Muslim women denounce graffiti near Edmonton daycare

Muslim women in Alberta are condemning Islamophobic graffiti discovered near an Edmonton daycare for Muslim children on the city's north side. Edmonton Police Service is investigating.

The graffiti has drawn condemnation from political leaders across Canada and the National Council of Canadian Muslims. Nisreen Ibrahim, a social work master's student with grassroots collective Sisters Dialogue, said the incident deepens her fears for safety in a community she grew up in and has relied upon.

"Incidents like this fuel misconceptions about Islam being oppressive towards women and Muslim women needing saving from other cultures or other communities," Ibrahim told CBC News. Sisters Dialogue was formed in 2021 in response to rising Islamophobic attacks and supports Muslim women and youth through a trauma-informed, community-care approach.

Ibrahim, who wears hijab as a visible Muslim woman, said her sense of safety has declined over the past five years. "I'm echoing what I'm hearing from other Muslim women in my circles, that there's a hyper vigilance for sure now, as these stories come out, could it be me next, could it be my friend, could it be my sister, could it be my mom?"

Statistics Canada data shows a 173 per cent increase in police-reported hate crimes targeting Muslim people between 2020 and 2024. Saima Mafat, regional director for Alberta and B.C. for the Nisa Foundation, which operates supports for Muslim women and children, said the impact extends beyond the graffiti itself. "Parents are going to begin asking questions, whether the children are actually safe, families question whether they are truly welcome," she said.