It is with sadness that we write to you today.

The world today is overflowing with pain and moral outrage over the rise of racially charged violence across the U.S. and here in Canada. As a community we are not blind to these indiscretions, whether they happen on our doorsteps or hundreds of kilometres away.

We stand in solidarity with the family of George Floyd and all those who have lost loved ones. It reminded us of what happened here at home in the killing of our late brother Abdirahman Abdi.

AMA stands against prejudice, discrimination, bigotry, and the systemic racism that has impacted the lives of many of our community members. Racism needs to be uprooted from our community.

We continue to work with partner organizations. Together, we hope to make progress together to address the issues we face in this city we call home.

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) from his earliest teachings expressed the necessary equality of mankind, and the fundamental pillars of justice and fairness. A person’s right to their life and honour are among the things that Islam has come to protect.

Such a significant teaching of our deen is expressed in the farewell khutbah (sermon) of our Messenger, where he stated in front of the largest gathering of Muslims to exist at that time:

“All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black nor does a black have any superiority over white except by piety and good action.”

Let us follow in the example of our Prophet (pbuh) to speak the truth, invite towards justice, remove arrogance from our hearts, and ask Allah to increase us in piety and good actions.