Nine Islamic schools across Canada have been placed on high alert after receiving the same anonymous email threatening violence against Muslims.
The Muslim Association of Canada said schools it operates in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec received the message over a 24-hour period.
A mosque was also sent the threatening email.
MAC spokesperson Nabil Sultan said local police forces had been notified.
Threat Targeted Muslim Children And Families
MAC said the email contained explicit language targeting Muslim children, families and wider community members.
The organisation has not publicly identified the sender.
The exact schools which received the message have also not been named.
MAC operates Islamic schools and educational institutions in several Canadian cities, with its wider network including locations in Ottawa, Toronto, London, Calgary, Edmonton, Kitchener, Niagara, Mississauga and Windsor.
No Specific Imminent Threat Identified
Despite placing schools on heightened alert, MAC stressed that authorities had not identified an imminent or specific threat against any individual school.
In a statement issued on September 24, the organisation said: “We want to be clear that there is no indication of an imminent or specific threat to any of our schools.”
It added that all threats were being taken seriously.
Security protocols were activated as a precaution and the organisation said it remained in close contact with law enforcement.
Schools Continue To Operate
MAC said the schools continued to operate safely and without disruption.
The organisation said its security response had been activated to protect pupils, staff and families while police examined the threatening messages.
No injuries or attempted attacks have been reported in connection with the emails.
MAC Says Community ‘Will Not Be Threatened By Hate’
The Muslim Association of Canada said the threats would not intimidate the country’s Muslim community.
It said: “The Canadian Muslim community is strong, resilient, and deeply rooted in this country and will not be threatened by hate.”
The organisation said the incident should not be viewed solely as an attack on Muslims but as a threat to broader Canadian values.
Organisation Links Threats To Islamophobia
MAC said the emails reflected what it described as a growing climate of Islamophobia and political and social polarisation.
“This threat is not simply an attack on Muslims. It is an attack on the values that define Canada,” the organisation said.
“It reflects a growing climate of Islamophobia and polarization that, left unchecked, threatens every community in this country and not just ours.”
MAC called on the Canadian government and Prime Minister to respond clearly and decisively.
Islamic Schools Focus On Faith And Education
The Muslim Association of Canada operates full-time Islamic schools designed to combine academic education with Islamic teaching and community involvement.
The organisation says its schools aim to foster academic excellence, leadership and Islamic values.
Its stated vision is to develop pupils who succeed in both religious and worldly life while maintaining their identity as Canadian Muslims.
The organisation said its schools would continue operating while security precautions remained in place and police investigations into the threats continued.
