Latest news with #Islamophobia
CTV News
4 hours ago
- CTV News
‘We've had to adapt to living in fear': Toronto family says they have endured months of Islamophobia
Marycarmen Lara Villaneuva and her husband Khurram Shahzad say their family has been the victim of Islamophobia for several months. (Joanna Lavoie/CP24) A Muslim family from Toronto's east end says they no longer feel safe in their neighbourhood after being the target of numerous Islamophobic incidents over a period of four months. The initial incident occurred on March 29, the last day of Ramadan, when a male suspect allegedly attempted to break into the family's residence in the city's Upper Beach area. Marycarmen Lara Villaneuva said just after 5:30 a.m. that day a man who lives in the area uttered anti-Muslim slurs and threats as he tried to bust open the door of the home she shares with her husband, Khurram Shahzad, and their two children. Lara Villaneuva said she believes they were targeted because of an inflatable mosque and a neon Ramadan Kareem light they had on their front lawn. Inflatable mosque/Ramadan Kareem sign An east Toronto family says they became the target of Islamophobia because of an inflatable mosque and a neon Ramadan Kareem light they had on their front lawn. The homeowner alleges that the accused kicked the inflatable, knocking it over during an attempted break in of her home. (Supplied) A suspect identified as Christopher Randewich, 53, of Toronto, was arrested a short time later and charged with two counts each of uttering threats/death or bodily harm and mischief under $5,000, Toronto police confirm. They added that the hate crime unit 'was advised and assisted divisional investigators.' Less than two weeks later, Lara Villaneuva said her family was again targeted in an incident that she believes to also be hate-motivated. In this case, she said, a woman who lives nearby allegedly approached her and uttered anti-Muslim rhetoric in regards to the pro-Palestinian sign on her front lawn, accusing her of being a 'terrorist.' The family contacted Toronto police, who have confirmed to CP24 that they have a report on file pertaining to that occurrence but have not laid any charges at this point. East End for a Free Palestine sign An East End for a Free Palestine sign is pictured. (Joanna Lavoie/CP24) Meanwhile, the suspect who was arrested in March has since been charged with violating his release conditions on two separate occasions, police confirm. Lara Villaneuva said the accused's first breach was on May 10 when he allegedly made a death threat against her and a neighbour. The second violation, she said, occurred on July 16. In this case, the accused allegedly yelled at Shazad from his nearby residence and started approaching him in contravention of his bail conditions. The suspect also uttered anti-Muslim remarks to the arresting officer, she said. 'We've had to adapt to living in fear, but how long are we supposed to live like this?' Lara Villaneuva told 'We've taken steps to proactively protect our family, but there's only so much we can do. It's exhausting and it's debilitating. … This is our home and our community.' Marycarmen Lara Villaneuva/Khurram Shahzad Marycarmen Lara Villaneuva, left, and her husband Khurram Shahzad say their family has been the victim of Islamophobia for several months. (Joanna Lavoie/CP24) There were 443 hate crimes reported in Toronto last year, representing a 19 per cent increase from 2023. As of May, Toronto police said that they had seen a 47 per cent decrease in reported hate crimes compared to the same time period in 2024. But that data is of little comfort to families like Lara Villaneuva's. The east-end resident said she's taken to entering and exiting her house from the back door, often wears a hoodie when she goes out to conceal her identity, and tries to drive, if possible. They've also installed a security camera system, she said. Shahzad, who occasionally travels for work, said the anti-Muslim hatred his family has been experiencing has him wondering if it's safe to be away from his wife and children for any length of time. He said that the incidents have also robbed his children – ages 8 and 15 – of their innocence. 'I'm always very uneasy when I'm away from home,' he told earlier this week. 'It's affecting my family and my home.' 'Absolutely unacceptable' Lara Villanueva said she has reached out to both the police and local elected officials to advise them of her family's situation and seek additional supports but hasn't received much in the way of help. She noted that a commitment by local Coun. Brad Bradford to organize a community safety meeting has not been fulfilled. In an email to CP24, the Beaches-East York representative said he's aware of the 'Islamaphobic hate that a local resident and her family have experienced' and continues 'to diligently work with this resident, local police, and city staff to educate the public about maintaining our city's diversity and celebrating and uplifting our neighbors always.' 'Islamophobia is absolutely unacceptable in our community and in our country. Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure in their homes, and to be able to practice their religion without fear of violence,' Bradford wrote. 'I wholeheartedly condemn the incidents that have occurred, and both my office and myself personally have been in contact with the resident, 55 Division, and city staff focused on anti-hate initiatives to make sure that the resident and her family are safe.' In a written statement, Beaches-East York MPP Mary-Margaret McMahon said she and her office are also aware of the incidents involving the family, calling it an 'unacceptable situation.' 'We are committed to finding solutions to racist incidents as well as broader patterns of discrimination that come to our attention. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their home, in their community. We take that very seriously,' she said. 