On January 29, the UTM Muslim Students’ Association (UTMMSA) participated in the Green Square Campaign to mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action Against Islamophobia. The campaign, which takes place annually in the week leading up to January 29, honours the victims and survivors of the 2017 Québec City Mosque attack and is led by the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM). 

“We all wear green felt squares pinned to our clothes to represent the green colored carpet of the Quebec City mosque,” said Mohammed Mahi Mukati, an advocacy associate with the UTMMSA, in an interview with The Varsity. “The number one step toward fighting against Islamophobia and irrational fear and hatred is information.”

UTMMSA president Zaed Ul Islam said in an interview with The Varsity that education and dialogue were central to the campaign’s goals.

“Growing up in Canada, I’ve always felt safe and welcomed, so it was obviously a shock when the Québec City mosque shooting happened,” said Islam. “It’s important that we participate in this so we can combat these hateful sentiments and work toward fostering a more inclusive society.”

Reflecting on the impact of the 2017 attack, Islam said the event deeply affected the Muslim community.

“It was difficult, especially when you consider how many of us go to mosques, and that it could have been any one of us,” he said. “Being visibly Muslim for us was something we had to be careful about.”

Despite this, Islam said student response on campus has been positive.

“We see people from many different backgrounds coming up and supporting us,” he said. “We’ve had some very fruitful conversations where we spoke in depth about Islam and Muslims.”

In an interview with The Varsity, Eliezra Nudrat Lodi, a first-year life sciences student, said the table caught her attention while passing by, and she learned something new through the campaign.

“I didn’t know that the green squares represented the carpet of the mosque,” she said. “I think it’s really nice what they’re doing, wearing the green squares and how it’s so symbolic… spreading awareness so it’s not forgotten,” she said.

Organizing on campus

Behind the scenes, organizers faced logistical challenges when last week’s snowstorm delayed the delivery of materials.

“It was a bit of a hassle because we had the snow day,” said Maryam Zeeshan, an advocacy associate with the UTMMSA, in an interview with The Varsity on the day of the campaign. “NCCM wasn’t able to get it to us on time.”

Rather than cancel the initiative, the team made the materials themselves.“The entire team spent yesterday cutting the felt and cutting the squares so we can make sure we get it to the students and the professors today,” Zeeshan said.

She estimated that, with just three to four people, the team was able to cut 324 green squares.

“To see that everyone is wearing them today is honestly so beautiful,” she said.

Looking beyond campus

In an interview with The Varsity, Daniyal Kashif, a Da’wah associate with the UTMMSA, said January 29 holds significance beyond the Muslim community.

“An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us, the Canada that I’ve grown [up] in and lived in. I’ve always had positive experiences with people of other cultures, of other religions, and that’s the Canada that I know,” Kashif said. “This attack… that happened to the Muslim community in Quebec [should] be seen as an attack on all of us and our rights in Canada and our safeties in Canada.”

Organizers said they hope the campaign will remind the students that Muslims are an integral part of the campus community and that confronting injustice is an ongoing responsibility.