Muslim Awareness Week Born Out of Quebec City Murders
By Samaa Elibyari
Sep/Oct 2024
Since 2019, between January 25-31, a series of highly anticipated events take place in Quebec, mostly in Montreal, under the banner Semaine de sensibilization musulmane — Muslim Awareness Week (SSM-MAW).
The Trigger
How did it all begin? On Jan. 29, 2017, 27-year-old Alexandre Bissonnette stormed the Centre Culturel Islamique du Québec (The Islamic Cultural Center of Quebec) and fired on dozens of congregants. He killed Ibrahima Barry, MamadouTanou Barry, Khaled Belkacemi, Abdelkrim Hassane, Azzedine Soufiane and Aboubaker Thabti and seriously injured five others, among them Ayman Derbali, who will remain confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Six widows with 18 orphans were left to mourn. [Editor’s note: In a May 7, 2022 unanimous ruling, the Canadian Supreme Court ruled that Bissonnette must have a chance at parole after serving 25 years in prison, striking down a Criminal Code provision allowing judges to impose consecutive periods of parole ineligibility.]
The Motive
In his guilty plea to the police, Bissonnette admitted being motivated by his fear and abhorrence of Muslims and that when expressed publicly, his murderous thoughts met no objection. After this tragedy, a spontaneous surge of solidarity and sympathy from all stripes of politicians, as well as lay people, quickly faded out. However, two questions remained, “Why?” and most importantly, “What to do?”
The Idea
Like-minded volunteers, all anchored in Muslim communities with a strong track record of civic engagement, launched the Muslim Awareness Week to combat the misconceptions of Muslim (Québécois) Quebecers. They also wanted their fellow citizens to discover Muslims’ contributions and societal accomplishments. Their common vision is that of a cohesive society in which trust among different groups is created, the marginalization of minorities avoided, and all members are offered equal opportunities of upward mobility.
Plan of Action
Over the few years of its existence, SSM-MAW has spread from Montreal to Sherbrooke, Rimouski and Gatineau. Most of the activities are in French with a strong English component. The implementation requires four main facets to ensure its success:
• Addressing the Sources of Misunderstanding of Quebec’s Muslims
Regardless of the underlying rationale for rejecting Muslims — economic, cultural and/or security-related concerns — negative feelings toward them are widespread. Resentment, fear and anger are easily mobilized by a media culture that relies on sensationalism and shallow ideals imported equally from Europe, particularly France, and the U.S. In addition, negative examples selectively taken from faraway countries are projected upon Muslims. This contributes to a growing anxiety and misconception about their compatibility with Canada and Quebec’s progressive norms, especially in terms of equality between men and women, loyalty to their adopted country and integration into society.
The internet, a valuable source of knowledge and connectivity, also gives easy access to offensive and racist platforms. Regrettably, the growing popularity of extremist groups, locally and internationally, exacerbates an already worrisome situation.
At election times, at all levels of government, Canadians witness a wave of simplistic and ill-founded speeches targeting Muslims, whether on veiled-face voting, state secularism or religious symbols. This leads to superficial debates that invariably generate intolerance amplified by hateful comments spread by social media. These drivers of negative sentiment have led to repercussions with serious consequences in how Quebec’s Muslims are treated, whether as long-time immigrants, natives or asylum seekers.
• Creating a Prerequisite Environment for Addressing the Root Causes of Conflict
This calls for multiple voices to be heard and ensures opportunities for constructive and respectful dialogue in which power relations and historical grievances are discussed and negotiated. This kind of exchange runs parallel to tolerance, a fundamental building block of a harmonious pluralistic society. SSM-MAW selects the venues and undertakes careful planning to ensure helpful dialogue.
• Offering Opportunities for Rapprochement
Building mutual understanding across groups is as old as humanity itself. Learning how to live together in a world of increasing diversity has emerged as one of today’s most pressing challenges. In increasingly mixed and heterogeneous societies, we can live in bubbles and find our positions reinforced rather than questioned. One of SSM-MAW’s real potential strengths lies in calling attention to the lesser-told stories of groups that typically do not interact coming together.
• Developing Effective Tools for Education and Advocacy for Quebec Muslims
An enabling environment ensures that as different forms of intercultural interactions occur, the underlying communications go beyond tolerance and toward transformative experiences. Canadian Muslims envision SSM-MAW becoming part of the indispensable toolbox that can strengthen social cohesion and respond directly to challenging situations.
Highlights of SSM-MAW
• Launch of Muslim Awareness Week on January 25 at Montréal Town Hall. Representatives from all levels of governments, municipal, Quebec and Federal, in addition to community leaders and partners, attend and participate in cultural entertainment and networking over refreshments.
• Remembrance Day Jan 29. An outdoor vigil was convened at Place du Parc, where the first vigil was held in Montreal in 2017. The event featured speeches, prayers and candles, and enjoyed wide media coverage.
• The Fair on Saturday. This popular family-friendly event offered specialty food and showcased fashion, Arabic calligraphy, Turkish Ebru art and more.
• Cultural events. Literary discussions with Muslim authors and documentaries about Muslim living in Quebec and Canada were followed by discussions with the producer and the “stars”. These are well attended by intellectual groups.
• Interfaith dialogue with Christian and Jewish groups. These recurrent meetings had been carefully nurtured over the years. After our relationship with a progressive synagogue floundered, a new opportunity with a Sikh temple opened.
• Mosques open houses that ceased post-Covid need to be revived.
• Civic engagement (e.g., blood donation clinics) should be looked into.
• Standing with Palestine. “GAZA Monologues” produced by Teesri Duniya Theater was presented. Nassamat, a Palestinian music ensemble, also played old favorites and modern Hip Hop at the Fair.
Media
A crucial part of SSM-MAW’s success is to secure wide coverage, both in traditional and social media. This aspect cannot be emphasized enough. We contribute op-eds, interviews, photos and more. The Federal Government has supported this initiative. Also, there are sincere partners without whom the project could not have succeeded in presenting events of such variety and richness.
In Jan 2021, the federal government has announced that Jan. 29 will become a National Day of Remembrance for the 2017 Quebec City Mosque attack in a move to honor the victims and express solidarity with the survivors. “This tragedy reminds us of the urgency to stand up against these hateful acts and online radicalization,” said Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault in a statement.
SSM-MAW is a value-driven process that requires participants’ commitment to principles such as mutual respect, empathy and a willingness to change perspectives. Pursuing societal change requires the stakeholders’ perseverance. It takes effort and money, but it is the constructive thing to do if we aspire to live in peace and enjoy full citizens’ rights in Quebec.
Samaa Elibyari (co-president, the Canadian Council of Muslim Women-Montreal Chapter) has sat on SSM-MAW’s board from 2020 to 2024.
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