Calgary Faith Leaders Stand with MAC Islamic School Following Violent Threats

Faith and community leaders from across Calgary came together on October 8 to stand in solidarity with MAC Islamic School and Calgary's Muslim community following two disturbing incidents of hate-motivated threats.

In late September, nine schools operated by the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) across the country received a threatening email containing racist and Islamophobic language, including explicit threats to kill Muslims and children, calls for violence, and demands that Muslims leave Canada.

The threats raised serious concerns about the safety of students, families, and staff. On October 8, the school reported receiving a second hateful email, believed to be from the same sender. Police have been investigating the threats, while the school has reviewed and strengthened its safety procedures.

Standing Together Against Hate

In response to the threats, the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good (CACG) and the Calgary Interfaith Council (CIC) jointly coordinated a gathering of faith and community leaders at MAC Islamic School in Bridgeland on Thursday, October 8.

Organized on short notice, the gathering brought together leaders from different faith traditions to express their support for the school and Calgary's Muslim community.

Their presence carried a simple but powerful message: No community should face hatred, threats, or intimidation alone.

"When hatred is directed toward one of our communities, we do not have to face it alone," said the Rev. Samaya Oakley, Minister at Calgary Unitarians. "Our presence is a simple way of saying: We see you. We care about what has happened. We are here with you."

The gathering offered reassurance to students, families, and staff during a difficult and uncertain time. It also demonstrated the importance of relationships across faith communities, and how those relationships can turn shared values into meaningful action.

The event attracted local media attention and helped bring greater public awareness to the threats facing the school and the wider Muslim community.

Media Coverage

The gathering and the threats against MAC Islamic School were covered by local media:

A Heartfelt Message from MAC Islamic School

Following the gathering, Mazen Jishi, the director of MAC Islamic School - Calgary, shared a heartfelt message of appreciation with the organizers and participating leaders. His words reflected not only the impact of the gathering on the school community but also the importance of genuine solidarity and lasting relationships between Calgary's diverse faith communities.

Here is his message in full:

I wanted to reach out and sincerely thank you all for your support and for taking the initiative to organize Thursday's gathering at our school.

My apologies for not getting back to you sooner. Right after the gathering, I got swamped with meetings and follow-ups related to the threats and the school's response.

I really want you to know how much Thursday's gathering meant to us. Seeing so many faith and community leaders come together in support of our Islamic school was deeply meaningful.

Personally, I felt that the gathering was a real expression of our shared values in action. I witnessed what we call in Arabic sidq (صدق), or genuine sincerity. The support was real. It wasn't just words or politics. I could feel that people genuinely cared from the heart, and that meant a lot to me.

Most importantly, the gathering reminded our school community that we are not alone. This was especially important at a time when many of our families were feeling anxious and uncertain.

The gathering also helped bring greater public attention to the threats. Beyond the media coverage, we have since seen expressions of support from political leaders and parties. On Friday, we also had a formal meeting with two Calgary Police officers to discuss the threats and our other safety concerns.

I also think the gathering sent an important message about the kind of community we want to live in. When one community is threatened, others stand beside it. Our students witnessed this firsthand on Thursday, and I believe they will remember it.

I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good (CACG), the Calgary Interfaith Council (CIC), and all the faith and community leaders who came to support us. I know the gathering was organized on very short notice, and I truly appreciate all the work that went into it.

I hope we can continue building on these relationships, not only in difficult times but also through ongoing dialogue and friendship.

Thank you again for standing with us and making our school community feel supported.