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Islamophobia is a looming threat
4-07-2015
Asma Maryam Ali is a mental health counsellor and social justice activist in Hamilton.
My 65-year-old client covered his face and shuddered as he spoke about his grandchildren growing up in a world with terrorist groups like ISIS. “I’m so afraid for them,” he said.
My client is a Caucasian Canadian and I assumed he feared that his grandchildren might be victims of an ISIS attack.
I asked him to explain.
He said his grandchildren are visible minorities; one parent is Caucasian, the other South Asian. He’s afraid they will be taken for Muslims and be harmed by Islamophobic individuals.
For a moment, I could only sit with him in his fear. Being a visible Muslim, I’m afraid for my safety also. Islamophobia is on the rise in Canada, and I worry that soon, I may be the victim of an Islamophobic hate crime.
Islamophobia is a fear of Islam, and it has come to include anything or anyone resembling Islam. It manifests itself in prejudice and discrimination against Muslims or those resembling Muslims.
It’s what led to the heinous assassination of turbaned Sikhs following 9/11. It has led to vandalism against mosques and temples across North America — including a Hindu temple here in Hamilton — racist slurs against people of colour, and deadly attacks on Muslims in recent months.
The good news is that Canada is not Islamophobic — yet. Many Canadians are curious about Islam and worry about terrorist threats, but for the most part, they are not afraid of Islam and Muslims.
Forces fostering suspicion and anxiety
The bad news is that there are several forces fostering Islamophobia among Canadians, and it will be a struggle to counteract them.
Terrorists are making traumatic threats against us, setting up a general level of anxiety over our safety, and a heightened level of anxiety whenever we see that group, or people resembling it. North American media outlets constantly broadcast horrific images of terrorist acts, adding to our fear and insecurity.
And our Prime Minister is stoking fear against all Muslims to promote Bill C-51. (Rather, he should be helping to challenge our fear by thinking rationally about the difference between terrorist organizations that misrepresent Islam, and good, law-abiding Canadian Muslims – approximately one million).
Furthermore, Bill C-51 will organize all of our lives around our fear, which is the ultimate manifestation of a phobia. Yes, these are the makings of a true psychological phobia.
It may mean distorted thoughts, extreme avoidance and irrational behaviours around Muslims or those resembling Muslims in the years to come. And once it sets in, it may be very difficult to undo.
It’s imperative that we nip Islamophobia in the bud before it overtakes us.
To do this, we should be aware of how it’s being fostered by our media and government, identify any fears, concerns or questions we have, and ask those who know Islam well to help us find our answers.
Finding answers may be as simple as speaking to a Muslim colleague or talking to Muslim neighbours down the street.
I have been proactively reaching out to churches in Hamilton and opening a dialogue with them about Islamophobia.
I have also booked a meeting with my MP Chris Charlton, to air my concerns about Islamophobia and offer my support for her good efforts in Parliament.
Many Muslims I know would much rather build bridges with fellow citizens and answer questions about Islam now, than face a Canada divided over Islam in the future.
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