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Friday, March 15, 2024

Canada witnesses another Islamophobic attack

Two people were taken into custody on Tuesday after they allegedly tried to enter a mosque in Scarborough and threatened to set off an explosive.

Two suspects were arrested by the Toronto Police following an Islamophobic attack at the Islamic Institute of Toronto on Tuesday, June 15. This hate crime took place just days after the horrific pre-meditated murder of a Muslim family in Ontario which shook the whole world.

According to a CBC news report, “Two people were arrested Tuesday after allegedly trying to enter a mosque in Scarborough and threatening building staff’’.

Toronto police received a phone call at around 11: 50 a.m. from the Islamic Institute of Toronto at 1630 Neilson Rd, near Morningside Avenue and Finch Avenue East.  According to witnesses, a man and a woman tried to break into the mosque and threatened a custodian at the site. One of the witnesses told CBC News that the intruders threatened to set off an explosive.

However, no weapons or explosives were found while making the arrests.

“They were believed to be under the influence of illicit drugs,” police said in a statement. While there is no evidence to suggest this is hate-motivated at this time, out of an abundance of caution, our Hate Crime Unit has been notified and will support the ongoing investigation,” the statement further read.

Read More: Canada bids farewell to Muslim victims of truck attack

Fareed Amin, the chair of the Islamic Institute of Toronto told CBC that the intruders tried to break into the mosque after walking through the open gates.

“They started banging the main door, but couldn’t get in, so they went around, tried the side doors, gym doors, but none were open,” he said.

Toronto Police said the investigation is in the early stages and public will be updated as it progresses.

OIC adopts resolution against Islamophobia

Recently, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation also unanimously adopted a resolution against Islamophobia moved by Pakistan.

Addressing “Ya Rasoolullah” conference in Rawalpindi, FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that on the special instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan, he attended a special session of the OIC along with 57 foreign ministers of the OIC member states.

During this session, all 57 members of the OIC unanimously adopted a resolution against Islamophobia which was moved by Pakistan.

Read More: Canadian-Pakistani family killed in a hate crime in Canada

The Foreign Minister expressed sorrow over the tragic incident in Canada in which a truck driver killed 4 members of an innocent Pakistani Muslim family after which he had submitted a resolution on the instructions of PM Imran during the 47th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Niamey, requesting the body to “take up the problem with one voice”.

The family was walking by the street when the driver drove his truck into them killing four people of the family. Among the deceased family members are grandmother, mother, father, and teenage daughter. The youngest family member, a nine-year-old boy survived the attempted murder. He is critically injured.

According to the reports, a 74-year-old woman in the family died on the spot while a 44-year-old woman, 46-year-old man, and a 15-year-old female died after reaching the hospital.

The witnesses say that the man rammed his truck into the family that was out on a Sunday morning walk and then ran off at high speed.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the incident as an “act of hatred”, and said his thoughts were with the victims’ loved ones, including the young boy who survived.

“To the Muslim community in London and to Muslims across the country, know that we stand with you. Islamophobia has no place in any of our communities. This hate is insidious and despicable – and it must stop,” he tweeted.