Londoners came together in Victoria park in support of the Hijabs for Harmony event to combat Islamophobia Friday, June 18, 2021. (Photo by Global News)

Ottawa, June 21 (RHC)-- Muslim and non-Muslim women have joined forces in the Canadian city of London in the east-central Ontario province to organize an event in which all of them wear the Islamic headdress called hijab as part of a national call against Islamophobia in the country.

The rally -- dubbed Hijabs for Harmony -- drew scores of participants in London in an effort to educate local residents on the hijab and the need to combat persisting Islamophobia across Canada following the terrorist killing of a Muslim family in the city by a man, local news outlet Global News reported.

The demonstration featured several speakers from the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC), was followed by what was referred to as “a solidarity walk” around the city’s Victoria Park and a moment of silence for the Azaal family, four of whom were killed earlier this month when the man plowed his pickup truck into the Muslim family of five as they were taking a walk.

The event was part of a number of other gatherings held across the country to press the Canadian government to address the issue of Islamophobia amid surging attacks against Muslims and Islamic places of worship in recent months.

“In a time when a lot of women are scared to go out with their scarf on because now they have become a visible minority, this show of support encourages them to continue on with the choice they have taken,” said London resident and a MAC member Reem Sultan.

Sultan said following the June 6 attack in London, she and her family were scared and wondered if they should leave their house because wearing the hijab made her visibly Muslim.  “To overcome it is my goal and the goal of other women; we can’t be held hostage to fear or to that Islamophobic attack,” she added.

Sultan said he hopes people will try and educate themselves about differences and ask questions to better understand them.  “The most important message is with knowledge we can break down barriers. Don’t hesitate to ask questions because a lot of Muslim women will welcome that,” she said.