Canadian Muslim petition demands end to complicity in Gaza violence, calls for ethical stance in sacred spaces
Amidst what they describe as the "ongoing genocide in Gaza and the intensifying attacks in the West Bank," a powerful new petition titled "Keep Our Sacred Spaces Free from Complicity" is urging Canadian Muslim communities, religious leaders, institutions, and allies to take a firm stand against governmental actions supporting the Israeli war machine.
The petition, launched online, calls for a profound re-evaluation of how sacred spaces and community platforms are used, asserting they must remain "sanctuaries of truth and resistance, places of integrity—not of duplicity or genocidal complicity."
The signatories express "sadness, indignation, and a deep sense of individual and collective, moral and civic responsibility" as they witness the destruction of Palestinian lives with what they claim is the "full support of Western governments, including our own."
The core demand of the petition is a clear directive to deny platforms and collaboration to politicians or officials at any level – federal, provincial, or municipal – who "remain silent, refuse to condemn, support, finance, or arm the Israeli war machine."
The petition emphasizes the need to "preserve our sacred spaces from these politically theatrical performances and the passive or active actors complicit in the oppression of the civilian populations of Gaza and the West Bank."
The petition defines complicity broadly, stating that a government passively or actively allowing the massacre of innocent civilians "is not neutral. It is complicit."
It further highlights Canada's continued arms sales to Israel, noting that nearly $19 million in arms were sent in 2024 even amidst the conflict, making it "one of the most significant and profitable in terms of arms sales." The petition reiterates calls for a bilateral arms embargo.
Drawing on historical precedents, the petition reminds its audience that "From Makkah to Sarajevo, from Al-Aqsa to anti-apartheid South Africa — before, during, and after colonization and apartheid — Muslim spaces have always been beacons of moral clarity and courage in the face of oppression."
It asserts that this legacy must not be "weakened, co-opted, or betrayed."
The petition outlines a clear call to action, urging community members and leaders to:
- Deny entry to any political figure into cultural, religious, and professional spaces who remains silent, justifies, or supports the genocide in Gaza, or denies Palestinian humanity.
- Amplify and center the voices of the oppressed, not those of the "falsely powerful."
- Use platforms solely to uphold justice, support resistance, advocate for peace, and fight for the liberation of Palestinians and all oppressed peoples.
The document firmly states that "our values, principles, and moral integrity are not up for sale to appease hollow notions of political respectability." It concludes with a powerful message of moral reckoning, stating, "Our children are watching. History is watching too. Let them hear the echo of the Prophet ﷺ’s call, who always stood unwavering against injustice, regardless of the cost."
Notable signatories include:
- Shelina Merani, Community and Union Activist
- Monia Mazigh, Ph.D., Academic and author, Adjunct Professor at Carleton University
- Faisal Kutty, lawyer and law professor
- Maher Arar, Ph.D., entrepreneur and activist
- Muneeb Nasir, Editor, Canadian Muslim Journal (IQRA.CA)
- And various other academics, doctors, community leaders, and organizations.
The petition can be found on Change.org, calling Canadian Muslim communities to demonstrate their principles through action and policy in their sacred and community spaces.