The Canadian Bazaar
TORONTO: Threats to “do a Christ church” has forced a Toronto mosque to close temporarily.
The threat refers to the mass shootings at two mosques in New Zealand in 2019 that left 51 people dead.
The threat to the mosque (which has not been identified for security reasons), released by the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), reads, “We have a right to defend ourselves from the terrorists. The police will take our side. Islam will not defeat us. We have the guns to do a Christchurch all over again in our office.”
The threat comes within a month after the stabbing death of a 58-year-old Muslim man – named Mohamed-Aslim Zafis – at the International Muslim Organization mosque on Rexdale Boulevard and Bergamot Avenue.
Toronto Police have increased patrolling in the area and are investigating the threat.
But Mustafa Farooq, CEO of the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), said, “Enough is enough. While we greatly appreciate the efforts of the Toronto Police Service in conducting an investigation into this particular incident, we need action now from the federal government to develop a national action strategy on dismantling xenophobic groups.”
Farooq said, “Today, we are dealing with threats to murder members of the Toronto Muslim community en masse. What more needs to happen before action is taken?”
The threat brought swift condemnatios from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Toronto Mayor John Tory.
Trudeau tweeted, “Islamophobia and hate have no place in our country, and this kind of behavior and language will not be tolerated. We must do more to counter hatred and we will.”
Mayor John Tory said, “Any form of hatred and discrimination towards a place of worship and those who visit these places will not be accepted in our city. I reiterate my condemnation of any form of racism, hatred or bigotry against any resident, community, or place of worship in our city and stand with the Muslim community who are not only looking for answers but support during these frightening times.”
The mayor added, “As a city and as individual Torontonians we must stand together to ensure that the Muslim community feels supported and that the places of worship they rely on are not at risk of becoming unsafe spaces.”
Expressing deep concern over growing extremist threats to the Muslim community, the Liberal Muslim Parliamentary Caucus said, “Incidents of hate, violence and murder continue to occur and far-right hate groups fester on dark corners of the web and in person.
“Lives are being lost, and there is deep concern. We have a responsibility to do more.”
