Toronto Muslims worry Trump will deliver on 'problematic' promises - Action News
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Toronto Muslims worry Trump will deliver on 'problematic' promises

Now that Donald Trump is president-elect of the United States, many Muslim Canadians are pondering what his election means for them and whether they're welcome in the country he will lead.

'I hope he was just pandering to his voters,' Umair Ali says

Sundus A. worries about what her friends in the United States are going through since Trump's election (CBC)

Now thatDonald Trump is president-elect of the United States, many Muslim Canadians are pondering what his election means for them and whether they're welcome in the country he will lead.

Trump first caught theirattention when hedemanded a"total and complete shutdown of Muslims" entering the United States after the San Bernardino mass shooting latelast year. And in the summer, as the presidential campaign heated up, he proposed an "extreme vetting"process for peopleseeking to immigrate to the United States.

In light of comments like that, CBC Torontoasked some local Muslim-Canadiansto weigh in.

'A message of hope and dreaming used to be there'

MoezineHashamwas atBarackObama's2009 inauguration and calls Trump's election a 180-degree turn.
Moezine Hasham at Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration (Moezine Hasham)

"Now you have a rich, white maleas president who is now espousing the values that were espoused 40-50 years ago."

Am I going to have to look over my shoulder when I visit family in Florida and Texas?- MoezineHasham

Hashamworries thefear of Muslims is wider than anticipated and visitingfamily in the U.S. won't be easy for Muslim-Canadians.

"Am I going to have to look over my shoulder when I visit family in Florida and Texas?"

Heruns a hockey program in Toronto for newcomer Canadian youth. The day after the election he had a group of young Muslim girls on the ice.

"I am just going to listen to them if they have questionsand deliver that message of still believing in yourself."

An anti-Muslim rant echoed here at home

Sundus A. who askedCBC Toronto notuse her last name will never forget the morning a middle-aged white woman sat next to her on the bus and began talking to her.

"She told me that I should get raped and go back to my country," shetold CBC Toronto last December.

"There was a bus full of people who did nothing, who said nothing. Not a word."

Almost a year later, shestill thinks about how alone she felt that day. Now, she compares that feeling to what close friends of her family who livein Ohio are going through, especially afterTrump's victory in that state Tuesday night.

"I worry ...because they are identifiable Muslims as well," A. said.

"He has instilled this fear and people don't feel safe in their own neighbourhoods."

A. says there was a backlash after going public with her story. She sayspeople told her it wasn't a big deal, just words.

"Well, it just goes to show you the power of words because even with Donald Trump, he didn't break any laws. Everything is just verbal but it's so problematic."

'I'm going to put off travel for a while.'

UmairAli travels to the United Statestwoor threetimes a year for business and leisure.
Umair Ali in New York City (FACEBOOK/UMAIRALI)

"Right now, the only thing that's on my mind is Trump might introduce the extreme vetting that he's talked about or impose the Muslim travel ban," he said.

"I don't know if he was just pandering to his voters when he said the things he said, but I have faith that Congress will block that bill."