National Day of Remembrance and Action Against Islamophobia
Today, the Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) joins communities across the country in marking the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia.
On January 29, 2017, six Muslim men were murdered while praying in their mosque in Québec City, and many others were injured in an act of devastating hatred. We honour the lives of Ibrahima Barry, Azzeddine Soufiane, Mamadou Tanou Barry, Khaled Belkacemi, Aboubaker Thabti, and Abdelkrim Hassane.
This day is not only about remembrance, but about responsibility. Islamophobia continues to harm Muslim communities through violence, discrimination, surveillance, and systemic barriers to safety, employment, and belonging. Muslim women, in particular, face the compounded impacts of racism and gendered Islamophobia in public spaces, workplaces, and institutions.
At CCMW, we remain committed to building a Canada where Muslim women can live with dignity, security, and opportunity. We call on governments, institutions, media, and communities to move beyond symbolic gestures and take concrete action to confront hate, protect human rights, and invest in inclusion.
Remembrance must lead to action. Justice must lead to change.
Today, we also share a powerful reflection by Samaa Elibyari, President of CCMW’s Québec Chapter and Co-Founder and Board Member of Muslim Awareness Week. Writing as a Muslim woman living in Québec, she reflects on the 2017 attack and its lasting impact on our communities.
Do Quebec Muslims feel more secure today than in 2017? The short answer: The demons who haunted Bissonnette are still lurking in the dark, fueled by a wave of xenophobia, the sustained depiction of Muslim men as a threat, and the intense campaign against immigrants south of the border.
🔗 Read Samaa’s full reflection
🔗 Lisez la réflexion complète de Samaa
May we honour the victims not only with our words, but with our courage to build a more just and compassionate Canada.