'We have addressed concerns directly with the residents, and the relevant community supports. We will continue to liaise with the family to help ensure their safety regarding the children's identities while we recognize the huge importance of bringing situations like this one to the spotlight.' More than 200 hate crime charges laid last year in Toronto Toronto police laid 209 hate-motivated criminal charges in 2024, up from 156 in 2023. The most frequent targets of hate crimes were the Jewish, LGBTQ+, Black, and Muslim communities, police said in their annual hate crime report in May. Amira Elghawaby, Canada's Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, speaks during a news conference, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Amira Elghawaby, Canada's Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, speaks during a news conference, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Amira Elghawaby, Canada's Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, said she's aware of the incidents faced by Lara Villaneuva's family, describing them as 'deeply troubling.' Elghawaby said the family has done everything right: they called the police, they advised their local leaders, and sought support from neighbours and allies in their community. '(They've) done everything correctly. … No one should be afraid for their children when they leave the house,' she said. 'If this family still doesn't feel protected that raises questions that still need to be answered.' 'It's not just us' Lara Villaneuva and Shahzad said they decided to public about their situation to both create awareness about anti-Muslim racism and the need to better address it, as well as to support and encourage others who are also being subject to Islamophobia and other forms of racism and discrimination to report it to the police. 'It's not just us. This is about the community, other racialized families, other Muslim families. It's also about better supporting people with mental illness,' she said.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Canadian poll suggests social media 'normalizing prejudice'
A new poll has found young Canadians are the most likely to have heard antisemitic and Islamophobic comments, and one researcher suggests social media may risk 'normalizing prejudice.' The Leger survey, which was conducted for the Association for Canadian Studies, found that over a third (39 per cent) of Canadians between 18 and 24 heard an antisemitic remark and nearly half (46 per cent) reported hearing an Islamophobic comment since Hamas's invasion of Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Jack Jedwab, the association's chief executive, told National Post in an email that the high exposure of young Canadians to antisemitism and Islamophobia 'was the biggest surprise' for him when reviewing the data. He said the data suggests social media played a role in exposing young Canadians to such rhetoric. The poll found a 'big spike' in antisemitism, with a marked convergence of exposure rates to antisemitism and Islamophobia for all Canadians, Jedwab said. 'If you look back at surveys prior to October 2023, Canadians were far more likely to say they were far more exposed to prejudice directed towards Muslims than they were to other groups, including Jews,' he wrote. 'The fact that exposure is now relatively similar testifies to a big spike in exposure to antisemitism.' (Only about one per cent of Canada's population is Jewish, while 4.9 per cent identified as Muslim, as of 2021.) Increased exposure to intolerant views, 'risks normalizing prejudice,' Jedwab said. It is 'something that badly needs to be addressed.' He pointed to a recent report showing alarming levels of Jew hatred in Ontario public schools as an urgent call to action. 'It needs to be stated very clearly by persons in positions of authority that it is not acceptable to stigmatize individuals wearing a Star of David or a hijab. Regrettably, there is too much equivocation on this and other manifestations of prejudice.' The poll found that a respondent's perception of hearing a discriminatory comment heavily shaped how they viewed media coverage of the Hamas-Israel war. Among those who heard antisemitic comments only, over a third (35.5 per cent) thought mainstream media was more favourable to the Palestinians, while roughly a quarter (25.1 per cent) believed Israel was portrayed better. Conversely, respondents who said they heard only Islamophobic comments thought Israel received better media coverage (35.8 per cent), while over a quarter (27 per cent) saw the Palestinians getting more sympathetic coverage. Rates of exposure to antisemitic and Islamophobic comments decreased significantly with older respondents. Less than a quarter (23 per cent) of Canadians aged 35 to 44 reported hearing an antisemitic remark, and just 14 per cent of those 65 and over said they heard such comments publicly. Encountering Islamophobic comments was higher across most age groups, but followed a similar pattern. Over a third (34 per cent) of those between 25 and 34 years old reported hearing such statements, while slightly over a quarter (26 per cent) of people aged 35 to 44 said they heard an Islamophobic comment. Canadians living in the prairie provinces reported encountering the highest levels of antisemitic (23.5 per cent) and Islamophobic (24.5 per cent) comments. The poll was conducted between June 6 and 8, 2025. A margin of error cannot be associated with a non-probability sample in a panel survey for comparison purposes. A probability sample of the 1,537 Canadian respondents would have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 per cent, or 19 times out of 20. National Post Antisemitism envoy says anti-hate messages are 'not connecting' Ontario students targeted by hundreds of antisemitic incidents, federal report finds Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here.
