Alia Hogben speaks on how Muslims shared in grief over Ottawa shooting tragedy

Outgoing mayor, and Bay of Quinte Federal Liberal candidate, Neil Ellis, presents a gift on behalf the Bay of Quinte Liberal Association in appreciation of her work. Photo by John R. Moodie.

By John Moodie

BELLEVILLE – Following the tragic events of the shooting of a soldier at Ottawa’s War Memorial last month, Alia Hogben gave a timely speech about how the event is affecting Muslims in Canada.

“It is almost surrealistic that this has happened in Canada,” said Hogben.

Hogben, executive director of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women, spoke Oct. 30 to a full house at Capers restaurant in Belleville.

The event, hosted by the Bay of Quinte Federal Liberal Association, was part of their Bridge Forum speakers’ series.

As director of the CCMW, Hogben works to improve the perception of Muslim women in Canadian society. Hogben is a recipient the Order of Canada and is a columnist for The Kingston Whig-Standard.

Hogben began her speech by trying to communicate how the Muslim community felt about the shooting in Ottawa last week.

She said the tragic deaths of Corporal Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent left everyone stunned and horrified.

“I think it was a whole nation grieving. I don’t think it had to do with religion. It was a death of a young man,” Hogben said, describing the emotional reaction among Muslims across Canada.

“A lot of Muslims got together in Ottawa. They went up to the cenotaph and laid a wreath,” said Hogben, “I think they were grieving as much as anyone else.”

She said “it was a senseless, stupid, loss of life.”

Hogben said the Canadian Muslim community was also fearful of the recent violence and were impacted by it as all Canadians were.

She said Muslims were also concerned about the potential backlash that would come in response to what happened.

“Of course every Muslim says, oh please don’t let it be a Muslim,” said Hogben, “because the backlash on it is so awful.”

She said the criticism and comments that spread on the internet and in the media are troubling.

Hogben spoke specifically about writers who have columns in the same paper she writes for.

“There are three or four writers that get published in The Kingston Whig Standard: Ezra Lavant, Antony Fury and Lorne Gunter,” she said.

Hogben said a lot of what she reads is depressing.

“Every single column of theirs is anti-Islamic and anti-Muslim and they make no bones about it,” said Hogben, “How come it is ok to bash someone any which way you want to?”

She says she questions how such nasty things can be published, referring to how language describing people as barbarians, or suggesting certain people shouldn’t be allowed in Canada, appears in media articles.

“They talk in a racist language.”

Hogben says she thinks the media are only interested in things that are sensational. She says she is often asked by the media to do interviews, but points out the requests come usually during times of crisis.

“Last week I think I did five or six  interviews in one morning. I don’t get calls for four or five months, but as soon as something happens, the want you to explain,” said Hogben.

“I get a lot of media calls. I am always very happy to help them.”

Hogben says she wonders why the media doesn’t do positive stories about Muslims.

“I say to them why you don’t do a good story. We just celebrated five Muslim women who are remarkable in their area of work. Would you want to some stories on them,” Hogben says she often asks the media.

“We don’t hear back from them. We don’t get any of the good stories into the media.”