STAND Denounces Quebec Shooting as Act of Religious Hate and Terror; Expresses Solidarity with Muslim Communities

Scientologists Taking Action Against Discrimination (STAND) expressed condolences to the Muslim community in Canada and elsewhere following Sunday’s horrific shooting in a Quebec City mosque that killed six while leaving five in critical condition.

In the wake of the shooting at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre, STAND said it believes that everyone deserves the right to religious freedom and to practice the faith of their choice free from threats of violence and intimidation.

In a moving speech, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, “36 million hearts are breaking with yours—know that we value you… You enrich our shared community in immeasurable ways. It is your home.”

“36 million hearts are breaking with yours—know that we value you.”

As Canada struggles to make sense of the atrocity, the outpouring of sympathy and sentiments of unity in its wake have been immense.

Régis Labeaume, Mayor of Quebec, expressed his shock at the intolerance. “No person should have to pay with their life, for their race, their color, their sexual orientation or their religious beliefs,” he said.

German government spokesman Steffen Seibert addressed the intent behind the shooting and vowed his nation would not succumb: “If the killers intended to set people of different faiths against each other or to divide them, they must not and will not succeed in that,” he vowed. “We stand in mourning beside the Muslim community in Quebec.”


Scientologists Taking Action Against Discrimination (STAND) was formed by members of the Church of Scientology to end forever the defamation and bigotry toward Scientologists and the Scientology religion and to protect everyone’s basic inalienable right to practice their chosen faith.