Muslim Awareness Week: guest speaker, green squares at Royal West Academy

A school in Montreal West is hosting various events to coincide with Muslim Awareness Week, including having a guest speaker on Tuesday.

Students at Royal West Academy are wearing green felt squares as a symbol to show their solidarity with the victims and survivors of the Jan. 29, 2017, mosque shooting in Quebec City and their fight against Islamophobia.

“When we are going around giving the green squares, we try to educate the people and tell them what this campaign is really about,” said Huda Runjeet, one of the students at Royal West Academy. “We really want to help stop the hate with this campaign.”

For those who are wondering, why green?

“The Green Square – it really represents the green carpets in the mosque at the time of the shooting,” explained Runjeet. “But it also represents that, God willing, the victims of this tragic event are in beautiful green gardens now.”

READ MORE:

• McGill University students hold event to honour 2017 Quebec City Mosque shooting victims
• Vigil held in Montreal for 6th anniversary of Quebec City mosque shooting
• Muslim Awareness Week: launch of events to counter Islamophobia in Quebec

According to the school’s spiritual animator Jagdeep Trehin, the campaign was a success among students.

“The table was full of green squares last week. So, the fact that we’ve had I’ve had to replenish them many times is a sign that students are participating, students are passionate about it,” said Trehin. “Students are taking a stand against discrimination, against hate.

“Seeing students have that dialog or that conversation among themselves or in classes with teachers, I think is a good sign that it’s bringing that awareness at home.”

Jannat Firdous, the education coordinator with the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), is speaking to students at Royal West Academy about human rights and inclusion.

“Education is this preventative tool now for engaging in anti-hate and anti-Islamophobic discussions,” said Firdous. “And the younger that we can have these conversations, the more aware we’re going to have of a younger generation that is going to get involved in the public sphere, that’s going to become the future teachers and lawyers and service providers.”

Firdous is a former teacher who advocates for women’s educational success. Visiting schools across Canada, Firdous believes that the discussion around Islamophobia can prevent and challenge the rising issue.

All students from Grade 7-11 were welcome to attend the presentation at the school’s social justice club.