"As a Muslim woman of color in a time of overwhelming stigma, I fear being othered, profiled and killed in a country I call my own."
These are the impassioned words of Srosh Hassana, a Canadian Muslim woman who gave a speech before her country's parliament building as part of a "Daughters of the Vote" event on Wednesday. Hassana was one of 338 young women who filled every seat of the House of Commons in honor of International Women's Day.
Her words come in the wake of a January attack on a mosque by a White supremacist terrorist. The attacker killed six people while they prayed, sending shockwaves through the country.
With U.S. President Donald Trump banning immigrants from several Muslim majority countries and anti-Muslim hate groups and hate crimes on the rise in the West, many Muslims in Canada and the U.S. are living with daily concern and fear.
"Islamophobia is a heavy word in today's discourse. But it is heaviest for those who are on the receiving end of it," Hassana said.
"I'm simultaneously silenced into shame while being expected to apologize for the actions of a small group of people that do not represent me."
Hassana said that "we all have responsibility to challenge" the increasing Islamophobia and prejudice.
Speaking on behalf of all immigrants and refugees, she said: "Whether we have been contributing for generations or whether we're new immigrants seeking refugee or new opportunities, we are Canadians."
"This is my Canada and there's no seat for hate here," Hassana said as her final words, holding back tears and drawing a standing ovation from the women in the room and loud cheers.
Canada, under the leadership of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has been taking a strong stance against Islamophobia. Trudeau has promoted a message of inclusiveness since taking office, building on this in the wake of the January terror attack perpetrated against Muslims by a White terrorist.
He gave one of the most pro-Muslim speeches any Western head of state has ever given following the attack, calling it "an act of terror committed against Canada, and against all Canadians."
"It was an attack on our most intrinsic and cherished values as Canadians – values of openness, diversity, and freedom of religion," he said.
Canadians rallied behind Trudeau's words and the Muslim community as well. Thousands of Canadians, including the Prime Minister and other politicians, paid their respects at a public funeral for several of the attack's victims.
"Through death, these brave men … united people from different nationalities, colors, genders and religions," Chayma BenHaj, who presided over the funeral, said. "They united all of Canada."
