Each Friday afternoon, Mustapha Ramadan stands exterior the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) mosque in Mississauga, Ont., organizing an extended line of automobiles arriving for prayers.
He is certainly one of many Muslims who say they plan on voting within the upcoming federal election, however have not determined who will earn their poll. One motive for this indecision is what many Muslims say is the dearth of consideration occasion leaders have been paying to the group and the problems that matter to them throughout this marketing campaign.
Because the chair of ISNA, Ramadan has welcomed many politicians to the mosque, which is likely one of the largest in Canada — Conservative Chief Pierre Poilievre attended their summer season Eid competition in 2023, and NDP Chief Jagmeet Singh was on the mosque in 2022, serving meals for iftar, the fast-breaking night meal throughout the holy month of Ramadan.
Ramadan Kareem to Muslim Canadians throughout Canada!
Final week, I had the pleasure of becoming a member of @ISNA_Canada in serving iftar in Mississauga. It was an honour with the ability to come collectively and be part of the group throughout the holy month of Ramadan. pic.twitter.com/yFvD9eZq2U
ISNA is a well-liked cease throughout election campaigns, however this time round, Ramadan says, issues are totally different.
“We have not seen something but,” he mentioned, noting not one of the federal occasion leaders have visited the mosque throughout the marketing campaign to date.
This lack of consideration issues Ramadan and different Muslim leaders who say they need politicians to have interaction with the group on points that matter to them, like the continuing battle in Gaza, Islamaphobic attacks or Quebec’s secularism law. One skilled means that as a result of these matters are sometimes seen as controversial, politicians steer clear for concern it may value them on the poll field, however these working to mobilize Muslim voters warn that avoiding these points may have the identical impact.
Pushing Muslim points to the forefront
Greater than 100 Muslim organizations throughout the nation have signed a joint statement urging Muslims in Canada to vote within the upcoming election, make their voices heard and push politicians to deal with what they see as essential points.
Reem Sheet, with the Nationwide Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), says Muslims right here have been watching the horror of battle unfold in Gaza, in addition to witnessing Islamophobia nearer to dwelling, just like the 2021 truck assault that killed 4 members of the Afzaal household in London, Ont., and an unprovoked assault on a hijab-wearing lady at an Ajax, Ont., library late final month.
“I feel our group simply needs to see that Canada is taking the best steps ahead to ensure that these horrors do not proceed for our group,” mentioned Sheet.
CBC Information reached out to the three predominant events for remark. The Conservatives didn’t reply in time for publication.
The NDP mentioned it has taken the strongest stance of any main occasion on defending human rights and worldwide regulation by calling for a everlasting ceasefire. Singh himself sponsored a movement in March 2024 calling for the federal authorities to recognize Palestinian statehood that handed after the Liberals introduced amendments.
In an emailed assertion, a spokesperson for Liberal Chief Mark Carney mentioned he has usually met with Muslim communities, known as for the completion of the ceasefire agreement, and “the return of all hostages, and a protected resumption of humanitarian support at scale in order that Palestinians in Gaza can rebuild their lives.”
In an announcement, NCCM acknowledged that Carney had met with their group and plenty of others to debate points that matter to Canadian Muslims, however they urged him to take extra concrete actions to deal with their issues.
Sheet says these issues embrace the truth that Muslims are nonetheless ready for federal leaders to current a nationwide technique on combating Islamophobia, and to clarify their stances on the battle in Gaza.
Greater than 100 Muslim and Arab organizations signed a letter calling on political events to take a principled stance on the battle within the Center East, amongst different issues.
Aisha Sherazi, a group volunteer in Ottawa, says whereas voters wish to hear from the occasion leaders on points that matter to them as Muslims, there are different issues that have an effect on their day by day lives, too.
“We’re common residents,” she mentioned. “So in fact, you realize, reasonably priced housing is vital … what occurs with the economic system goes to influence everybody.”
Balancing act
Many politicians view speaking concerning the battle within the Center East as a divisive problem, particularly throughout an election, in keeping with Ruby Dagher, an assistant professor in worldwide improvement on the College of Ottawa.
“I feel if you happen to’re in search of votes, it’s completely harmful territory,” mentioned Dagher. “It is the necessity to win sure votes, however on the identical time the concern of shedding different votes that makes it … tough to search out that steadiness.”
That balancing act was on full show at a Calgary rally for Carney on Tuesday, when a protester shouted, “Mr. Carney, there is a genocide taking place in Palestine!” Within the second, Carney responded, “I am conscious, which is why we have now an arms embargo.”
Later, asked to clarify if he saw genocide in Gaza, he mentioned it was noisy, so he “did not hear that phrase,” and mentioned he meant he was conscious of the scenario in Gaza. On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu known as Carney’s phrases “irresponsible” in a post on X.
Liberal Chief Mark Carney, talking from Calgary on Day 18 of the election marketing campaign, is requested about his interplay with a protester at a latest rally who yelled, ‘there’s a genocide in Gaza’ and Carney responded, ‘I’m conscious.’ Carney mentioned it was noisy on the rally and that he ‘did not hear that phrase,’ referring to genocide.
Sherazi, who’s already determined how she’ll vote, says although the leaders naturally command lots of consideration, individuals must also give attention to their MPs.
“A number of the protection is on the leaders themselves, and also you’re not likely voting for them,” she mentioned. “While you vote, you have to vote in your native particular person whose accountability is to advocate for you, and I feel that individuals neglect that.”
Although the occasion leaders could not have visited ISNA, different politicians have turned out. Charles Sousa, the incumbent Liberal candidate for Mississauga-Lakeshore the place ISNA is situated, was on the mosque throughout Eid prayers this yr.
Dalia Hashim, the mosque’s public affairs supervisor, says he obtained a spherical of applause when he vowed to help the Muslim group.
The facility of the Muslim vote
The facility of the Muslim vote isn’t one thing that must be taken frivolously, in keeping with Umair Ashraf, the chief director of Canadian Muslim Votes, a nonpartisan group that focuses on political training and civic engagement.
Through the 2024 U.S. election marketing campaign, many Arab American and Muslim voters in Michigan who helped Joe Biden win in 2020 told CBC News they would not help Kamala Harris’s election bid because of the administration’s response to the disaster within the Center East.
In the long run, Michigan flipped for the Republicans and in the end helped ship Trump again to the White home.
Ashraf says that energy exists in Canada as properly.
“There are virtually 1.8 million Muslims throughout Canada, and at occasions there may be anyplace between 60 to 80 ridings the place there could be a Muslim swing,” he mentioned, referring to ridings the place Muslim voters make up a good portion of the inhabitants.
Dagher says that whereas which may be true, a Muslim voting block right here might not be as highly effective as these within the U.S., partly as a result of points just like the battle in Gaza have been overshadowed by Donald Trump’s tariffs and threats to annex Canada, but in addition as a result of Muslims do not all vote the identical manner.
She notes that the group’s help seems to be unfold out sufficient that Muslim voters are unlikely to tip the scales in anyone course.
“I am not saying it is nothing, however I additionally do not see it as a significant factor that is going to affect, given that every group has been capable of entice some Arab citizens particularly.”
In terms of courting the Muslim vote, Sherazi means that politicians ought to take a robust stance about what’s taking place within the Center East and be deliberate about utilizing language that unifies slightly than divides.
“It is incumbent upon our leaders to essentially converse up and form of reassure folks that as Canadians, we really feel passionately about worldwide regulation, that these issues matter, that humanity issues,” she mentioned.
“I feel that is going to be actually, actually vital to lots of voters, not simply the Muslim group.”
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