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Amira Elghawaby

A collection of 15 posts

Canada’s national amnesia on Islamophobia

Canada’s national amnesia on Islamophobia

By Asmaa Malik, Fahad Ahmad (Originally published on Policy Options, February 16, 2026) Last month, Canadians marked the ninth anniversary of the Quebec City mosque massacre, in which six men were murdered and many more injured by a white nationalist gunman. Why? Because they were Muslim. In June, it will

Amira Elghawaby Honoured with 2026 Jack Layton Progress Prize

Amira Elghawaby Honoured with 2026 Jack Layton Progress Prize

The Broadbent Institute highlighted Elghawaby's commitment to prioritizing Muslim women, racialized communities, and youth. Her work has focused on combining advocacy with mentorship and public education to strengthen human rights and civic engagement.

A Step Backward for Safety: The Closing of the Special Envoy’s Office

A Step Backward for Safety: The Closing of the Special Envoy’s Office

In a move that has sent shockwaves through Canada’s Muslim community, the federal government has officially dissolved the Office of the Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia. The position, held by Amira Elghawaby since January 2023, is being folded into a newly created Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion.

Stittsville Community Unites to Unveil New Sign After Hate Incident

Stittsville Community Unites to Unveil New Sign After Hate Incident

In a powerful display of community resilience and local government solidarity, a new permanent sign for the Stittsville Muslim Association (SMA) was officially unveiled on the morning of Thursday, December 4, 2025, in front of their community building on Stittsville Main Street.

Muslim hotel worker assaulted in Markham in alleged hate-motivated attack

Muslim hotel worker assaulted in Markham in alleged hate-motivated attack

A 54-year-old Muslim man working at a hotel in Markham sustained serious injuries in an assault on September 28 that police are treating as a hate-motivated attack.

Amira Elghawaby advocates for Canadian Muslims in meeting with Prime Minister

Amira Elghawaby advocates for Canadian Muslims in meeting with Prime Minister

Amira Elghawaby, Canada's Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, met with Prime Minister Mark Carney on July 4, 2025, to discuss ongoing efforts to combat Islamophobia and promote safety, inclusion, and religious freedoms across Canada. During the meeting, Ms. Elghawaby introduced the Prime Minister to the work of her

Statement — Meeting with the Prime Minister of Canada on the ongoing threat to belonging and inclusion of Canadian Muslims

Statement — Meeting with the Prime Minister of Canada on the ongoing threat to belonging and inclusion of Canadian Muslims

By Amira Elghawaby November 6, 2024 This week, I met with the Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, to highlight how Islamophobia, and its intersections with anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab racism, continues to harm our social fabric, undermines pluralism and poses a direct threat to our democracy. As we have

Statement by Minister Hussen on the International Day to Combat Islamophobia

Statement by Minister Hussen on the International Day to Combat Islamophobia

Today, on the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, we stand in solidarity with Muslim communities across Canada and around the world. We reaffirm our commitment to take action to denounce and tackle Islamophobia, hate-fuelled violence, and systemic discrimination whenever and wherever it occurs. Diversity is a fact, but inclusion is

Newly appointed Special Representative on Islamophobia has to apologize for pointing out Islamophobia.

Newly appointed Special Representative on Islamophobia has to apologize for pointing out Islamophobia.

The Trudeau government fulfilled its promise of naming a special representative to combat Islamophobia after 18 months. However, the appointment of Amira Elghawaby turned controversial in just 24 hours. The government announced her appointment last Thursday, days before the anniversary of the Quebec City mosque massacre. It took 18 months

Prime Minister announces appointment of Canada’s first Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia

Prime Minister announces appointment of Canada’s first Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the appointment of Amira Elghawaby as Canada’s first Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia. “Diversity truly is one of Canada’s greatest strengths, but for many Muslims, Islamophobia is all too familiar. We need to change that. No one in our country should

Islamophobia is a threat to us all, Canada’s silent majority must speak up

Amira Elghawaby

Islamophobia is a threat to us all, Canada’s silent majority must speak up

By Amira Elghawaby, National Council of Canadian Muslims It has been a difficult couple of weeks. Just as we have had to come to grips with the so-called Muslim ban in the United States and all its actual and potential implications, Canadian Muslims have also had to come to terms

Canadian Women’s Festival builds bridges of understanding

Amira Elghawaby

Canadian Women’s Festival builds bridges of understanding

[http://127.0.0.1/wp/2015/canadian-womens-festival-builds-bridges-of-understanding/muslimwomenscoalition2015/] (June 4, 2015) – Canada’s premier Muslim women’s festival is set to take place on Sunday, June 7, in the South Western Ontario city of Kitchener, amid hopes of extending new bridges with the larger community. “Since its inception in

Canada Xmas, time for Muslim sharing

Amira Elghawaby

Canada Xmas, time for Muslim sharing

[http://127.0.0.1/wp/2014/canada-xmas-time-for-muslim-sharing/img_9941-jpg/] (December 23, 2014) – Canada’s Muslims are using their time off during the Christmas holiday season for family gatherings, community programs and to volunteer with charities. “The Christmas holidays are a time when Canadians of all backgrounds and religions have

Amira Elghawaby

Umbrella Muslim Body Gets Canadian Brand

[http://127.0.0.1/wp/2013/umbrella-muslim-body-gets-canadian-brand/nccm/] (July 20, 2013) – A prominent Canadian Muslim civil liberties organization, the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR.CAN), has recently been re-launched under a new name to better reflect its Canadian heritage and to be a prominent voice for the country’

Flexing our community's leadership muscle

Amira Elghawaby

Flexing our community's leadership muscle

[http://127.0.0.1/wp/2013/flexing-our-communitys-leadership-muscle/caircan/] By Amira Elghawaby “Does jihad justify terrorism?” “A television crew is here at the mosque, they want to interview somebody – NOW!” “Have you heard about the latest security legislation – what are your thoughts?” Canadian Muslims regularly face these types of questions