After alleged arson attack, Liberal MP Salma Zahid warns violent rhetoric puts all MPs at risk
In August, a man was filmed setting vehicles on fire outside Liberal MP Salma Zahid's home in Toronto in what's believed to be an arson attack. She believes the incident could be linked to rising rhetoric against her fellow MPs.
Man was filmed setting vehicles on fire outside Zahid's Toronto home in August
Dylan Robertson · The Canadian Press
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Liberal MP Salma Zahid says she's concerned about escalating violent rhetoric directed at MPs — including the leader of another party.
"We need to lower the temperature," Zahid told The Canadian Press. "The reality we are living in is [that] sadly, it is not uncommon for online rhetoric to cross over into real-world violence."
In August, a man was filmed setting vehicles on fire outside Zahid's home in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough. Police have said they believe it was an arson attack.
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.
WATCH | Liberal MP's car set on fire:
Video shows Liberal MP's car set on fire
August 27|
Duration
2:02
Toronto police are investigating a suspected arson at the home of a Liberal Member of Parliament. Multiple cars on Salma Zahid's driveway were set on fire overnight. The Scarborough MP says the incident has left her shaken and worried about the safety of her family and staff. CBC’s Greg Ross takes us through what happened."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.
Toronto Police have arrested one person in connection with the 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.
She said police told her the driver would not identify the person who hired him and the primary culprit remains at large.
"That might have been the purpose, to frighten us," she said. "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. Her constituency office has shifted to appointments-only, barring walk-in visits until new cameras are installed and a security assessment is complete.
"I have always said that I want to be an accessible MP. This is not how I want to function. But this is how I have been put in a situation," said Zahid, an MP since 2015.
She spoke out this week about the backlash against NDP Leader Avi Lewis following his public statements on Israel. Zahid said she believes some of the language used by Lewis's critics could put him at risk.
Zahid said she can stand up for MPs from other parties when they face violent rhetoric and others should voice their 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.
"I worry that this language, if it is used like that, risks fuelling antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian racism. I see incidents of all sorts increasing, and I think it is unacceptable," she said.
"Incitement and hateful rhetoric is wrong and dangerous."
Zahid was born in the U.K. into a Pakistani family and wears a hijab. She said hateful rhetoric makes it harder to convince minorities to run for office, and to preserve the vigorous debate democracy requires.
"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.
In June 2022, Commons officials started giving MPs panic buttons in response to threats and harassment of 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.
Commons security also offered to install alarms and cameras in MPs' offices and to provide training on de-escalating potentially violent situations.
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