Dear Board Members,

I write to you with a profound sense of urgency and disgust regarding a pattern of social media content posted by Ms. Karen Sidhu, the Executive Director of the Surrey Crime Prevention Society. The posts in question exhibit deeply troubling Islamophobic sentiments, including likening a keffiyeh—a traditional Arab headdress—to a symbol of hate, and disturbingly, further content that appears to condone violence against Palestinian people and equate Muslims with terrorism.

This comparison is not only historically and culturally insensitive but also deeply troubling in light of recent events. Just yesterday, news broke of a violent attack against three Palestinian individuals in the United States, targeted specifically for wearing kuffiyehs and speaking Arabic. This incident highlights the real danger of violence that such symbols can incite when they are misrepresented.

In a city as diverse as Surrey, where Muslims represent 3.2 percent of the population as per the 2021 census, this portrayal can create a palpable sense of fear and insecurity among our Muslim residents and, by extension, all communities that could be subject to such harmful rhetoric.

The role of the Surrey Crime Prevention Society, an entity that our community trusts to advocate for the safety and well-being of all residents, is now critically called into question. It is imperative that the society's leadership reflects the values of respect, diversity, and inclusivity that Surrey holds dear.

Therefore, I implore the Board to conduct a thorough and transparent review of Ms. Sidhu's public communications and to take decisive action that demonstrates the Society's unequivocal stance against discrimination and hate speech. The safety and unity of our community rely on the proactive efforts to address and rectify any behavior that could undermine these principles.

The issue at hand is not rectified by the mere removal of these posts. Such a gesture would be an inadequate response to the severity of the situation. Instead, what is necessary—and what I, alongside a growing contingent of concerned citizens, demand—is a substantive accountability process. Ms. Sidhu, the Society, and its affiliates must not only acknowledge the grievous nature of this rhetoric but must also engage in a comprehensive reparative action that addresses the harm inflicted upon the Muslim and Palestinian communities.

This accountability must include a transparent dialogue with those affected, educational measures to address and dismantle the underpinnings of the Islamophobia displayed, and the implementation of concrete steps to prevent recurrence. Anything less would be an insult to the intellectual and ethical standards that must guide us as a society.

I urge the board to take immediate and transparent action in addressing this issue. It is essential that the society reaffirms its commitment to fostering an environment where every resident, irrespective of their cultural or religious identity, feels safe and valued.

The seriousness of this situation cannot be overstated. I trust that the Society will take swift action to address these concerns and to prevent any further harm that such representations might cause to our community.

I await your prompt response and am eager to learn about the steps the Surrey Crime Prevention Society will take to rectify this situation and ensure such occurrences are not repeated.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.

Sincerely,