Muslim women feeling 'unsafe': Manitoba Islamic Association

Manitoba'sMuslim community feelsthreatened after recent acts of Islamophobiain Ontario.

"Especially women now, they are feeling [threatened]after the attacks [in] Toronto, everyone is feeling sometimes unsafe," said Eptifam Esshaki, spokesperson for Manitoba Islamic Association.

In Toronto, two women riding a subway onWednesday were verbally assaulted and physically accosted,the Toronto Transit Commission reported.

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On a separate public transit system in the Greater Toronto Area, racist graffiti against Muslim girls was discovered in a train washroom.

Last weekend, amosque inPeterborough, Ont.,was burned down, an act being treated as a hate crime.

There are concerns around the world thatrecent attacks in Paris could spur anti-Muslim violence. Recent instances of IslamophobiainCanada bring those threats closer to home, saidEsshaki.

"Especially when we hear the news, attacking Muslim women with hijaband pulling them, threatening them and beating them up. I think it's a big threat for us, yes," said Esshaki.

She hopes that an open house this weekend will help prevent any assaults from arising inWinnipeg.

"We are hoping to reach out to other communities and other faiths to understand [Islam]," said Esshaki.

The annual open house at Winnipeg's Grand Mosque gives non-Muslims an opportunity to tour the mosque and ask questions, including about:"Islam, about terrorists, about women's rights, human rights, hijab/niqab, praying time," Esshakisaid.

She said the questions do work to break down barriers, even if they may bedifficult orexpose potential Islamophobia.

"[The open houses] build bridges between the communities and better understanding [of] us and our community," she said.

The Grand Mosque'sopen house takes place on Sunday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 2445 Waverley St.