Close X
Saturday, November 16, 2024
ADVT 
National

MPs move to convene emergency Islamophobia summit

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 11 Jun, 2021 11:26 AM
  • MPs move to convene emergency Islamophobia summit

Federal lawmakers are calling on the government to convene an emergency summit on Islamophobia by the end of July.

In the House of Commons today, MPs unanimously passed an NDP motion demanding the gathering in the wake of Sunday's deadly attack against a Muslim family in London, Ont.

London-Fanshawe MP Lindsay Mathyssen, who brought forward the non-binding motion, says the Liberal government needs to go beyond expressing condolences.

"A Muslim family went out for a walk, like so many families and people have been doing in this pandemic, and this family didn’t make it back home because of hate. No one should ever feel unsafe in their community and neighbourhood,” she said.

New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh says Canada must urgently address a problem with white supremacy and far-right radicalization and make policy changes at every level of government to prevent another attack.

Police allege the attack, which saw four family members driven down and killed on Sunday night, was a planned act that targeted Muslims.

The funeral for the four family members who were run over and killed is set for Saturday afternoon at the Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario in London.

Relatives have identified the dead as 46-year-old Salman Afzaal, his 44-year-old wife Madiha Salman, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna Salman and her 74-year-old grandmother, Talat Afzaal.

The couple's nine-year-old son, Fayez, was seriously wounded but is expected to recover.

Nathaniel Veltman faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder in connection with the attack.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Suspect in fatal B.C. stabbing appears in court

Suspect in fatal B.C. stabbing appears in court
Police have said shortly after Bandaogo was arrested near the scene of the stabbing at the Lynn Valley library last Saturday that he underwent surgery for self-inflicted wounds.

Suspect in fatal B.C. stabbing appears in court

Facts on J&J's COVID shot, arriving end of April

Facts on J&J's COVID shot, arriving end of April
Canada approved the vaccine in early March and had pre-ordered 10 million doses, but manufacturing problems from the company led to shipment delays to Canada and elsewhere.

Facts on J&J's COVID shot, arriving end of April

Five million Canadians now have at least one dose

Five million Canadians now have at least one dose
The number of people vaccinated with at least one dose topped five million as of Thursday morning, leaving about 27 million people over 16 still needing a first dose.

Five million Canadians now have at least one dose

Canada-U.S. dispute emerges over whale's death

Canada-U.S. dispute emerges over whale's death
Fisheries and Oceans Canada issued a statement Wednesday saying it had determined the gear, retrieved after a whale known as Cottontail was found dead on Feb. 27, likely came from an American inshore fishing boat.

Canada-U.S. dispute emerges over whale's death

Ontario going into 4-week 'shutdown'

Ontario going into 4-week 'shutdown'
Citing the need for drastic action, Ford said the change will take effect Saturday and continue for at least four weeks.

Ontario going into 4-week 'shutdown'

U.S. union leader: 'Canada is not the problem'

U.S. union leader: 'Canada is not the problem'
United Steelworkers international president Tom Conway issued a joint statement with Canadian counterpart Ken Neumann aimed at making Canada's case for an exemption from Joe Biden's "Buy America" regulations.

U.S. union leader: 'Canada is not the problem'