University of Guelph-Humber

Students and faculty from the Justice Studies program at the University of Guelph-Humber marked the first anniversary of a mass shooting in a Quebec mosque last year by hosting an event to raise awareness about the discrimination faced by Muslims in Canada.

On Jan. 29, 2017, a lone gunman shot and killed six people at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre.

Students from UofGH and Humber College set up tables with buttons, posters and displays condemning Islamophobia and invited volunteers to try on the hijab or head scarf. Exhibits highlighting accounts of discrimination faced by Muslim women were also part of the demonstration.

“The whole idea behind this event is to promote tolerance and acceptance,” said Ron Stansfield, professor, Justice Studies program. “It’s fear and ignorance that leads people to hate each other. Next year, we want to include Sikh men who wear the turban as well as Jewish men who wear the yarmulke, to be part of this and make it a multi-faith event.”

Two years ago, a spike in attacks in Toronto and elsewhere on women wearing the hijab, prompted some Muslim students at UofGH to collaborate with Stanfield and plan an exhibit to highlight the prejudice faced by the members of their community. This year the organizers decided to resurrect the event to coincide with the anniversary of the Quebec mosque shooting.

Hira Zulfiqar, a fourth-year Justice Studies student and one of the organizers, was recently presented with the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Award at Humber College's International Women's Day Luncheon.

“We wanted to share some of the stories and break stereotypes circulating about Muslim women as someone that’s oppressed and without a voice,” Zulfiqar said. “As a Muslim woman wearing the hijab, I feel as though I am physically representing Islam. I think it’s important for women to take a leadership role.”

Montana MacFarlane, a fourth-year Justice Studies student who tried on a hijab, said she decided to participate because she wanted to show solidarity to Muslim women.

“I am feeling very empowered wearing the hijab,” MacFarlane said. “As someone wanting to go into the justice profession, I am here to help raise awareness about Islam and help prevent incidents.”