+34Threats of violence against Muslims made against nine Islamic schools in Canada, prompting increased security and police patrols.
Canada's Muslim Association (MAC) has placed nine schools across the country on high alert after each received an anonymous email threatening violence against Muslims. The email, signed by a 'Citizen Vigilante,' vows that Canada will be 'Islam-free' and threatens the slaughter of Muslims.
MAC spokesperson Nabil Sultan said the same email was sent to schools in Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec over a 24-hour period, prompting local police forces to be notified. The threats come amid a backdrop of rising Islamophobia in Canada, with recent atrocities against Muslim communities including the 2021 killings of four members of the Afzaal family in London, Ontario, which was ruled an act of terrorism.
Canada Muslim Association Schools Threatened
A 2017 shooting at a Quebec City mosque that left six worshippers dead also weighed heavily on Sultan's mind. The targeting of children and schools in such a way is something that shook us to our core, Sultan said. According to Statistics Canada, the number of police-reported hate crimes against Muslims rose by over 170 per cent between 2020 and 2024.
Sultan said students are feeling scared and vulnerable as they walk past security and police officers on their way to class. He argued that Canada needs to address an environment of Islamophobia and xenophobia that breeds threats against Muslims and other visible minorities. The organization has hired paid security to keep students safe, and police in Ontario's Peel region have increased patrols near mosques and schools.
Sultan, whose own child attends a MAC school, was devastated to read the letter and feels that the threats have raised tough questions about who gets to be considered Canadian and who are labelled outsiders. All of the things that we try to teach our children in these schools is that they are equal to any other Canadian, that they have equal rights and responsibilities, Sultan said.
Threats like this really make them question if they belong because of the way they pray and because of their faith. Sultan pointed to the recent data from Statistics Canada as evidence of the growing problem of Islamophobia in Canada. He hopes that the government will take action to address the issue and make Canada a more inclusive and welcoming place for all citizens.
Rising Hate Crimes Against Muslims in Canada
The threats against MAC's schools come at a time when the country is already grappling with a surge in hate crimes. The latest data from Statistics Canada shows the number of police-reported hate crimes against Muslims rose by over 170 per cent between 2020 and 2024. Sultan said the targeting of children and schools in such a way is something that shook them to their core.
He said that the organization is used to receiving threatening and Islamophobic emails, but this is the first time the non-profit's schools have been targeted in such a direct way. The force says its hate crime unit is investigating the threats. Sultan says students are feeling scared and vulnerable as they walk past security and police officers on their way to class.
He says the threats have raised tough questions about who gets to be considered Canadian and who are labelled outsiders. All of the things that we try to teach our children in these schools is that they are equal to any other Canadian, that they have equal rights and responsibilities, Sultan said. Threats like this really make them question if they belong because of the way they pray and because of their faith.
Sultan pointed to the recent data from Statistics Canada as evidence of the growing problem of Islamophobia in Canada. He hopes that the government will take action to address the issue and make Canada a more inclusive and welcoming place for all citizens. The country needs to address an environment of Islamophobia and xenophobia that breeds threats against Muslims and other visible minorities, Sultan emphasized.
The organization has hired paid security to keep students safe, and police in Ontario's Peel region have increased patrols near mosques and schools. Sultan, whose own child attends a MAC school, was devastated to read the letter and feels that the threats have raised tough questions about who gets to be considered Canadian and who are labelled outsiders.
All of the things that we try to teach our children in these schools is that they are equal to any other Canadian, that they have equal rights and responsibilities, Sultan said. Threats like this really make them question if they belong because of the way they pray and because of their faith. Sultan said the latest data from Statistics Canada shows the number of police-reported hate crimes against Muslims rose by over 170 per cent between 2020 and 2024.
Security Increased At Muslim Schools
He said that the organization is used to receiving threatening and Islamophobic emails, but this is the first time the non-profit's schools have been targeted in such a direct way. The force says its hate crime unit is investigating the threats. Sultan says students are feeling scared and vulnerable as they walk past security and police officers on their way to class.
He says the threats have raised tough questions about who gets to be considered Canadian and who are labelled outsiders. All of the things that we try to teach our children in these schools is that they are equal to any other Canadian, that they have equal rights and responsibilities, Sultan said. Threats like this really make them question if they belong because of the way they pray and because of their faith.
Sultan pointed to the recent data from Statistics Canada as evidence of the growing problem of Islamophobia in Canada. He hopes that the government will take action to address the issue and make Canada a more inclusive and welcoming place for all citizens. The country needs to address an environment of Islamophobia and xenophobia that breeds threats against Muslims and other visible minorities, Sultan emphasized.
The organization has hired paid security to keep students safe, and police in Ontario's Peel region have increased patrols near mosques and schools. Sultan, whose own child attends a MAC school, was devastated to read the letter and feels that the threats have raised tough questions about who gets to be considered Canadian and who are labelled outsiders.
Questions About Belonging For Muslim Students
All of the things that we try to teach our children in these schools is that they are equal to any other Canadian, that they have equal rights and responsibilities, Sultan said. Threats like this really make them question if they belong because of the way they pray and because of their faith. Sultan said the latest data from Statistics Canada shows the number of police-reported hate crimes against Muslims rose by over 170 per cent between 2020 and 2024.
He said that the organization is used to receiving threatening and Islamophobic emails, but this is the first time the non-profit's schools have been targeted in such a direct way. The force says its hate crime unit is investigating the threats, and Sultan emphasized the importance of addressing the issue to prevent further harm. He hopes that the government will take action to address the issue and make Canada a more inclusive and welcoming place for all citizens.
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CP24:9 Islamic schools on high alert after email threatening ‘slaughter’ of Muslims 
CTVNews:9 Islamic schools on high alert after email threatening ‘slaughter’ of MuslimsThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Ontario/Quebec Prairies/BC Religion Social Muslim Association Of Canada Islamic Schools Threat Peel Police Hate Crime Islamophobia In Canada Nabil Sultan Canada Islamophobia Hate Crime Muslim Schools Security
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