Relatives of a London family killed in what police have said was a hate-motivated attack say their heartache will never go away.
The statement from the Afzaal family came days ahead of the one-year anniversary of the deaths of four members.
Salman Afzaal, 46, his wife Madiha Salman, 44, their 15-year-old daughter Yumnah and her 74-year-old grandmother, Talat Afzaal, died after they were hit by a truck during an evening walk on June 6, 2021.
Their nine-year-old son was seriously hurt, but survived. The family says the community has provided them with strength and hope.
A prayer service, hosted by the London Muslim community, will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Islamic Cemetery of London.
A vigil for the family has been planned for 6:30 p.m. at the Memorial Plaza and will be led by friends of Yumnah Afzaal.
This follows a march which was held Sunday afternoon in London where leaders from the Muslim community and friends of the victims called on all levels of government for action to address Islamophobia.
Among those in attendance was Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said that people should not ignore the reality that millions of Canadians are facing microaggression, discrimination and systemic racism every day.
The Thames Valley District School Board will also stand in solidarity with the community by lowering all flags to half mast for the duration of the day and by changing school signs to reflect a message of support for Our London Family.
Our previous stories on the hate-fueled attack can be found here.
The full statement from the family can be found below…
Written by: Kennedy Freeman with files from the Canadian Press
“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 comprehend, 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 3 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, colour, or creed. In our view, June 6th, 2021, 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. The use of the 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 crowdfunding 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 with a normal life, as much as possible. We seek your compassion and discretion in honouring 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.”
