'We should be proud that we're here' Hamilton marks Islamic Heritage Month with a new campaign

On Tuesday, members of the public, community organizations and local government gathered to mark the start of Islamic Heritage Month and Salam Hamilton, a new citywide event spotlighting Hamilton's Muslim community.

"When I think about what it means to tread across these lands, to be a visible Muslim, to be in struggle with all of you in the fight against Islamophobia, I think a lot about the responsibilities that we have to each other, to our communities and to everybody else who calls this place home," Sabreina Dahab, Ward 2 public school trustee, said outside City Hall Tuesday.

"I feel really grateful to be able to gather in this way," Dahab said to a crowd of about 100 people, noting that too often, the community meets in times of pain, such as in response to anti-Muslim hate.

Dr. Ali Taher Ghouse, president of the Muslim Council of Greater Hamilton, said over a dozen Muslim organizations started meeting in May to prepare this campaign. He said they chose the name because "salam," a greeting that means "peace," is "the quintessential word in the culture of Islam," and one Muslims around the world understand.

Their goal, he said, is to celebrate Islamic history and heritage, and raise awareness about the Muslim community. One way the campaign aims to do this is through posters that will be displayed in public spaces such as libraries and community centres.

"We are peaceful. We are productive citizens from all walks of life and we contribute to the economy and fabric of life in Hamilton," Ghouse said.

In an emailed statement on behalf of Greg Tedesco, a senior project manager on Hamilton's Community Engagement team, the city said the Salam Hamilton website, which features links to resources, guides and toolkits related to the Muslim community and Islamophobia will be "the main source" for the campaign's educational materials. They note it was put together with local partners and the National Council of Canadian Muslims, and will be updated to include more videos.

The event's keynote speaker, Amira Elghawaby, Canada's first anti-Islamophobia representative, said that one day, marking months like this may seem quaint or unnecessary, "but we're not there yet." She noted that in recent years, Canada saw a high rate of anti-Muslim violence, such as the attack on a family in London.

Given Canada's colonial history, Islamophobia is an "inevitable reality," Dahab said. She said that while recognizing this, Muslims should be in solidarity with Indigenous communities.

Imam Ayman Al Taher, a chaplain at SickKids Hospital and Hamilton Police Services, said Muslims should understand the impacts of colonization, given their own histories of oppression. "We're standing by [Indigenous peoples] and we're going to continue to stand by them until they get their full rights."

Hamilton mayor Andrea Horwath who organizers recognized for her work in declaring October Islamic Heritage Month several years ago said she is "confident that this month will help all Hamiltonianstolearn about the numerous achievements and immense contributions to the city," and take "a huge step forward" in eliminating Islamophobia by improving understanding.

She said the local Muslim community has grown a lot since her political career began in 1997. Then, she said, there were few mosques in the city, whereas today, there are over 15. "Inviting people and celebrating the Muslim community is a big part of how that growth and that strength is going to continue."

Organizer Gachi Issa said that although the campaign looks to reach beyond the Muslim community, "it's about us."

"We should be proud that we're here but also proud of the work that we've consistently put into our community to advocate for ourselves"