International Day to Combat Islamophobia
The University of Victoria strives to make campus a safe and inclusive space for all. Stand with us against fear, prejudice and hatred of Muslims, and all forms of racism, religious discrimination and harassment.
International Day to Combat Islamophobia was designated as an international observance by the United Nations in 2022. The UN defines Islamophobia as “a fear, prejudice and hatred of Muslims that leads to provocation, hostility and intolerance by means of threatening, harassment, abuse, incitement and intimidation of Muslims and non-Muslims, both in the online and offline world. Motivated by institutional, ideological, political and religious hostility that transcends into structural and cultural racism, it targets the symbols and markers of being a Muslim.”
The March 15 date was chosen because it is the anniversary of the Christchurch mosque shootings, in which 51 people were killed.
Closer to home, on Jan. 29, 2017, six people lost their lives and 19 others were seriously injured during the attack at the Centre culturel islamique de Québec in Sainte-Foy. To commemorate the victims of this attack—one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history—Jan. 29 has been proclaimed as National Day of Remembrance of the Québec City Mosque attack and Action against Islamophobia.
Islam is the second largest religion in the world after Christianity, with more than 2 billion followers representing 24.9% of the world population.
Learn more at these campus events and by checking out these resources:
Events
Abraham’s Table Interfaith Dialogue
March 15
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Online
Part of a weekly program dedicated to providing a space to discuss and learn from various religions, this session focuses on Islam and sin/morality.
Presenter: Gulsen Cok, Muslim Spiritual Care Provider at Multifaith Services
Moderator: Rev. Ruth Dantzer, Anglican Spiritual Care Provider at Multifaith Services
Information and Zoom link to Abraham’s Table Interfaith Dialogue
Distinguished Lecture in Islam
March 21
5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Hickman Building Room 105
The Centre for Studies in Religion and Society welcomes Sa’diyya Shaikh who will speak on Ethics of Love and Justice: Islamic Feminist Reflections.
Information and Zoom link to Distinguished Lecture in Islam
Resources
UVic Libraries research guide
UVic librarians offer a curated list of resources on anti-Islamophobia.
Interfaith Dialogue Guide
Multifaith Services offers a guide on how to have interfaith dialogue.
Religious observances
Equity and Human Rights provides a list of religious observances and encourages you to mark them on your calendar and to be considerate of Muslim prayer times especially on Fridays (12:30 to 1:30 p.m. PST; 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Daylight Savings Time).