Hexagon project aims to keep Afzaal family's memories alive and combat Islamophobia

Londoners can fill out messages of remembrance and community healing in honour of members of the Afzaal family, which will be part of a large art installation to be displayed at Museum London starting this summer. 

Messages on purple wooden hexagon tiles are a symbol to combat Islamophobia and commemorate the lives of Yumnah, Talat, Madiha, and Salman Afzaal, who were killed in a truck attack on June 6, 2021, which police say was hate-motivated because of their Muslim faith. 

"It's in recognition that this incident took place in London, and so we want to give Londoners an opportunity to say why June 6th is important to commemorate and what community healing looks like for everybody," said Selma Tobah, one of the project's organizers.

The project was curated by the Youth Coalition Combating Islamophobia (YCCI), which formed as a result of the deaths of family members and increasing violence in the country due to Islamophobia.

The hexagons refer to pieces of the puzzle of humanity that fit together, said YCCI member Munya Haddara. Purple was chosen because it was 15-year-old Yumnah's favourite colour.

"It's a very creative way of bringing people together," Haddara said. "It gives different individuals another avenue for healing and really demonstrates the collectivism that we hope to foster." 

YCCI planned for the community to write on the hexagons at the one-year vigil last June, for it to be part of the mural at the intersection of Hyde Park and South Carriage Roads, where the fatal attack happened.

But heavy rainfall that day put a damper on the group's plan, so they decided to use the pieces for another art project dedicated to the family, Haddara said.

Keeping the family's memories alive

Since its inception in December 2021, YCCI's team of 10 executives, four mentors, and more than 20 volunteers continues to grow with the goal of keeping the Afzaal family's memories alive and educating the community on the harmful impacts of Islamophobia, Tobah said. 

"It was an incident that impacted quite a bit of people but this was a group of young people who really wanted to make sure their voices were heard," she said. 

Seeing a strong response from local school boards has been amazing, Haddara said. 

"I think we've been very successful with implementing Islamophobia awareness and curriculum which was really important for us, and having schools participate in the remembrance of June 6 was a big step," she said.

The messages so far have been of love and moving forward with hope, Tobah said, adding that institutions across the city have been very supportive of the project and have requested more hexagon pieces.

Hexagons are available at public libraries, including: Cherryhill, Central, Byron, and Masonville, along with Innovation Works, North London Optimists, and East Lions Community Centre until April 24. More information can be found on YCCI's instagram page.

The hexagons will then become part of a larger mural that will be on display at Museum London from June 3 to December 10.