Muslims refugees are welcome to Canada, Canadian PM, Trudeau says

Refugees rejected by the USA as a result of President Donald Trump’s ban will be welcomed to Canada, so says Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau in tweet posted on his time-line.

“To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada”, the Canadian PM posted.

According to reports, the first Muslim arrivals to the US were detained at airports with some of them already aboard their flights when Trump announced his executive order closing America’s borders to refugees while also suspending the US Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days.

Read also: 5 dead as gunmen open fire on Muslim worshippers in Canada

Trump also created a ban denying citizens of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia – countries with a majority of Muslims – entry to the USA for 90 days.

However, hours after his tweet, a group of unidentified gunmen opened fire killing at least six people at a mosque in the Canadian city of Quebec City during evening prayers.

According to police sources, the gunmen fired at about 50 people inside the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre on Sunday at 8pm local time (01:00 GMT).

“Six people are confirmed dead – they range in age from 35 to about 70,” Quebec provincial police spokeswoman Christine Coulombe told reporters, adding that eight people were wounded and 39 were unharmed.

Police said two suspects had been arrested, but gave no details about them or what prompted the attack which suggests that Muslims may not be welcomed in Canada after all.

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now