Religious boundaries were reached and breached Monday night, as Richmond’s multi-faith community stood together in support of Canada’s mourning Muslims.
After Sunday night’s fatal shooting of six people inside a mosque in Quebec City, the Richmond branch of the BC Muslim Association (BCMA) hosted a vigil inside their own place of worship on Blundell and No. 5 roads.
As well as members of the Richmond Muslim community, local Sikhs, Hindus and Christians attended the service, along with Mayor Malcolm Brodie and Coun. Chak Au, swelling the number to more than 170.
Dr. Irfan Sheikh, secretary of BCMA’s Richmond branch, said they decided to hold the vigil to give locals a chance to express their sorrow and to show their support.
“We wanted to stand in solidarity with Muslims across the country, as we are all connected through the Central Mosque,” said Sheikh, who facilitated Monday evening’s vigil.
“The premise of going (to the mosque) is to get a spiritual connection with our creator. And when a place of prayer comes under attack, especially in Canada, it touches each and every one of us, as Canadians.
“So, we wanted to give people a chance to stand with us.
“We had many members from the ‘Highway to Heaven’ community come join us and to share their thoughts.”
As well as members of the local Muslim community, the mayor, Coun. Au and local Sikh community leader Balwant Sanghera offered their words of support at the vigil.
Sheikh added that, in light of the attack on Sunday in Quebec — which also left eight people seriously injured or fighting for their lives — several safety concerns had been expressed by the B.C. Muslim community.
So much so, that, according to the BCMA, there was an RCMP presence outside the mosque at Monday night’s vigil.
“We are in the midst of addressing those concerns with the police,” said Sheikh.
“We understand (Quebec was) an isolated incident, but there is a narrative out there that might precipitate some angst in the Muslim community.”
According to Sheikh, the BCMA president, Daud Ismail, has met with the RCMP to discuss those concerns.
The BCMA is currently the largest Sunni Muslim organization in B.C., owning and operating several Islamic centres, as well as Muslim schools in Richmond and across the province.
In a press release, Ismail said that it was “with great sadness and heavy hearts that the BC Muslim Association offers deep condolences to our brothers and sisters in Quebec City.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of innocent victims of this tragic, senseless and horrifying attack inside a Quebec Islamic Cultural Center.
“The association categorically condemns such acts of violence. Places of worship are a sacred sanctity and should always be maintained, irrespective of one’s faith.”
Ismail added that the BCMA is asking the community to be “more vigilant and report to local authorities any suspicious activities, incidences or threats.”
He also called upon the Muslims of B.C. to help authorities protect all locations of worship from “such violent and illegal acts.”
“It is our belief that no group or individual in a free and just society should live in fear because of their ethnicity, faith or religious beliefs.”
The victims of Sunday’s tragedy ranged in age from 35 to 60, police said. There were 39 people at the mosque who were not injured.
The accused shooter, Alexandre Bissonnette, reportedly posted several anti-Muslim comments on social media over the last year.
Bissonnette, 27, of Quebec City, was apprehended and has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder.
The RCMP are saying that additional terrorism-related charges may be forthcoming.
