Vigil to show solidarity for Muslims

Mohammed Imran says he felt “really, really shattered” when he heard the news of the targeted attack on a Muslim family in London, Ont., this week.

And when his 10-yearold daughter Maryam, who chooses to wear a hijab and walks to school alone in Halifax every day learned of the tragedy, she may have taken the news even worse.

“Personally, I was really, really shattered and devastated,” Imran told The Chronicle Herald.

“As soon as (my daughter) heard the news and she follows the hijab and she walks to school by herself every morning, now she started questioning how it's going to differ.”

She asked, "Am I safe? What do you want me to do? Should I remove my hijab and just walk or are you going to drop me off at school in the car?"

Imran said he couldn't help but feel “helpless” when he started fielding those questions from Maryam and struggled to find the words to comfort her.

Ever since the targeted vehicle attack on Sunday, which claimed the lives of members of three generations of a Pakistani-canadian family and left nine-year-old Fayez Afzaal, a lone survivor, wounded, Muslims in Nova Scotia have been in mourning.

On Wednesday evening, the Ummah Masjid and Community Centre hosted a vigil in memory of the victims of the attack.

This Saturday, Kearney Lake Masjid is hosting yet another community vigil in the parking lot of the Bedford mosque from 6 to 7 p.m.

The event will feature speeches from the mosque's management team and dignitaries, as well as a prayer from Imam Wael Haridy.

According to Imran, the Nova Scotia Islamic Community Centre-kearney Lake Masjid's treasurer, the vigil is open to the “entire community” and people are encouraged to attend in their cars in order to adhere to and follow COVID-19 restrictions. He noted the mosque has received the go-ahead from local authorities to put on the event.

“The idea is to help and support our entire Muslim community to understand that we are united in such times,” he said.

“The idea of this vigil is not to have great speeches, it's all about gathering in one place to show support to our Muslim community and to our London family that is affected. We wanted to send this message to our government that whatever happens in Canada, we are standing together and we are not letting such hate crimes to happen.”

Imran said members of the Muslim community have been overwhelmed by the words of support from politicians and various community organizations in recent days.

But he said what they're hoping for is that governments take action and create “strong” anti-islamophobic laws to prevent further hate crimes.

“What's spoken, yes, could bring peace for a while, but I believe actions are more important,” Imran said.

“Individuals should have to think, before (committing such acts), what will be the consequences. Otherwise, the words are not enough.”

In tears, Imran said he's concerned about the future of nine-year-old Fayez Afzaal. Having lost his own mother about 15 years ago, he said he knows how “important a mother's support is” and hopes Fayez will be able to remain strong despite losing not only his mother, but also his sister, father and grandmother.

“Every individual, as Canadian citizens, should not have a spot or space for such crimes anywhere in our nation, in any communities. Not only Muslim communities, but all communities,” Imran added.

“This shouldn't happen to anyone.”