An independent Toronto MP and a global coalition of Muslim imams are calling on the government to do more to stop the Islamic extremism and radicalization in Canada.
MP Kevin Vuong and the Global Imams Council say authorities must enforce laws against groups already designated as terrorists in Canada and to play a more active role in halting the proliferation of extremism.
“While there has been much discussion about fentanyl, there is something equally as dangerous being trafficked in Canada, and that is extremism and extremist ideology,” Vuong said at an Ottawa press conference Thursday.
He noted several instances of alleged and foiled terrorist plots in Canada, indicating a growing Islamic extremist problem in Canada.
“In the last seven months, Canada has been either the target of, or exporter of, at least seven incidents of terror,” he said.
Vuong noted a recent father and son who were arrested before they could execute an advanced-stage ISIS terror plot in Toronto; a foreign national who said he wanted to kill as many Jews in New York City as possible on the first anniversary of Oct. 7; and another in Niagara, Ont., who has been charged with producing improvised explosive devices.
“There are, of course, questions that must be answered about how these people got into Canada, but what must also be answered is how they were radicalized,” Vuong said.
He focused on “radicalizing bad actors” who are “dressing themselves in the robes of religion,” which he said were “exploiting Islam” to advance a “nefarious agenda” and sowing hate and division in Canada.
The Global Imams Council, comprised of 1,500 Muslim leaders, ordained Imams and Islamic scholars, was created in response to the ISIS invasion of Iraq and Syria to combat the spread of Islamist propaganda and Islamic terrorism.
Imam Mohammad Tawhidi, known online as the Imam of Peace and a governing member of the council, called on the government to enforce laws against individuals and groups in listed terrorist entities and supporters of those entities.
Tawhidi announced the beginning of the Muslim season of Ramadan, saying that extremist speakers and groups often flock to Canada during this time to propagandize Canadians, particularly Muslims.
“While Ramadan is a time of peace and reflection, we must also confront a grave distortion of its purpose, the rise of extremist narratives that plague our cities and hijack our processions and worship during this time in particular,” Tawhidi said.
He said Canadians “must denounce” the Quds Day march, an anti-Israel event that takes place on the last Friday of every month of Ramadan, which was created by the Islamic regime in Iran.
“Let me be unequivocal: the Quds march is not a religious event. It is a political demonstration that glorifies terrorism and openly supports groups designated as terrorist organizations by the Government of Canada,” Tawhidi said. “It is a celebration of violence and extremism, not of faith or justice.”
He called on the Canadian government to ban the Quds march and to “recognize” its organizers as “complicit in the endorsement and promotion of terrorism” and for Muslim Canadians to reject the “poisonous ideology” espoused by it.
Tawhidi also called for a separation of Islam and politics, asking Muslim organizations in educational institutions to focus on faith instead of Middle Eastern geopolitical affairs. He also called for an end to the “Islamist” practice of blocking streets and public venues to pray, saying it is a demonstration of political belief rather than of faith.
“Islamism seeks to use Islam as a tool in government institutions to further a particular organization’s agenda,” Tawhidi said. “Islam is a religion, and the majority of Islamist actions come from organizations, not actual denominations that are mainstream Islam.”
Vuong echoed the Tawhidi’s point, saying some have weaponized public prayer blockades for political gain, and Canadians have places to pray, including houses of worship and their homes.
Tawhidi said the council is “most importantly” concerned with the importation of extremist narratives from the Middle East that have “no place” in Canada, which is “not party” to those conflicts.
He applauded municipalities for pushing back extremist terrorist-supporting speakers and events such as Hizb ut Tahrir, which the Global Imams Council called to be added to the terrorist entity list at the beginning of the month.
Tawhidi warned Canadians not to give in to groups and individuals that would seek to weaponize the term “Islamophobia” to shut down criticism.
“I believe everything can be criticized, including our religion, can be criticized,” he said. “We are well equipped to write academically and respond academically and clarify misconceptions”
He said he’s against attempts to “shut down” all discourse about Islam and said those doing so, “especially” after Oct. 7, is “very clearly, very wrong.”
“We very much want to see people focusing more on what is actually bigotry, meaning that they hate Muslims because they are Muslims,” he said. “That is pure bigotry. And that is what we protect our communities from and that’s what we do not accept.”