McGill Libraries’ initiatives to combat Islamophobia

By Anaïs Salamon, Head Librarian at the Islamic Studies Library

On the occasion of the United Nations’ International Day to Combat Islamophobia, March 15, the McGill Libraries are organizing a series of activities to raise awareness and encourage staff and visitors to educate themselves on this form of racism.

According to French scholar Houda Asal, the word “Islamophobia” originated in France at the beginning of the 20^th century and spread to the anglophone world in the late 1990s. However, “it became unavoidable after September 11, 2001, as outlined by the United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General, Kofi Annan, in 2004: “the world is compelled to coin a new term to take account of increasingly widespread bigotry, that is a sad and troubling development. Such is the case with Islamophobia.”

Today, the United Nations define Islamophobia as “a fear, prejudice and hatred of Muslims that leads to provocation, hostility and intolerance by means of threatening, harassment, abuse, incitement and intimidation of Muslims and non-Muslims, both in the online and offline world.” The U.N. also stress that “motivated by institutional, ideological, political and religious hostility that transcends into structural and cultural racism, [Islamophobia] targets the symbols and markers of being a Muslim (…) and “affects non-Muslims, based on perceptions of nationality, racial or ethnic background.”

Hate crimes targeting Muslims, Arabs, and other communities associated with Islam have been on the rise worldwide in the past 25 years, and Canada is not exempt from this phenomenon. On the evening of January 29th, 2017, a young man known to embrace right-wing, white supremacist, ultraconservative, racist and Islamophobic ideologies, entered the Quebec City Islamic Cultural Center and opened fire on worshippers during a prayer service. He killed six people, Ibrahima Barry (aged 39, Quebec government IT worker), Mamadou Tanou Barry (aged 42, accounting technician), Khaled Belkacemi (aged 60, professor at Laval University), Aboubaker Thabti (aged 44, pharmacy technician), Abdelkrim Hassane (aged 41, Quebec government computer analyst) and Azzedine Soufiane (aged 57, grocery store owner), injured seriously five, and hurt many more.

Following this horrific attack, January 29 became in 2021 the National Day of Remembrance of the Québec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia in Canada. In July of the same year, the Canadian Government also appointed a special representative on Combatting Islamophobia, Ms. Amira Elghabawy, tasked with finding “ways (…) to better work with Muslim communities to implement anti-racism initiatives specifically addressing Islamophobia and hate-fuelled violence.”

In Quebec, Muslim Communities launched Semaine de sensibilisation musulmane/Muslim Awareness Week/  (SSM/MAW) in 2019, held the last of week each January. SSM/MAW is “a yearly week of solidarity and exchange where people of all ages, backgrounds, and beliefs are invited to learn about the achievements, contributions, aspirations and concerns of Quebecers of Muslim faith.”

Closer to us, McGill University planted a tree of life on the downtown campus to honour the victims of the January 29^th attack against Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre in 2018, and has held yearly commemorations (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025). In addition, on March 21, 2022, Provost and Vice Principal (Academic) Christopher Manfredi announced the creation of an Initiative to Address and prevent Islamophobia and Antisemitism (AIAIS) on both McGill campuses. Created in response to a growing number of reports of marginalizing, alienating and discriminating experiences from Muslim and Jewish McGillians within the University context, the IAIAS involved a series of consultations with students, staff, faculty, and the wider community, and the publication of a report in June 2022.

---

Starting March 2025, the McGill Libraries Equity Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Standing Committee will offer a series of activities:

• On February 24^th, 2025, an Online Book Display highlighting Canadian Muslims identities and experiences was launched:

• During the month of March 2025, a Physical Book Display mirroring the online display will be available in the Redpath Library Building.

• In the Fall of 2025, a Library Research Guide on Islamophobia curated in collaboration with the McGill University’ Student Affairs Liaison for Muslim Students will be launched.