Mustafa has penned an open letter to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asking him to speak out against Palestinian genocide amid the war with Israel.
Also known as "the Poet," the Toronto musician is a devout Muslim and has previously cited his religion as inspiration for his music. He's been one of the most active voices in the Canadian music scene for Palestinian lives over the past few years, joined by Montreal's Stefan Christoff and Musicians for Palestine coordinator Narcy.
On October 9, Israel declared a state of war against militant group Hamas, which launched a full-scale invasion and offensive from the Gaza Strip after living under Israeli occupation since 1967. The death toll has now exceeded 2,600 [via CNN].
In the letter, Mustafa revealed his unique connection to Trudeau before imploring him to change his stance on the conflict, which Mustafa notes has been heavily aligned with Israel thus far. In doing so, he also invoked Canada's own past of colonialism and oppression, writing:
We met a decade ago, to jog your memory we participated in an event for black liberation together before you were the prime minister of Canada. When you were appointed prime minister, I served on the first ever youth council as your Ontario rep., we travelled this endless country together in search of some semblance of democracy. You have your flaws in leadership, but in our time together I sensed a heart in you.
I know you have a political & economic responsibility to Israel. I remember our time in Calgary was clipped because you had to immediately fly to Tel Aviv for the funeral of war criminal Ariel Sharon. I knew and you knew there was no say in the matter of your attendance for this man you did not know.
I'm asking you to use the same tongue that defended Israel & condemned Hamas to defy this active genocide and imprisonment that is levelling Gaza, that is burying & disfiguring children & women.
I'm asking you to use our people's tax dollars that have been exhausted to support the most funded & violent state in the world to also protect the relentlessly tormented people of Palestine.
So much of our time together was about undoing the iniquities that were done to our Indigenous population, a hopeless pursuit for this already stolen land — for the decades and decades of ethnic cleansing that they're still recovering from, how could we ever undo what can't be forgiven or rectified?
A century from now, when they contemplate your legacy Prime Minister, will you be recalled as a custodian of this unforgivable genocide, this ethnic cleansing, this stolen land? Your battle here in Canada will have been for nothing.
Nelson Mandela, Albert Einstein, Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter, join these respected leaders on the right side of history in the liberation of Palestine.
Solidarity with the oppressed and the erased,
Mustafa Ahmed,
Regent Park, Toronto
This comes just hours ahead of the singer-songwriter's first release since his JUNO-winning 2021 solo debut When Smoke Rises.
Read Mustafa's full note to Trudeau and check out a snippet for his upcoming single "Name of God" below.
Also known as "the Poet," the Toronto musician is a devout Muslim and has previously cited his religion as inspiration for his music. He's been one of the most active voices in the Canadian music scene for Palestinian lives over the past few years, joined by Montreal's Stefan Christoff and Musicians for Palestine coordinator Narcy.
On October 9, Israel declared a state of war against militant group Hamas, which launched a full-scale invasion and offensive from the Gaza Strip after living under Israeli occupation since 1967. The death toll has now exceeded 2,600 [via CNN].
In the letter, Mustafa revealed his unique connection to Trudeau before imploring him to change his stance on the conflict, which Mustafa notes has been heavily aligned with Israel thus far. In doing so, he also invoked Canada's own past of colonialism and oppression, writing:
We met a decade ago, to jog your memory we participated in an event for black liberation together before you were the prime minister of Canada. When you were appointed prime minister, I served on the first ever youth council as your Ontario rep., we travelled this endless country together in search of some semblance of democracy. You have your flaws in leadership, but in our time together I sensed a heart in you.
I know you have a political & economic responsibility to Israel. I remember our time in Calgary was clipped because you had to immediately fly to Tel Aviv for the funeral of war criminal Ariel Sharon. I knew and you knew there was no say in the matter of your attendance for this man you did not know.
I'm asking you to use the same tongue that defended Israel & condemned Hamas to defy this active genocide and imprisonment that is levelling Gaza, that is burying & disfiguring children & women.
I'm asking you to use our people's tax dollars that have been exhausted to support the most funded & violent state in the world to also protect the relentlessly tormented people of Palestine.
So much of our time together was about undoing the iniquities that were done to our Indigenous population, a hopeless pursuit for this already stolen land — for the decades and decades of ethnic cleansing that they're still recovering from, how could we ever undo what can't be forgiven or rectified?
A century from now, when they contemplate your legacy Prime Minister, will you be recalled as a custodian of this unforgivable genocide, this ethnic cleansing, this stolen land? Your battle here in Canada will have been for nothing.
Nelson Mandela, Albert Einstein, Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter, join these respected leaders on the right side of history in the liberation of Palestine.
Solidarity with the oppressed and the erased,
Mustafa Ahmed,
Regent Park, Toronto
This comes just hours ahead of the singer-songwriter's first release since his JUNO-winning 2021 solo debut When Smoke Rises.
Read Mustafa's full note to Trudeau and check out a snippet for his upcoming single "Name of God" below.
