Montreal, April 24, 2025
The Canadian Muslim Forum (FMC-CMF) is deeply concerned by Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre’s recent statements in a media interview regarding the future of Canada’s Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia.
By questioning the value of this position and framing it as unnecessary or ideologically driven, Mr. Poilievre risks minimizing the very real and persistent issue of Islamophobia in Canada. The role, currently held by Mrs. Amira Elghawaby, was created to address the specific and documented rise in hate crimes, systemic discrimination, and misinformation targeting Canada’s Muslim communities.
“Islamophobia is not a general issue; it is a specific and dangerous form of hatred that requires targeted recognition and action. Dismantling this position would not signal unity, it would send a message that our unique struggles do not matter.”
The FMC-CMF reminds all political leaders that Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees freedom of religion, equality under the law, and protection from discrimination. These values are not optional, they are foundational. The role of the Representative for the Fight Against Islamophobia is one of the practical expressions of these rights in action.
The FMC-CMF calls on all political leaders to affirm their commitment to fighting all forms of racism, including Islamophobia, through both broad and targeted initiatives. Representation matters. Voices matter. Safety matters.
The CMF believes that representation matters. Voices matter. Safety matters. Our democracy is strongest when it reflects and protects all of us, as Canadians, on equal ground.
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https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2025/04/23/ce-genre-de-poste-ne-minteresse-pas-poilievre-montrerait-il-la-porte-a-amira-elghawaby
*photo source: Mr. Poilievre Facebook page.