CAEF joins with Canadians from all walks of life, coast to coast, in expressing sorrow and sadness over the tragic attack on Sunday evening in London, Ontario that led to the death of a family of four and injury to a child. The victims of this hate crime are Salman Afzaal, 46, his 44-year-old wife Madiha Salman, their 15-year-old daughter Yumna Salman and Afzaal’s 74-year-old mother. The couple’s nine-year-old son Fayez was injured and is hospitalized.
This is not the Canada that honours diversity, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and welcomes refugees and immigrants from around the world.
This is the act of a terrorist, someone influenced by hate, ignorance and an inclination to do evil against others for no reason other than their differences, whether religious, racial, political, physical. There is no justifiable reason; hate is dangerous for all of us. We must stand up against hatred emanating from any and all sources, whether extreme Left or extreme Right, religious or politically motivated.
We call on all levels of government to turn their attention to confronting sources of hatred, inspirations for it whether on line, in institutions, in groups or organizations, and from abroad. Foreign funding of hate groups and foreign influence from societies that are intolerant, must be countered.
We stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters in solidarity against such evilness. We send condolences to the relatives and friends of the deceased family members.
We add our prayers for peace and a return to Canada the Good.
Both Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have indicated they will attend the prayer vigil tonight in London, The London Muslim Mosque says the vigil will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday in its parking lot. As of midday Tuesday, a Facebook page for the event showed over hundreds of people expect to attend.