Statement by Dr. Deborah White on Islamophobia

Many of you have heard the sad news of the Muslim family who were killed in London, Ontario, Canada. The University of Calgary in Qatar would like to extend its sincere condolences to the family and friends of the Afzaal family and to Muslim communities across Canada and worldwide. We are especially saddened by the news of the lone survivor of the tragedy, nine-year-old Fayez, who remains in our hearts and prayers as we wish him a speedy recovery.

The peaceful and kind family, who were taking an evening walk, should not have lost their lives because of their faith. As their family, friends and neighbors mourn, we too mourn this tragic loss.

We strongly condemn hatred and violence in all its forms, and this recent attack affirms our unwavering stance in ensuring our institution remains safe for all. Islamophobia and all other forms of racism have no place on our campus or in our community and together we will work to end it.

Let us continue to foster an environment of equity, diversity and inclusion for all.

Dr. Teri Balser, provost and vice-president (academic), had also expressed her thoughts on the incident and said: "On behalf of the University of Calgary, I wish to confirm our commitment to inclusion and equality as we stand firm against the hatred and violence we recently saw in London, Ontario. During this time, we are sending our deepest sympathies to the Afzaal family and their community. As our president said on Wednesday, there is no place for hatred on any of our campuses and we will confront and end any Islamophobia, racism, or other forms of hate."