APRIL 4, 2024 VOLUME 117 ISSUE 11
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A YEAR IN PHOTOS JESSICA KIM GAZETTE OM SHANBHAG GAZETTE
SOPHIA SCHIEFLER GAZETTE VERONICA MACLEAN GAZETTE
SEE OUR YEAR IN PHOTOS ON P6
‘Students are continuing to suffer’: Muslim chaplaincy remains unfilled 5 months after dismissal JESSICA KIM NEWS EDITOR
Content warning: this story contains information about the Israel-Hamas war that some readers may find distressing.
L
ast September, Abdirahman Salat began his term as the president of Western’s Muslim Students’ Association. With the trial of the man accused of murdering a Muslim family in London in 2022 about to begin, Salat knew his job would be challenging — but he had no idea just how much more difficult it would get.
Less than two months into the school year, Western University dismissed its Muslim chaplain Aarij Anwer, for what they call “divisive statements” made online regarding the Israel-Hamas war. His role was a volunteer position. Anwer provided both spiritual and emotional support for Muslim students and acted as an advisor to the executive of the MSA. His role also encompassed mentoring students, facilitating religious practice and building a supportive Muslim community on campus. The Western Muslim community was shocked when learning of Anwer’s dismissal.
“It feels like we’ve had this support system and pillar ripped away from us,” said Maryam Oloriegbe, fifth-year medical sciences student and outreach coordinator at the MSA.
O
ver five months later, the position remains unfilled. In an interview with the Gazette, Alan Shepard said “we have invited our Muslim students to nominate another chaplain,” explaining that is how Muslim chaplains at Western have historically been named.
“We’re waiting on that nomination,” added Shepard. But fourth-year kinesiology student Salat feels this is an unfair burden to place on student leaders, particularly given the nature of Anwer’s dismissal and the ongoing events impacting the Muslim community. “There’s a lot of trauma, students [are] dealing with a lot of emotional, physical and psychological drain,” Salat explained. “Students are fearing for their safety.” CONTINUED ON P3
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