“. Montreal Gazette (2015)
v In July 2016, a survey by the polling firm MARU/VCR&C reported that only a third of Ontarians
had a positive impression of Islam, and more than half believed that mainstream Islamic
teachings promote violence. Three-quarters said that Muslim immigrants have fundamentally
different values.
Keung, Nicholas "Ontario facing 'epidemic of Islamophobia' survey finds". Toronto Star (2016).
vA 2017 report shows 51% of Canadians support government surveillance of mosques as
compared to 46% of Americans.
Geddes, John “On one issue, Canadians are a lot less tolerant than Americans” Maclean’s Magazine (2017)
v A 2017 Angus Reid poll found that 46% of Canadians had an unfavourable view of Islam.
Angus Reid- Religious Trends 2017

5. Attacks on Muslim Women
§
§
§
§ 2011 a woman has niqab pulled off and assaulted in
Mississauga.
2013 17 year old punched in the nose and has Hijab
pulled off in St. Cathrines.
2015 a pregnant woman in Toronto wearing hijab
assaulted and falls as a result.
2020 Two women assaulted, car window smashed,
obscenities screamed at them.
§ Several more in 2021, mainly in Alberta.
Attacks on Mosques
§
§
§
§
§ December 31, 2013, a bomb threat was made against a
Vancouver mosque and the building was evacuated.
On November 26, 2014, a bomb threat was made
against a Montreal mosque and the police found a
suspicious package. 12 buildings in the area were
evacuated
On November 14, 2015, the only mosque in
Peterborough, Ontario was set on fire.
On 12th September 2020, Mohamed-Aslim Zafis was
stabbed in the neck and killed outside of the IMO
Mosque.
On October 12, 2020, A Toronto Mosque threatened.
Messages received by the mosque included the threat to
“do a Christ church all over again,”

6. On January 29th, 2017,
Alexandre Bissonnette
opened fire upon worshipers
in the Islamic Cultural Center
of Quebec, killing 6 and
wounding 19 others, as they
prayed the evening prayer.

7. Yumna 15,
Madiha 44,
Talaat 74, and
Salman Afzaal 46.
All run over by a
truck and killed on
June 6th, 2021, in
London, Ontario.

9. Resources
Books
- The Fear of Islam: Todd H, Green
-What Is Islamophobia: Edited by: Narzanin
Massoumi
Reports
-Runnymede Report (1997 and 2017)
-Project Someone (Islamophobia 2019)
Papers on Islamophobia in Canada
-Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme (Waterloo)
-Sabreena Ghaffar Siddiqui (McMaster)
Website:
https://islamophobianetwork.com/

10. Conclusion
vOur identity and faith
v Intervene when safe
vReport Hate Crimes
vIncrease Literacy, educate, and
discuss