Relatives of the Afzaal family are speaking out ahead of the first anniversary of the alleged, hate-motivated collision that killed four members of the Muslim family in London last June 6 and injured their young son.
Relatives of the Afzaal family are speaking out ahead of the first anniversary of the alleged hate-motivated collision that killed four members of the Muslim family in London last June 6 and injured their young son.
A statement by Umar Afzaal, delivered Wednesday through his lawyer, said the family is focused on giving the sole survivor of the crash, Fayez, who was nine years old at the time, “as normal of a life as possible,” asking for privacy and expressing thanks for the outpouring of community support over the last year.
Umar Afzaal is an uncle to Fayez.
“Missing you all, our beloved family, is a heartache that will never go away. Your memories are a treasure that we keep in our hearts and we continue to struggle with the question of why you all had to depart this life,” the statement reads.
“A year sounds like such a long time, but without you all, it has gone in the blink of an eye. We miss you all more than words can express.”
Four members of the Afzaal family died after they were struck by a vehicle at an intersection while out for an evening walk at Hyde Park and South Carriage roads. Police alleviate the collision was deliberate, the family targeted because of their Islamic faith.
A memorial plaza, including murals and gardens, is planned at the intersection to honor Salman Afzaal, his mother Talat Afzaal, his wife Madiha Salman and their daughter Yumnah, 15.
Five days of marches, vigils and other community events to honor the Afzaals are also planned in London, starting Friday.
Yumnah was an artist, just finishing Grade 9 at Oakridge secondary school. Her mother was a doctoral student completing her PhD in engineering at Western University. Salman, a physiotherapist who worked at several area long-term care homes, loved gardening.
Their deaths sparked an outpouring of grievance across the city and the country, with calls for governments and others to do more to address violent Islamophobia.
City council has declared June 6 a day of remembrance for “Our London Family,” the name often used to represent the Afzaals, and memorial events will unfold throughout the week.
That includes a public march on June 5 and vigil on June 6. Londoners are invited to attend the events to pay tribute to the three generations of the Afzaal family killed and to take a stand against Islamophobia.
A London man is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one of attempted murder, but has not yet entered any pleas to the charges against him.
AFZAAL FAMILY STATEMENT
It is the deepest sadness when you realize that the people who gave you the best memories, have become but a memory. Missing you all, our beloved family, is a heartache that will never go away. Your memories are a treasure that we keep in our hearts and we continue to struggle with the question of why you all had to depart this life.
We have reached the one-year anniversary of a heinous act that took the lives of our family. It is still so difficult to understand and no words can ever describe our feelings. A year sounds like such a long time, but without you all, it has gone in the blink of an eye. We miss you all more than words can express.
The Afzaal family would like to express our deepest thanks to the London, Ontario, community, for their continuous support and understanding. To lose three generations of our family was a catastrophe, but our community came together and has provided us with hope and strength. It is with this strength we have been able to continue forward.
As a family, we have always believed in equality and freedom from all forms of discrimination on account of race, color or creed. In our view, June 6th, 2021, a day marked a day when life was not only taken from 4 innocent people, but from the whole of humanity. We, the Afzaal family, condemn all types of violence motivated by hatred.
We continue to heal from this incredibly tragic event that our family has endured. While we are deeply grateful for the support and recognition that many institutions have offered, it is also important for the Afzaal family to make it clear that we do not endorse any political, religious and/or cultural campaigns. We also do not endorse any fundraising initiatives adopted in the name of our family’s loss. Use of Afzaal name for any initiative is not supported by the family and therefore we will not be responsible for it. We urge all donors to contribute to their own choice of charity and independently evaluate its authenticity.
The Afzaal family has also directed that all crowd funding be stopped and transferred within the jurisdiction of the court, with the proceeds being preserved for the surviving minor, upon him reaching the age of majority.
As we continue to heal and move forward in our lives, the privacy of the Afzaal family and, particularly the surviving minor, is of paramount concern to us. We respectfully request that all media outlets refrain from posting pictures of our deceased family members. We ask that all media outlets also refrain from contacting our relatives for interviews. We would like to provide the surviving minor as normal of a life as possible. We seek your compassion and discretion in honoring our request.
As the criminal trial of the accused proceeds, we also request that our community and the media be mindful of our family’s privacy during this time. The Afzaal family continues to place the greatest amount of belief and support in the Canadian justice system, and we look forward to seeing justice served.
On behalf of the Afzaal family, our most sincere thank you for your ongoing support, kindness and prayers.
Umar Afzaal and family
MEMORIAL EVENTS
June 3
Remembering Our London Family open house; 7-9 p.m., 990 Gainsborough Rd.
June 5
Our London Family march, starting 1 pm at Oakridge secondary school, where Yumnah Afzaal attended, ending about 5 pm at the London Muslim Mosque, 151 Oxford St. W.
June 6
- Our London Family prayer service; 9-11 am at the London Islamic Cemetery, 6100 White Oak Rd.
- Our London Family student walk for students from both area school boards covering the walk the Afzaal family did not get to complete
- Our London Family community garden dedication; 1 p.m. at Maple Grove Park, 1260 Coronation Dr.
- Our London Family art gallery, highlighting works honoring the Afzaal family, 4 pm at London Muslim Mosque
- Our London Family vigil, 7 pm at the site of the collision, Hyde Park and South Carriage roads, where the city is erecting a memorial
June 7 and 8
Anti-Islamophobia workshops, details to be announced, registration required; organized by Muslim Resources Center for Social Support and Integration, Islamic Social Services Association, King’s University College