Reuters
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
US government alleges UCLA violated federal civil rights law
WASHINGTON, July 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department alleged on Tuesday that the University of California, Los Angeles has failed to prevent a hostile environment for Jewish and Israeli students since campus protests erupted after the start of Israel's war in Gaza. The Justice Department alleged UCLA violated federal civil rights law. The university had no immediate comment. The U.S. government has been probing multiple universities, including UCLA, for their handling of last year's pro-Palestinian protests against Israel's military assault in Gaza, which followed an October 2023 Hamas attack. President Donald Trump's administration has threatened to freeze federal funding for U.S. universities over the demonstrations. Rights advocates have raised concerns about free speech, academic freedom and due process. The government alleges that universities, including UCLA, did not control antisemitism during the demonstrations. Trump has repeatedly labeled pro-Palestinian protesters as antisemitic and as supporters of extremism. Protesters say the government wrongly equates criticism of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories with antisemitism and advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for extremism. Campus protesters demanded an end to U.S. support for Israel and a commitment that their universities will cease investing in weapons makers and companies that support Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. Rights advocates have noted a rise in antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias in the U.S. due to Washington ally Israel's war in Gaza. Earlier on Tuesday, UCLA agreed to pay over $6 million to settle a lawsuit by some students and a professor who alleged antisemitism. Concerns of anti-Palestinian incidents were also raised at UCLA in the spring of 2024, when a pro-Israeli mob stormed and attacked the tent camp of pro-Palestinian protesters with clubs and poles in one of the most violent incidents from the protests. On Monday, prosecutors said a man charged with hate crime for his role in that attack entered a plea deal for a diversionary program to avoid jail time, marking the end of the only felony case connected with that attack. Dozens of people were arrested during the UCLA encampment protests. Then-UCLA police chief John Thomas left the campus police department last year. The Justice Department said, opens new tab it now seeks to enter into a voluntary resolution agreement with UCLA "to ensure that the hostile environment is eliminated and reasonable steps are taken to prevent its recurrence." Last week, Columbia University in New York City said it will pay over $200 million to the U.S. government in a settlement with the Trump administration to resolve federal probes and have most of its suspended federal funding restored.
Vancouver Sun
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Canadian poll suggests social media 'normalizing prejudice'
A new poll has found young Canadians are the most likely to have heard antisemitic and Islamophobic comments, and one researcher suggests social media may risk 'normalizing prejudice.' The Leger survey, which was conducted for the Association for Canadian Studies, found that over a third (39 per cent) of Canadians between 18 and 24 heard an antisemitic remark and nearly half (46 per cent) reported hearing an Islamophobic comment since Hamas's invasion of Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Jack Jedwab, the association's chief executive, told National Post in an email that the high exposure of young Canadians to antisemitism and Islamophobia 'was the biggest surprise' for him when reviewing the data. He said the data suggests social media played a role in exposing young Canadians to such rhetoric. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The poll found a 'big spike' in antisemitism, with a marked convergence of exposure rates to antisemitism and Islamophobia for all Canadians, Jedwab said. 'If you look back at surveys prior to October 2023, Canadians were far more likely to say they were far more exposed to prejudice directed towards Muslims than they were to other groups, including Jews,' he wrote. 'The fact that exposure is now relatively similar testifies to a big spike in exposure to antisemitism.' (Only about one per cent of Canada's population is Jewish, while 4.9 per cent identified as Muslim, as of 2021.) Increased exposure to intolerant views, 'risks normalizing prejudice,' Jedwab said. It is 'something that badly needs to be addressed.' He pointed to a recent report showing alarming levels of Jew hatred in Ontario public schools as an urgent call to action. 'It needs to be stated very clearly by persons in positions of authority that it is not acceptable to stigmatize individuals wearing a Star of David or a hijab. Regrettably, there is too much equivocation on this and other manifestations of prejudice.' The poll found that a respondent's perception of hearing a discriminatory comment heavily shaped how they viewed media coverage of the Hamas-Israel war. Among those who heard antisemitic comments only, over a third (35.5 per cent) thought mainstream media was more favourable to the Palestinians, while roughly a quarter (25.1 per cent) believed Israel was portrayed better. Conversely, respondents who said they heard only Islamophobic comments thought Israel received better media coverage (35.8 per cent), while over a quarter (27 per cent) saw the Palestinians getting more sympathetic coverage. Rates of exposure to antisemitic and Islamophobic comments decreased significantly with older respondents. Less than a quarter (23 per cent) of Canadians aged 35 to 44 reported hearing an antisemitic remark, and just 14 per cent of those 65 and over said they heard such comments publicly. Encountering Islamophobic comments was higher across most age groups, but followed a similar pattern. Over a third (34 per cent) of those between 25 and 34 years old reported hearing such statements, while slightly over a quarter (26 per cent) of people aged 35 to 44 said they heard an Islamophobic comment. Canadians living in the prairie provinces reported encountering the highest levels of antisemitic (23.5 per cent) and Islamophobic (24.5 per cent) comments. The poll was conducted between June 6 and 8, 2025. A margin of error cannot be associated with a non-probability sample in a panel survey for comparison purposes. A probability sample of the 1,537 Canadian respondents would have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 per cent, or 19 times out of 20. National Post Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here .
