Yesterday, I was honoured to attend the virtual vigil/du’a held for the Afzaal family by the Darul Iman-Islamic Centre of Markham. The murder of 4 members of the Afzaal family is a tragic event that has shaken communities across Canada, and around the world. It’s a harsh reminder of the hatred, bigotry, racism and Islamophobia that still exists. The speakers from Darul Iman provided a powerful response. They spoke about how hate tears a community apart, and fear is the cause of hate. We need to focus on what unites us. They turned to the words of Martin Luther King: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” Regardless of your religion, race, gender, language, culture or gender, we’re all in this together. We need a collective effort. Canadians need to stand together.
June 9, 2021