What it's like to be Muslim in the GTA
We talk to Muslims across the GTA about discrimination, their hopes and fears for the future, and all of the things that make them inherently Torontonian (here’s a clue: they hate the traffic and worry about the Blue Jays bullpen).
Muslim Canadians share their stories.
The diversity of Muslims in the GTA is vast, as is their experience. With the issues surrounding terrorism, niqabs and religious accommodations on the rise, it seems as if Muslims are constantly in the spotlight.
Now, members of the 450,000-strong Muslim community in the GTA — the largest in Canada — are asking their neighbours to hear them out.
The Star talked to Muslims across the GTA about discrimination, their hopes and fears for the future, and all of the things that make them inherently Torontonian (here's a clue: they hate the traffic and worry about the Blue Jays bullpen).
Click on the images below to open or close the interviews.
Rabia Khedr, 45, diversity and accessibility consultant
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It’s human nature to fixate on what’s obviously different. I wish people would just close their eyes and listen to each other.
Boonaa Mohammed, 28, filmmaker and poet
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My favourite thing about living in the GTA has to be the diversity. I always tell people that I’m from Toronto and not from Canada, because Toronto is its own multicultural world.
Farrah Marfatia, 36, Islamic school principal
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We are people. We have families, we have children. We have hopes and dreams. We fall in love, we get divorced. We like to go to McDonald’s. We watch Game of Thrones on Sunday nights.
Alaa Elsayed, 52, imam
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I have a field day in the airports. I get pulled a lot from lines. I told them I am going to change my name to Mr. Random, because when they pull me over, they say, ‘Sir, this is a random check. And I am like, uh huh.’
Ameerah Khan, 17, student
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I think there are so many ways to be beautiful, even if you’re modest. Just because my prom dress isn’t backless doesn’t mean I won’t look beautiful and I won’t feel beautiful.
Ahmed Hussein, 56, executive director
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People think we don’t condemn these acts, but we condemn it even more than anyone else. This is not our religion. Our faith does not condone violence.
Shomyla Hammad, 42, stay-at-home mother
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My husband says jokingly, ‘I don’t want to go out with you because people will judge me and think I am forcing you to wear it (the niqab) and I don’t want them to think that.’
Adil Rehman, 18, student
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When I was in Grade 2, this kid in my class casually mentioned that he wanted to kill all Muslims. I had no idea how to respond to that. It wasn’t that kid talking. It was clearly what he was hearing at home.
Sana Ahmed, 31, stay-at-home mother
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You just can’t judge a person for what they’re wearing and make up stories about them.
Jeewan Chanicka, 40, elementary school principal
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I’ve been taken off a plane for no reason and had security officers laugh at me about it, and I had no recourse.
Nafisah Chowdhury, 33, lawyer
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People would be surprised to learn that I was on my high school curling team. I wasn’t very good, but I had fun.
Muhammad Sherjil Malik, 43, former CFO
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I do feel discrimination whenever I go to the U.S. I do feel discrimination whenever I go to England. When I came for the first time to Canada, from New York to Toronto, I was greeted like a hero, like a prince, like a guest. That was quite a stunner for me. They said, ‘Welcome to Canada, sir.’
Katherine Bullock, late 40s, academic
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My worst problems are always when I’m on the subway in Toronto, or in other public spaces. It’s just like these looks and glares, and you get people looking at you with disgust, with contempt.
Yusuf Zine, 21, student
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When I was younger I worked as a professional actor. As time went on, I noticed a pattern in the roles I would be sent out for. Many of my auditions were for racially stereotypical roles, such as the ‘Arab terrorist’ or the ‘typical Indian guy,’ even though I’m not Indian.
Dalia Hashim, 20, student
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Sometimes I’ll be talking to someone and they’ll be like, ‘Oh, I’ve never met a Muslim girl who’s outgoing.’ And I’m like, well, how is a Muslim girl different than any other girl?
Jari Qudrat, 21, student
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I’m a student, I go to school, I work, I play sports, I hang out with friends, and on top of that I pray on a daily basis.
Haris Celic, 23, sales
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The God the Muslims believe in is the same as the Jews and Christians, Muslims just believe another prophet came and built upon their books.
Selma Djukic, 48, business owner
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Muslims have the same hopes and dreams like every other fellow Canadian.
These interviews were edited for length and clarity
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