The Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA) was horrified by the murder of four members of the same family— Salman Afzaal, Madiha Salman, Yumna Afzaal and Talat Afzaal—in a premeditated act of anti-Muslim violence perpetrated in London, Ontario on June 6. This act of terror has left four people dead and another—a 9-year-old boy—without a family.
Our thoughts and solidarity go out to the family, the Muslim community in Edmonton and across Canada, and all those who are grieving this unthinkable act.
As tragic as this attack was, we recognize that it is not an isolated incident. Recent years have seen far too many acts of anti-Muslim hate and violence in this country, from the Quebec City mosque massacre in 2017 to the recent spate of at least five attacks on visible Muslim women here in Edmonton earlier this year.
It is long past time to hold accountable those public figures whose actions and statements normalize and fuel this growing anti-Muslim hate. And it’s time for all levels of government in Canada to take concrete action to address Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate in our communities.
NASA supports and encourages its members to add their name to the call from the National Council of Canadian Muslims for all levels of government to convene and participate in a National Action Summit on Islamophobia.
