Islamophobia is a looming threat

Asma Maryam Ali is a mental health counsellor and social justice activist in Hamilton.

My 65-year-old client covered his face and shuddered as he spoke about his grandchildren growing up ina world withterrorist groups like ISIS. Im so afraid for them, he said.

My client is a Caucasian Canadianand I assumed he feared that his grandchildren might be victims of an ISIS attack.

He saidhis grandchildren are visible minorities; one parent is Caucasian, the otherSouth Asian. Hes afraidthey will be taken for Muslims and be harmed by Islamophobic individuals.

Islamophobia is a fear of Islam, and it has come to include anything or anyone resembling Islam. Itmanifests itself in prejudice and discrimination against Muslims or those resembling Muslims.

Its what ledto the heinous assassination of turbaned Sikhs following 9/11. It has led to vandalism against mosquesand temples across North America including a Hindutemple here in Hamilton racist slurs against people of colour, and deadly attacks on Muslimsin recent months.

• Hindu Samaj temple arson a cultural turning point for city

The good news is that Canada is not Islamophobic yet. Many Canadians are curious about Islam and worry about terrorist threats, but for the most part, they are not afraid of Islam and Muslims.

Forces fostering suspicionand anxiety

Terrorists are making traumatic threats against us, settingupageneral level of anxiety over our safety, and a heightened level of anxiety whenever we see that group, orpeople resembling it. North American media outlets constantly broadcast horrific images of terrorist acts,adding to our fear and insecurity.

And our Prime Minister is stoking fear against all Muslimstopromote Bill C-51. (Rather, he should be helpingto challenge our fear by thinking rationally about thedifference between terrorist organizations that misrepresent Islam, and good, law-abiding CanadianMuslims approximately one million).

Furthermore, Bill C-51 will organize all of our livesaround our fear, which is the ultimate manifestation of a phobia. Yes, these are the makings of a truepsychological phobia.

Its imperative that we nip Islamophobia in the bud before it overtakes us.

To do this, we shouldbe aware of how its being fostered by our media and government, identify any fears, concerns orquestions we have, and ask those who know Islam well to help us find our answers.

Finding answers maybe as simple as speaking to a Muslim colleague or talking to Muslim neighbours down the street.

I have also booked a meeting with my MPChris Charlton, to air my concerns aboutIslamophobia and offer my support for her good efforts in Parliament.

Many Muslims I know would muchrather build bridges with fellow citizens and answer questions about Islam now, than face a Canadadivided over Islam in the future.