Madam Speaker, on behalf of Shia Muslims across Canada, I condemn the recent deadly attack in Pakistan. On November 21, gunmen ambushed convoys of Shia Muslims in Kurram district, killing at least 38 individuals, including women and children.
Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims generally coexist peacefully in Pakistan. However, militant groups like Deobandi militant groups, Salafi extremist groups affiliated with the Islamic State, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, and the Barelvi group's Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan indulge in the killing of Shia Muslims in Pakistan. Motivated by sectarian ideologies, these groups are responsible for numerous brutal incidents in recent years. They operate almost freely due to the absence of a political will to prosecute them.
I call on Canada to condemn the killings and to convey to Pakistan the deep concerns of Shia Muslims across Canada.