Toronto police are investigating a hate crime involving an advertising van driving around the city, playing an “Islamophobic” video, according to news reports.
A video posted on social media shows a cube van displaying a video that questions, “Is this Yemen? Is this Syria? Is this Iraq?” It then shows Muslims at prayer with text stating, “Wake up Canada. You are under siege.” The van’s exterior also reads, “Is this Lebanon?” on the back and side.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims condemned the message on X, stating, “This is extremely dangerous messaging and should not be condoned. We have seen Islamophobic hate in Canada, including in Ontario.”
An advertising van in Toronto was spotted inciting fear of Muslims in Canada. The NCCM reiterated that such messaging is dangerous and should not be tolerated, emphasizing the deadly consequences of Islamophobic hate in the country, particularly in Ontario.
Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s special representative on combating Islamophobia, told CTV News that the incident has caused fear within the Muslim community, citing past violence.
“We have been on edge when it comes to hate targeting our communities, and this is just one more example of why people are worried,” she said. “We do not want to see another Quebec Mosque massacre or a London family attack.”
In January 2017, a gunman killed six Muslims and wounded 19 during prayer at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec City. On June 6, 2021, in London, Ontario, a driver rammed his pickup truck into a Muslim family of five, killing four.
Elghawaby noted that anti-Muslim hate speech online has increased by 500 percent, with a significant spike following the outbreak of Israel’s war on Gaza last year.
The Toronto Police Hate Crime Unit acknowledged the community’s concern on X and urged anyone with information about the van to contact them.
