Hatred destroyed the once peaceful veneer of London, Ontario, with the killing of four members of the Afzaal family on June 6. This has caused wounds so deep that they are likely to leave permanent scars that will haunt our collective memory for years to come.
Nine months after the murder of Mohamed Aslim-Zafis at the entrance of the International Muslim Organization (IMO) mosque on Rexdale Blvd. in Toronto, not a day goes by without recalling the shocking scene.
Mohammed Aslim Zafis (r) with his elder brother Faruq
The images etched in my memory are the flashing lights of EMS and police vehicles, the police ‘do not pass’ tapes, Aslim-Zafi’s lifeless body covered in a tarp, and our Imam crying and praying to God.
After the evening prayer, Aslim-Zafis used to sit outside with a cup of tea during the warm summer evenings. Footage captured on CCTV cameras shows that he did not see his attacker, who viciously attacked him when he was not expecting it.
Our mosque, like any other in the GTA, welcomes people of all ethnicities. A white male would raise absolutely no doubts in anyone’s mind. Instead of an interrogation, a stranger is more likely to receive a dish with whatever fix Aslim-Zafis had cooked up in our kitchen.
As the head of the mosque, I felt alone, weak and vulnerable. How did the President of the Islamic Cultural Center in Quebec City feel when he received the news that someone had killed six members inside his mosque?
The first person at my side was Mustafa Farooq, CEO of the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM). He and his small team helped us make a move forward.
We at IMO have always had an exceptional relationship with Toronto Police officers in Division 23. Chief Inspector Ron Taverner assured me that officers would be dispatched to the mosque at all times until the killer was in custody.
Days later, Toronto Police arrested Guilherme “William” Van Neutegem and charged him with Aslim-Zafis’ murder.
The Canadian Anti-Hate Network said Van Neutegem’s social media profile indicated he had ties to a group that was ideologically motivated towards violent extremism.
I’m still confused that he hasn’t been charged with a hate crime. However, his apparent ideological motivation for killing Aslim-Zafi gave us a critical perspective.
Standing with us with their pledged support to combat Islamophobia are elected officials from all levels of government, GTA Imams, faith leaders from far and near – Jewish, Christian, Hindu and Sikh.
Other hot stories soon diverted the media. As the weeks and months piled up, Aslim-Zafi’s slaying looked like it was a killing in a convenience store parking lot, not an attack on a religious community.
Hajji Omar Faruk
The extensive media coverage given to the Afzaals massacre has been appreciated. The outpouring of empathy from fellow Canadians of every walk, creed and ethnicity warmed my being. I hope this will inspire a national conversation and a concrete plan of action to curb the spread of ideologically motivated violent extremism in Canada.
Today’s incident at the Islamic Institute of Toronto (IIT) highlights the necessity and urgency for this to happen immediately. Emergency services were called to IIT on Neilson Road, near Finch Avenue East, Toronto, around 11:50 a.m. to reports of two people trying to break into the building. It is also alleged that the co-accused have threatened the staff.
I am also now convinced that if we as Canadians were to take a stand as a unified shield against the architects of hate, it would eliminate their point in our society and leave little or no room for those who to traffic their vile ideology on the Internet.
Omar Farouk, President and CEO of IMO Mosque.
Haji Omar Farouk is a Canadian by choice, born, raised, socialized, educated in the multi-ethnic and multi-faith Cooperative Republic of Guyana. He loves cricket and has also dedicated his time to community and public service.
