If governments want to combat Islamophobia, they will need to take a hard look in the mirror: Op-Ed co-authored by Professor Anver Emon

In an op-ed published in the Globe and Mail, July 20, Faculty of Law Professor Anver Emon, Canada Research Chair in Islamic Law and History and the director of U of T's Institute of Islamic Studies and Nadia Hasan is the chief operating officer of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, address the federal government's national summit on Islamophobia, July 22, writing that if governments are to combat Islamophobia, they need to take a look in the mirror, including disproportionate tax audits their research uncovered. They write: 

On July 22, the federal government will host a national summit on Islamophobia. All levels of government in Canada will be represented, as will Muslim-Canadian community organizations and leaders, so as to chart a path forward to combat racism and discrimination in Canada.

This path will not be easy. If done in good faith and with integrity, this project will not only require our governments to work on fighting Islamophobia in the broader public, but will also require them to take a hard look in the mirror to face their complicity.

The list of missteps is long, from racial profiling at our borders to disproportionate and highly disruptive surveillance of Canadian Muslim communities in the name of national security. These state practices have permeated our lives at many levels, and have been a drain on our collective psyche for far too long.

Read the full opinion at the Globe and Mail