Local Muslims unnerved by threats after outbreak of war

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This article was published 13/10/2023 (738 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Local business owners in the Palestinian community have received death threats in the wake of last weekend’s Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel and that country’s declaration of war.

Ramsey Zeid, who manages the Food Fare grocery store on Maryland Street — his family owns the local chain — told the Free Press Friday he has received threats, both in person and over the phone.

“This has never happened to me before, not even close,” Zeid said. “I was born here and I’m 46.

“Until now, it was just hungry people running in, or somebody drunk or high stealing groceries. I’ve been getting the threats on my personal cell phone, the store’s phone line and by people who run in and then yell out. They say, ‘F—-ing terrorists. Baby killer. You’re next, after Gaza.’”

He said he didn’t take the threats seriously at first, but now they have escalated and he is worried. He reported the threats to police, who told them there isn’t much they are able to do when he can’t identify the people making them.

“I’m actually looking over my shoulder now and always keeping track of my surroundings,” he said. “It feels like 9/11 all over again.”

Islamic Social Services Association executive director Shahina Siddiqui said she knows of at least three businesses run by Palestinians that have received threats, said she believes all of the goodwill in the community built up in the two decades following the Sept. 11, 2001 co-ordinated Islamic terrorist attacks in the United States has been vaporized since Hamas extremists from Gaza launched a barrage of rockets into Israel Saturday, followed by a murderous rampage through Israeli communities by hundreds of heavily armed terrorists. More than 1,300 Israelis, including infants and the elderly, were killed and an estimated 150 were taken hostage and are missing.

Siddiqui said the situation for local Muslims is more distressing than what the community experienced in the wake of 9/11.

“Things are getting out of hand,” she said. “I never thought I’d see this again in Canada. We are back there again, but this time it is worse. It is at another level. It is with the government and our prime minister. “

On Monday, both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre spoke at a rally supporting Israel.

“Canada unequivocally and in the strongest-possible terms condemns these terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas,” Trudeau said. “We stand with Israel and reaffirm our support for Israel’s right to defend itself in accordance with international law.”

And Poilievre said “the incredible carnage that this terrorist death cult has unleashed in the last 72 hours would be bad enough, were it not for the apparent pleasure and sadistic pride with which it was carried out.

“Hamas does not speak for the Palestinian people, it does not speak for Muslims, and it surely does not speak for Canadians.”

Siddiqui said words like that make it hard for Palestinians in in Canada.

“This is going to haunt us for a long time,” she said. “I’m still trying to process it all.”

Meanwhile, Gustavo Zentner, president of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, said the organization is not aware of threats issued to any members of his community.

“We are active in many fronts and working closely with the leadership and organizations,” Zentner said.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca