'Let us remember their names': Legislature vigil honours Afzaal family, denounces Islamophobia
A prayer was held Wednesday evening at the Alberta legislature for the Afzaal family, four of whom were killed in the attack in London, Ont.
"For the Muslim community, there was a need to get together. There was a need to come as one," Al Rashid Mosque's outreach imam Sadique Pathan told CTV News Edmonton.
The pain in the Muslim community, and broader public, had been palpable, he said.
"When we're together, there's the power in numbers and joining our hearts and really beating as one, healing as one."
He led the service on the government grounds. Dozens of people attended in honour of Salman Afzaal, his wife Madiha Salman, their daughter Yumna, and Salman Afzaal's mother, as well as the couple's surviving son, nine-year-old Fayez.
Police allege the family was out for a walk when Nathaniel Veltman, a 20-year-old London resident, mounted a curb in a pickup truck and struck them.
The suspected hate-motivated attack has sent ripples of shock and horror across the country, especially amongst Muslim Canadians.
"I am indebted to this country for everything I am and who I am," Pathan said, recalling his parents moved to Canada in the 70s. "However, the reality also is racism has become part of this country's fabric and to minimize it or to romanticize it or to simply say this is a one-off thing, or there is simply a few people that hate, is minimizing the concerted efforts of those who are hating. They are organized."
Pathan pointed to the discovery of children's bodies beneath a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C., as evidence of the continuity between the two tragedies.
"White supremacy was called colonialism and we simply gave it a different name," Pathan commented.
"The very people who wish to do wrong to Muslims, in this case, are the same people who are trying to be intimidating to any other minority group. Which is silence them, marginalize them, and make them disappear. So this was one way of saying we're not doing any of that and we will unite, and we will unite in goodness."
He believes change can start at a grassroots level, with Canadians standing beside their Muslim neighbours in solidarity. But the greater change, he said, needs to happen across political, judicial, social and educational institutions, beginning with a national summit on Islamophobia.
In the meantime, Pathan said, "Let us remember their names. Let us not forget – and let us also for a moment reflect that there are still 215 children with no names."
Veltman is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder in connection to Sunday's attack.
With files from CTV Edmonton's Touria Izri
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.