MONTREAL — Quebec’s main opposition parties are coming out against a call to make the anniversary of Quebec City’s deadly mosque shooting a day of action on Islamophobia.
Flowers lay at the men’s entrance of the Quebec mosque on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 in Quebec City. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Last week, the National Council of Canadian Muslims wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, asking for the Jan. 29 anniversary of the mass shooting one year ago to become a national day of remembrance and action on Islamophobia.
The director of the organization said such a designation would help enhance public education about hate, bigotry and Islamophobia and that a day of remembrance is supported by dozens of other Canadian Muslim groups and community partners.
But both the Parti Quebecois and the Coalition Avenir Quebec say the term Islamophobia is too controversial.
A PQ spokesman says the party believes the tragedy should be remembered every year, but notes the term Islamophobia is already a controversial term, while the Coalition says the day should honour the victims of the shooting.
Alexandre Bissonnette is the 27 year old suspected shooter in the Quebec City mosque shooting on January 29, 2017. (Facebook)
Six Muslim men were shot and killed and 19 others were wounded in an attack on the mosque during prayers last Jan. 29. Alexandre Bissonnette is to stand trial in March on six charges of first-degree murder and six of attempted murder.
