Canada’s first anti-Islamophobia official seeks ways to support Muslims

In collaboration with several organizations, Amira Elghawaby will release a guide on combating hate against Muslims later this month

OTTAWA, Canada – Amira Elghawaby, who was appointed Canada’s first Special Representative on Combating Islamophobia in January, says she is working to ensure the safety of the Muslim community.

Her appointment came after a 71% increase in reported hate crimes against Muslims from 2021 to 2022.

She said her office, in collaboration with several organizations, will release a guide on combating hate against Muslims later this month.

The guide comes from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and focuses on strengthening community and agency engagement.

Key aspects of the guide include recognizing anti-Muslim hate and formulating contingency plans against attacks on Muslims.

The guide also identifies ways to increase the security of mosques during important events such as the Muslim Eid and improve response times to hate crimes.

The office was established at the recommendation of an anti-Islamophobia summit and months after the Afzaal family tragedy in Ontario (2021), in which three generations were killed by a pickup truck.

Born in Cairo and raised in Ottawa, Elghawaby’s role as advisor is to raise awareness of community concerns and bring them to the attention of the federal government.

The country has witnessed significant hate crimes, including the 2017 Quebec City mosque shooting.

Elghawaby points to a steady increase in hate crimes reported to police and emphasizes that Canada is committed to upholding human rights and protecting its communities.

Prior to the appointment, Elghawaby was a contributing columnist at the Toronto Star and was a frequent media commentator on equity and inclusion.