Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke at a Muslim Association of Canada event, as Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha, declaring Canadians “must come together” around Eid’s values and that Muslim values of the day are Canadian values too.
Eid al-Adha is a Muslim holy day in remembrance of the prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son.
Carney gave a speech addressing a crowd of Muslims gathered to celebrate the holy day. From CPAC footage of the event, several Palestinian keffiyehs can be seen in the crowd, a headscarf which is a common symbol of support for Hamas’ war against Israel.
Eid al-Adha is a holy day in the Muslim calendar, marking the sacrifice of the father of the Abrahamic faith’s son. The difference between Christian and Jewish understandings of the critical moment for all three faiths is that the Quran claims the son being sacrificed was Ishmael and not Isaac.
Before Carney spoke at the event, Mourad Mhiri, the chair of the Muslim Association of Canada, pleaded with celebrants to co-operate and not interrupt the prime minister, despite likely feeling “agitated” due to geopolitical issues such as the Israel-Hamas war.
Mhiri also claimed a genocide was happening in Gaza as families starve, and demanded that Canada be a “voice for self-determination for Palestinians.”
During a rally on the campaign trail, Carney made similar comments when he told an attendee who yelled, “There’s a genocide happening in Palestine,” that he was “aware” and that’s why Canada had an arms embargo. He later backpedalled his comments, claiming he didn’t hear what was said.
Genocide is a term that denotes an intent to eliminate an ethnic group. Many Israeli supporters have also noted that the listed terrorist group that controls Gaza, Hamas, has stolen tons of aid meant for its people, but that is rarely brought up by those claiming “starvation” at the hands of Israel.
“We can pray differently. We can gather in different places of worship, but all of us must come together around the values of Eid,” he said. “The values of community, of generosity and yes, of sacrifice. These are Muslim values. These are Canadian values.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre released a similar statement, saying, “We reflect on the values of faith, sacrifice and community” as Muslims celebrate.
Carney said that Eid is a special day and the message of the Muslim holy day “should resonate with all Canadians.”
“It’s a story that some of us here with slightly different nomenclature, whether the prophet is called Ibrahim or Abraham, Ishmael or Isaac, the lessons and values of Eid are the same,” Carney added.
Carney set his sights on Gaza, saying that the joy of the celebration is marred by the Israel-Hamas war.
“I know that for many, myself included, these celebrations also bring sadness,” he said. “Evoked by the intolerable suffering around the world, including in Gaza, and the sadness I feel because of the hatred fueled by ignorance that is still a lived reality for far too many Muslim Canadians.”
After Carney left the stage, chants of “Free Palestine” could be heard in the audience before the livestreamed video cut out.