‘You Are Not Alone’: Calgary Faith Leaders Rally Around Islamic School After Violent Threat
Faith leaders from across Calgary gathered inside a school gymnasium this week to deliver a clear, resolute message of solidarity and reassurance to Muslim students, staff, and families after a local Islamic school was targeted by violent, hate-motivated threats.
Faith leaders from across Calgary gathered inside a school gymnasium this week to deliver a clear, resolute message of solidarity and reassurance to Muslim students, staff, and families after a local Islamic school was targeted by violent, hate-motivated threats.
The show of support took place at the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) Islamic School in Calgary.
The school was among nine Islamic schools across Canada targeted by emails containing explicit threats to kill Muslims—including children—calling for armed violence against Muslim communities and warning Muslims to leave Canada.
Facing Threats with Community Resolve
School administrators described the correspondence as deeply alarming.
“It makes you feel that your safety is under attack,” said Mazen Jichi, director of the MAC Islamic School in Calgary, speaking to CityNews. “Sometimes you read an email like that and you become anxious, but reading such an email is beyond that, way beyond that.”
Addressing the situation with CTV News Calgary, Jichi emphasized the fundamental right to safety in education: “Every child has the right to go to school, to learn and to grow in a safe environment. Our community doesn’t accept that hatred speech, that violent speech. It’s about violence; it’s a threat to kill.”
In response to the intimidation, administrators reviewed security procedures, visitor protocols, and drop-off and dismissal routines.
However, Jichi noted that the intimidation did not stop immediately; a second hateful email believed to be from the same sender was received shortly afterward.
The Calgary Police Service (CPS) and the RCMP are actively investigating the threats in coordination with policing partners across the country.
‘Our Presence is a Simple Way of Saying: We See You’
Rather than allowing fear to isolate the school, clergy, rabbis, ministers, and interfaith advocates assembled directly in the school gymnasium to show visible, united backing.
“When hatred is directed toward one of our communities, we do not have to face it alone,” Rev. Samaya Oakley, minister with Calgary Unitarians, told CTV News. “Our presence is a simple way of saying, ‘We see you. We care about what has happened. We are here with you.’”
Speaking to CityNews, Rev. Oakley highlighted the emotional importance of the gathering for the youth: “I think students need to know that they are not alone in this and that there is a wider community that holds them and thinks that they are valuable members of our community. There are people who hold you and love and care and are with you in solidarity.”
Students Reassured by Collective Strength
For students inside the building, seeing leaders of different traditions standing together transformed a frightening ordeal into a demonstration of civic strength.
“That email has some threats on it, but as a community we stand together, and I feel safe in my community thankfully,” Grade 9 student Sarah Ragab told CityNews.
Speaking to CTV News, Ragab added: “It’s not acceptable for threats to come to us. We should be able to stand up as a community. It’s really hurtful to know that people are trying to come at us and they’re trying to have an impact on us.”
The Calgary Police Service's hate crime prevention team noted that reports of hate-motivated incidents have seen marked increases in recent years, driven by heightened geopolitical tensions alongside increased public reporting.
But as faith leaders concluded their gathering, the consensus in the hall was unequivocal: intimidation will not break community cohesion, and Calgary’s diverse faith traditions will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder against hate.
Sources & References:
- CityNews Calgary: Calgary faith leaders rally around Islamic school after violent threat
- CTV News Calgary: Calgary faith leaders stand with Muslim community following emailed threats
- Muslim Pulse / AboutIslam: AboutIslam – Muslim Pulse News (Coverage: ‘You Are Not Alone’: Calgary Faith Leaders Stand With Muslim Students After Threats)