After alleged arson attack, Liberal MP Salma Zahid warns violent rhetoric puts all MPs at risk
Man was filmed setting vehicles on fire outside Zahid's Toronto home in August
Liberal MP Salma Zahid says she's concerned about escalating violent rhetoric directed at MPs — including the leader of another party.
asserted
she → allege → party
"We need to lower the temperature," Zahid told The Canadian Press.
asserted
Zahid → need → Press
"The reality we are living in is [that] sadly, it is not uncommon for online rhetoric to cross over into real-world violence.
asserted
rhetoric → live → violence
In August, a man was filmed setting vehicles on fire outside Zahid's home in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough.
asserted
man → film → Scarborough
Police have said they believe it was an arson attack.
asserted
it → say → ?
Zahid said she now has 24/7 security at her home and she believes the incident could be linked to rising rhetoric against her fellow MPs.
uncertain
incident → say → MPs
"For me and my family, it has been very traumatic, because I really need to know who is behind this and what is their motive," she said.
asserted
she → need → this
Toronto Police have arrested one person in connection with the case.
asserted
Police → arrest → case
Zahid said the person arrested is a driver hired by the individual spotted in security camera footage pouring gasoline and lighting five cars on fire.
asserted
person → say → fire
She said police told her the driver would not identify the person who hired him and the primary culprit remains at large.
asserted
culprit → say → him
"That might have been the purpose, to frighten us," she said.
uncertain
she → frighten → us
"And it has changed in many ways the way we do the work."
House of Commons officials have helped arrange full-time security outside Zahid's house and are vetting all invitations she receives.
asserted
she → change → invitations
Her constituency office has shifted to appointments-only, barring walk-in visits until new cameras are installed and a security assessment is complete.
asserted
assessment → shift → visits
"I have always said that I want to be an accessible MP.
asserted
I → say → ?
This is not how I want to function.
asserted
I → want → ?
But this is how I have been put in a situation," said Zahid, an MP since 2015.
asserted
Zahid → put → 2015
She spoke out this week about the backlash against NDP Leader Avi Lewis following his public statements on Israel.
asserted
She → speak → Israel
Zahid said she believes some of the language used by Lewis's critics could put him at risk.
uncertain
some → say → risk
Zahid said she can stand up for MPs from other parties when they face violent rhetoric and others should voice their support.
asserted
others → say → support
Her comments come after three recent arrests for death threats against Prime Minister Mark Carney, incidents Zahid said are symptoms of a broader problem.
asserted
Zahid → come → problem
"I worry that this language, if it is used like that, risks fuelling antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian racism.
asserted
it → worry → antisemitism
I see incidents of all sorts increasing, and I think it is unacceptable," she said.
asserted
she → see → sorts
Zahid was born in the U.K. into a Pakistani family and wears a hijab.
asserted
Zahid → bear → hijab
She said hateful rhetoric makes it harder to convince minorities to run for office, and to preserve the vigorous debate democracy requires.
asserted
democracy → say → debate
"As politicians, I think we need to bring people together, so that everyone is part of the Canadian team here and everyone can live freely," she said.
Former Liberal MP Pam Damoff announced she would not seek re-election last year due to constant threats, misogyny and harassment.
Damoff said at the time that all MPs know they must have a thick skin but she feared that someone was going to be killed, with harassment intensifying since the COVID-19 pandemic.
asserted
harassment → think → pandemic
In June 2022, Commons officials started giving MPs panic buttons in response to threats and harassment of parliamentarians.
asserted
officials → start → parliamentarians
Known as "mobile duress alarms," the devices are meant to immediately alert Parliamentary Protective Services or local police when MPs face a threat anywhere in Canada.
asserted
MPs → know → Canada
Commons security also offered to install alarms and cameras in MPs' offices and to provide training on de-escalating potentially violent situations.
asserted
security → offer → situations
The Aporia
