Islamophobia rising

The murder of four Canadians of Pakistani origins, by a 20-year-old man who drove over them in his pickup truck, has left people completely horrified. The incident shows the extent to which Islamophobia is growing around the world and the consequences it can have on ordinary people. The family had moved from Pakistan to Canada 10 years ago. They were out on a regular evening walk when they were driven over by a young white man aged around 20; four of the five family members were killed. The killer was captured at a store a few miles away and taken into custody. He is being investigated but initial reports say he had no prior connection with the family. The crime is being called a premeditated one by Canadian police, who say the timing of the walk and the family was known to the man in the sense that they wore Pakistani clothing and could as such be identified as Muslims, even though there were no other reasons for him to have come into contact with them.

There has been condemnation by the Canadian government with the mayor of London, Ontario, where the crime occurred, calling for the flag to be lowered for three days. The prime minister of the country, Justin Trudeau, has called the crime a horrific one and said such killings must stop. Of course, they must stop, but this can only happen if there is greater effort around the world to accept that not all Muslims are terrorists. The incidents of Islamophobia in other countries just suggest the extent to which it is spreading around the world. We had the mosque killings in New Zealand, the ban on the face veil in France, and other incidents which have taken place around the globe. It is simply unacceptable that any one religion should become a reason for people to kill those who belong to it. Two million Muslims live in Canada, and another six million in the neighbouring US, and 65 million in Europe. Across these countries and in others such as Australia and New Zealand, as well as other parts of the world, action is required to prevent more hatred being spread against Muslims and the true meaning of the religion imparted to people who are ignorant and kill out of their ignorance.