Ottawa Citizen
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
Canadian poll suggests social media 'normalizing prejudice'
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The youngest Canadians are the most likely to encounter antisemitic and Islamophobic comments, according to poll for Association for Canadian Studies The poll found that 39 per cent of Canadians between 18 and 24 heard an antisemitic remark and 46 per cent reported hearing an Islamophobic comment since Hamas's invasion of Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Photo by Getty Images A new poll has found young Canadians are the most likely to have heard antisemitic and Islamophobic comments, and one researcher suggests social media may risk 'normalizing prejudice.' THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The Leger survey, which was conducted for the Association for Canadian Studies, found that over a third (39 per cent) of Canadians between 18 and 24 heard an antisemitic remark and nearly half (46 per cent) reported hearing an Islamophobic comment since Hamas's invasion of Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Jack Jedwab, the association's chief executive, told National Post in an email that the high exposure of young Canadians to antisemitism and Islamophobia 'was the biggest surprise' for him when reviewing the data. He said the data suggests social media played a role in exposing young Canadians to such rhetoric. The Ottawa Citizen's best journalism, delivered directly to your inbox by 7 p.m. on weekdays. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again The poll found a 'big spike' in antisemitism, with a marked convergence of exposure rates to antisemitism and Islamophobia for all Canadians, Jedwab said. 'If you look back at surveys prior to October 2023, Canadians were far more likely to say they were far more exposed to prejudice directed towards Muslims than they were to other groups, including Jews,' he wrote. 'The fact that exposure is now relatively similar testifies to a big spike in exposure to antisemitism.' (Only about one per cent of Canada's population is Jewish, while 4.9 per cent identified as Muslim, as of 2021.) Increased exposure to intolerant views, 'risks normalizing prejudice,' Jedwab said. It is 'something that badly needs to be addressed.' He pointed to a recent report showing alarming levels of Jew hatred in Ontario public schools as an urgent call to action. 'It needs to be stated very clearly by persons in positions of authority that it is not acceptable to stigmatize individuals wearing a Star of David or a hijab. Regrettably, there is too much equivocation on this and other manifestations of prejudice.' The poll found that a respondent's perception of hearing a discriminatory comment heavily shaped how they viewed media coverage of the Hamas-Israel war. Among those who heard antisemitic comments only, over a third (35.5 per cent) thought mainstream media was more favourable to the Palestinians, while roughly a quarter (25.1 per cent) believed Israel was portrayed better. Conversely, respondents who said they heard only Islamophobic comments thought Israel received better media coverage (35.8 per cent), while over a quarter (27 per cent) saw the Palestinians getting more sympathetic coverage. This advertisement has not loaded yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Rates of exposure to antisemitic and Islamophobic comments decreased significantly with older respondents. Less than a quarter (23 per cent) of Canadians aged 35 to 44 reported hearing an antisemitic remark, and just 14 per cent of those 65 and over said they heard such comments publicly. Encountering Islamophobic comments was higher across most age groups, but followed a similar pattern. Over a third (34 per cent) of those between 25 and 34 years old reported hearing such statements, while slightly over a quarter (26 per cent) of people aged 35 to 44 said they heard an Islamophobic comment. Canadians living in the prairie provinces reported encountering the highest levels of antisemitic (23.5 per cent) and Islamophobic (24.5 per cent) comments. The poll was conducted between June 6 and 8, 2025. A margin of error cannot be associated with a non-probability sample in a panel survey for comparison purposes. A probability sample of the 1,537 Canadian respondents would have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 per cent, or 19 times out of 20. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here.
