The Canadian Interfaith Conversation (CIC), an organization that promotes dialogue between Parliamentarians and representatives and members of Canada’s religious communities on matters of shared interest and concern, released a statement against hate based on religious identity on June 18.
As a response to the rise in incidents of hate based on religious identity observed across the country, statement signatories from 57 faith communities, including the Baháʼí Community of Canada, pledged their commitment to work for understanding, justice, and peace; stand against hate of any kind; not glorify perpetrators of violence or sowers of discrimination and hatred; and not allow their faith to become a cause for hatred. They also called on the federal government to support interfaith efforts to provide medical and humanitarian aid to victims of international conflicts; ensure that faith communities have the proper resources for the security of their houses of worship and educational institutions; introduce a strategy to foster understanding about online hate based on religious identity; and ensure that hate crime units are informed about hate based on religious identity.
The statement offers a hopeful sign: the coming together of faith communities in polarized times. The statement asserts that “There is more that unites than divides us […] Rather than viewing religion as a source of conflict and contention, we know that faith traditions can be the basis for deeper conversations and increased cooperation, greater understanding, and shared activity for a common good.”
At the press conference marking the release of the statement, Akaash Maharaj of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption and CIC executive board member spoke of the “recognition amongst our member faiths that for all our differences […] we [all] believe in the fundamental dignity of every human being and the equality of every human soul.”
While acknowledging that faith communities have not always fulfilled these ideals, Maharaj continued, “we are trying, and this is part of those efforts.” In issuing this statement, he said, the CIC’s hope is to highlight members’ responsibility “to combat hatred between our faiths and within our faiths and to demonstrate that faith can be part of the solution, not simply part of the problem”.
Andrea Salguero, director of public affairs for the Bahá’í Community of Canada and CIC executive board member, also spoke at the press conference. She noted that “the seeds of this statement were planted over many years of working closely together.”
And the work will continue. Salguero also highlighted another project of the CIC: the Our Whole Society Conference, a national conference that addresses the causes of division within our society and seeks to foster dialogue and common ground among academic, community and religious leaders. Last year’s conference focused on the role of faith communities in addressing polarization. In 2025, the conference will explore the notion of hope, grounded in action, as a response to the growing despair in Canadian society in the face of global crises and the limitations of institutions to respond to them.
The full CIC statement is available here.