Quebec City mosque attack: Co-founder of Black Muslim Association at McGill receiving memorial award

Montrealer Khadijatu-Dimalya Ibrahim is in the prayer room at McGill University at least two to three times per day. Pursuing an undergraduate degree in software engineering and Islamic and African studies, Ibrahim’s faith is at the centre of her education.

Now, the co-founder of the Black Muslim Association is being honoured as this year’s recipient of the Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec Memorial Award from McGill, commemorating the six men who were killed in the 2017 massacre in Quebec City.

“No one deserves to lose their life for just simply wanting to engage in their own religious practice that doesn’t hurt anyone,” Ibrahim said.

What happened on January 29, 2017 – when a gunman opened fire on worshippers during evening prayers at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City – hits home for Ibrahim. She said that she is reminded of the tragedy every time her own father leaves the house to pray.

“Every single time he goes to the mosque, I track his location,” Ibrahim said. “I want to see if everything’s okay. If he takes more time, I’ll ask him.”

Far from simply an isolated event in the past, Ibrahim encourages people to reflect on what the 2017 massacre says about how Muslim people are viewed in society.

“We have to think about (…) the things that are ingrained in our society that will push someone to maybe do something like that and try to curb it before it becomes something as explosive as what happened,” she said.

This has driven her work in advocating for Muslims on campus – especially Black Muslims.

Alongside four friends, Ibrahim co-founded McGill’s Black Muslim Association, an organization she said was intended to represent Black Muslims within the wider Muslim community in Montreal.

“We decided to that we needed to create a space for us, by us,” Ibrahim said. “Oftentimes, what leads people to not join the community (…) is because they might not feel represented.”

Among her initiatives, she hosted an event in 2022: “Try a Hijab” – which invited non-Muslim women to put on the religious head covering to help foster understanding.

The $3,000 scholarship she’s receiving on Wednesday – the day of the mosque attack anniversary – is given annually to a McGill student who has demonstrated a commitment to Muslim inclusion in Quebec and Canada. 

Ibrahim says the award will help her balance school and work, along with providing her with help in continuing her advocacy and spreading this message: “Try to see people as human beings. Don’t define them based on norms. Try to get to know people and don’t assume things about them based off what you’ve heard of their faith,” she said.