Following many recent attacks on Muslims, Canada has designated its first special representative to tackle Islamophobia.
Journalist and activist Amira Elghawaby will fill the post to “serve as a champion, adviser, expert, and representative to support and enhance the federal government’s efforts in the fight against Islamophobia, systemic racism, racial discrimination, and religious intolerance,” a statement by the prime minister’s office said.
An active human rights campaigner, Elghawaby is the communications head for the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and a columnist for the Toronto Star newspaper, having previously worked for more than a decade at public broadcaster CBC.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau praised Elghawaby’s appointment as “an important step in our fight against Islamophobia and hatred in all its forms.”
“Diversity truly is one of Canada’s greatest strengths, but for many Muslims, Islamophobia is all too familiar,” he added.
The Muslim community in Canada has been the subject of a series of horrific attacks over the past several years. In London, Ontario, a man drove over four Muslim family members with his vehicle in June 2021, resulting in their deaths. Six Muslims lost their lives and five others were injured in an attack on a mosque in Quebec City four years prior.
Journalist and activist Amira Elghawaby will fill the post to “serve as a champion, adviser, expert, and representative to support and enhance the federal government’s efforts in the fight against Islamophobia, systemic racism, racial discrimination, and religious intolerance,” a statement by the prime minister’s office said.
An active human rights campaigner, Elghawaby is the communications head for the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and a columnist for the Toronto Star newspaper, having previously worked for more than a decade at public broadcaster CBC.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau praised Elghawaby’s appointment as “an important step in our fight against Islamophobia and hatred in all its forms.”
“Diversity truly is one of Canada’s greatest strengths, but for many Muslims, Islamophobia is all too familiar,” he added.
The Muslim community in Canada has been the subject of a series of horrific attacks over the past several years. In London, Ontario, a man drove over four Muslim family members with his vehicle in June 2021, resulting in their deaths. Six Muslims lost their lives and five others were injured in an attack on a mosque in Quebec City four years prior.
