IMIRT, new app launched to report Islamophobic events in Canada

Canada’s first anti-Islamophobia representative collaborates with NCCM to launch new smart phone app

Given the rise in Islamophobic incidents globally, a smartphone app named Islamophobia Incident Reporting Tool (IMIRT) has been launched to help tackle the issue in Canada.

Canada’s first special representative for combating Islamophobia, Amira El-Ghawaby has collaborated efforts with the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCMM) to launch the new smartphone app.

The app launch was spurred after an Islamophobic incident took place on March 19, 2022, at a mosque in Mississauga, Ontario.

According to media reports, a man wielding a small axe released a can of bear spray on a group of people in the mosque.

A representative of Yaqeen Canada from the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research said that the app will provide a tool that will help in monitoring these hate crimes.

At the moment there are no plans to share data or collaborate directly with police. For now, the intention is to gather data and begin a dialogue with the Muslim community and local authorities.

Between October and November alone, the NCMM recorded 274 hate crimes across Canada. As with victims of other crimes, many incidents go unreported, some because of mistrust of authorities. In other cases, victims claim they were not taken seriously.

The app intends to bridge the gap between under-reported and reported hate crime incidents, prompting more effective action from police and other community assistance programs and resources. 

IMIRT creators and partners are eager to share what the app can do with law enforcement and get some potentially important feedback, as Canada takes a positive step forward in the war against hate crimes. 

Source: Newsroom