'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
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.