May 2022

The continuous rise of hate crimes targeting Canadians of various racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds is a very serious and alarming problem. According to recent data from Statistics Canada, the number of police-reported hate crimes targeting race or ethnicity almost doubled in 2020 with an average increase of 80% from the previous year. The increase in hate crimes against Asian and Southeast Asian communities was recorded as the highest with a rise of 301%. On the other hand, the same statistics, as well as the news of the violent attacks of the last few years, clearly show that Muslims continue to be the major target of religiously motivated hate crimes in Canada. As communities on the receiving end of such crimes, we know that these statistics represent only the tip of the iceberg. Many hate crimes are not reported to the police because victims fear repercussions or feel unsupported. In some cases, even if they are reported as hate crimes, many of them don’t end up being filed and classified as such. While racism and Islamophobia are certainly not as prominent in Newfoundland and Labrador as they are in the rest of Canada, the local incidents of the last few years suggest that we are not immune to such hatred. Especially in the wake of vandalism that targeted our Masjid An Noor mosque in St. John’s in March 2022 and then the physical assault against two visibly Muslim teenage sisters in May 2022, it has become clear that anti-Muslim racism is rising in our province. As Muslim Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, we are concerned. We demand more concrete action for the prevention and elimination of racially and religiously motivated hate crimes against our communities. In the meantime, we confirm MANAL’s readiness to collaborate with all municipal, provincial, and federal actors for the design of proper policy interventions. The victims of anti-Muslim racism are not alone. MANAL has reached out to the teenage Muslims sisters who were attacked in St. John’s to provide them and their family all kinds of support and assistance. We are committed to support their spiritual, emotional, and social well being and advocating for their rights together with our allies including Addressing Islamophobia in NL, the Anti-Racism Coalition of NL, and the National Council of Canadian Muslims.

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful Dear Brothers and Sisters, Assalamu’ Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh It is with a heavy heart that we see the passing of Ramadan, the month of spiritual uplift, mercy and endless blessings, but at the same time we are grateful to Allah (SWT) for enabling us to experience this Ramadan through in-person congregational prayers and hope to experience many more Ramadans in the future. We would like to share important information with our community as part of Eid celebrations. For those who have not yet paid, Zakatul Fitr is $20 per person and must be paid BEFORE the Eid prayer. You can pay your Zakatul Fitr through the donation boxes located at the mosque or through a member of the MANAL Executive Committee. Ramadan is a month during which all good deeds, and especially charity, are rewarded more than other times of the year. We encourage all our brothers and sisters to donate generously to the MANAL Fundraising Drive to build a new Islamic Centre in Torbay. This will be our legacy and gift to future Muslim generations in this province. The construction of the Islamic Centre must begin as soon as possible as per permit requirements obtained by MANAL from the Town of Torbay and Service NL. Please make sure that your donation to the Islamic Centre project is over and above the annual donation to support the operation of Masjid Al-Noor at 430 Logy Bay Road. Through your donations, you will Insha'Allah leave an ever lasting legacy which will benefit you and your families both in this world and in the hereafter. Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Quran: لَن تَنَالُواْ الْبِرَّ حَتَّى تُنفِقُواْ مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِن شَيْءٍ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ (3:92) [But as for you, O believers,] never shall you attain to true piety unless you spend on others out of what you cherish yourselves; and whatever you spend - verily, God has full knowledge thereof. The first day of Eid will Insha'Allah be Monday May 2nd. There will be only one Eid prayer and it will be held at 8.00 AM on Monday (May 2nd) at the Techniplex (39 Churchill Avenue, Pleasantville, St. John’s). Please see attached map for the location and driving directions. Please note that there will be no Eid prayer at the Mosque. When you come to the Techniplex for the Eid prayer, please make sure that you bring your own prayer mat and park in the designated parking area only. It is very important that all attendees to the EID prayer adhere to the following measures: 1. Bring NLVaxPass as proof of vaccination . 2. Wear a mask at all times covering nose and mouth. 3. Make wudu at home. 4. Bring own mussala (prayer mat) to prayer. Taking this opportunity, MANAL would like to thank all the volunteers who help us maintain the Mosque and manage MANAL’s operational activities throughout the year and especially during the holy month of Ramadan. May Allah (SWT) bless our community and the whole Muslim ummah with a happy and peaceful Eid. Eid Mubarak Jazakum Allahu Khairun, MANAL Executive Committee