CMF-FMC Deeply Troubled by Political Exploitation of Condemned Attack to Fuel Islamophobic and Anti-Palestinian Hate
by FMC-CMF | Aug 12, 2025 | Press Release |
For Immediate Release
Montreal, August 12, 2025
The Canadian Muslim Forum (FMC CMF) strongly condemns the violent incident that took place in Montreal on August 8, 2025, in which a man of Jewish faith was attacked in front of his children in Montreal. Such acts of violence have no place in our society and must be unequivocally rejected.
While the attack itself was widely denounced, FMC CMF is deeply troubled by the political exploitation of this tragic event to unleash a wave of Islamophobic, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Arab hate, even before the facts of the case were known. This rush to weaponize the incident for political and ideological purposes, before police had identified a suspect, determined possible motives, or suggested who might be behind the attack, is both reckless and dangerous.
Equally concerning is the complete absence, in much of the public and political discourse, of any acknowledgment that the individual who recorded the incident and made it possible for the truth to be seen was a Muslim Montreal woman. Her civic responsibility and courage were publicly appreciated by the respected spokesperson of the Hasidic Jewish community, a gesture of solidarity that deserves recognition in all discussions surrounding this case.
The FMC CMF stresses that the selective omission of such facts, combined with the politicization of an ongoing criminal investigation, erodes trust between communities and undermines genuine efforts to fight all forms of hate and violence.
We call on political leaders, community representatives, and media outlets to exercise restraint, base their statements on verified facts, and avoid rhetoric that stigmatizes entire communities. Violence must be addressed with justice and compassion, not exploited to inflame prejudice.
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