Niqab bans boost hate crimes against Muslims and legalize Islamophobia

Many people have an idealized vision of Canada as a gentle, kind and accepting society. However, last year, as a Muslim Canadian family took their evening stroll during lockdown in London, Ont., a white man rammed his pickup truck into them. Four of the five family members were killed.The incident sparked horror and outrage. But the truth of the matter is anti-Muslim sentiment has been on the steady rise in the 20 years since 9/11.According to a report from July 2021 by the National Council of Canadian Muslims, more Muslims have been killed in Canada in targeted attacks and hate crimes than in any other G7 country.Our guest today says that instead of deterring anti-Muslim hate, Canadian laws are actually making it worse - in essence, legalizing Islamophobia.Natasha Bakht is an award-winning legal scholar who has spent the past five years researching the rise in anti-Muslim attitudes in North America. She is a professor in the faculty of law at the University of Ottawa and the author of In Your Face: Law, Justice, and Niqab Wearing Women in Canada.In her book, Natasha explores the stories of niqab-wearing women who have faced discriminatory laws.Follow and listenListen to this episode — and subscribe to Don’t Call Me Resilient — on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.We’d love to hear from you, including any ideas for future episodes. Join The Conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #DontCallMeResilient.ICYMI - Articles published in The ConversationRead more: Quebec's niqab ban uses women's bodies to bolster right-wing extremismIslamophobia and hate crimes continue to rise in CanadaMuslim family killed in terror attack in London, Ont.: Islamophobic violence surfaces once again in CanadaRemembering the Québec City mosque attack: Islamophobia and Canada’s national amnesiaMedia portrays Indigenous and Muslim youth as ‘savages’ and ‘barbarians’Islamophobia in western media is based on false premisesArt show takes on the misrepresentation of MuslimsMore info: Show Notes