Canada appoints first adviser to combat Islamophobia

"It is an important step in our fight against Islamophobia and hatred in all its forms", says PM Trudeau

Canada on Thursday appointed its first special representative on combatting Islamophobia, a position created following several recent attacks on Muslims in the country.

Journalist and activist Amira Elghawaby will fill the post to "serve as a champion, adviser, expert and representative to support and enhance the federal government’s efforts in the fight against Islamophobia, systemic racism, racial discrimination and religious intolerance," a statement by the prime minister’s office said.

Elghawaby is an award-winning journalist and human rights advocate.

A founding board member of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network and past board member at the Silk Road Institute, she has had an extensive career supporting initiatives to counter hate and promote inclusion. She currently leads strategic communications and campaigns at the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and is a member of the National Security Transparency Advisory Group.

According to the press release form the Canadian prime minister's office, Elghawaby will promote awareness of the diverse and intersectional identities of Muslims in Canada and provide advice to the government in the development of inclusive policies, legislative proposals, programs, and regulations that reflect their realities.

"In so doing, she will also help advance respect for equity, inclusion, and diversity and shine a light on the important contributions of Muslims to our country’s national fabric," it said.

An active human rights campaigner, Elghawaby is also the communications head for the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and a columnist for the Toronto Star newspaper, having previously worked for more than a decade at public broadcaster CBC.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau praised Elghawaby's appointment as "an important step in our fight against Islamophobia and hatred in all its forms."

Islamophobia and discrimination are unacceptable. Period. Today, we’re appointing @AmiraElghawaby as Canada’s first Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia to help end this hate – and to build a better future for everyone. More here: https://t.co/revaJmTvAa

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 26, 2023

"Diversity truly is one of Canada's greatest strengths, but for many Muslims, Islamophobia is all too familiar," he added.

Over the past few years, a series of deadly attacks have targeted Canada's Muslim community.

In June 2021, four members of a Muslim family were killed when a man ran them over with his truck in London, Ontario.

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Four years earlier, six Muslims died and five were injured in an attack on a Quebec City mosque.

In a series of tweets Thursday, Elghawaby listed the names of those killed in the recent attacks, adding: "We must never forget."

Thank you to Minister @HonAhmedHussen, his team, and the Government of Canada for making this position a reality, as a way to foster greater diversity and inclusion across the country. 1/ 6

— Amira Elghawaby (@AmiraElghawaby) January 26, 2023

The creation of the new job had been recommended by a national summit on Islamophobia organised by the federal government in June 2021 in response to the attacks.