Saying "urgent action" is needed&nbsp;in the wake of deadly attacks that killed Muslims in their cities, the mayors of London, Ont., and Quebec City have jointly issued a letter calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to hold a national summit on Islamophobia.&nbsp;

There is no room for acts of hate in our society, rabbi says after Muslim family run down in London, Ont.

Acts of hate serve as a direct affront to God, to values which are held dearly by the overwhelming majority of Canadians, writes Rabbi Kliel Rose, who can relate in some way to the fear and the panic felt by someone whose religious identity is easily noticed.

A family stands outside, looking to the camera. There are trees in the background.

Yumna Afzaal, 15, left, Madiha Salman, 44, centre left, Talat Afzaal, 74, and Salman Afzaal, 46, right, were out for an evening walk when they were run over by a man who police say was motivated by anti-Muslim hate.   

Afzaal family 

Yumna Afzaal, 15, left, Madiha Salman, 44, centre left, Talat Afzaal, 74, and Salman Afzaal, 46, right, were out for an evening walk when they were run over and killed. On behalf of his congregation, Rabbi Kliel Rose offers his deepest condolences to the family, their loved ones and the entire Canadian Muslim community. 

Quebec City mosque shooting victim hailed as hero for trying to disarm gunman

Azzeddine Soufiane, one of the men who died in the Quebec City mosque shooting, was described as "heroic" and "courageous" by his friends who survived the attack.

Azzeddine Soufiane studied geology and ran a halal grocery store in Quebec City with his wife Najat Naanaa. He was 57.

Azzeddine Soufiane

Azzeddine Soufiane died on Jan. 29, 2017, as he was trying to disarm a gunman who opened fire at a Quebec City mosque. Five others also died in the attack.

The letter issued Friday by London Mayor Ed Holder and Quebec City Mayor Régis Labeaume&nbsp;follows the June 6 attack in London that killed four members of a Muslim family as they were out for an evening walk. They were run down as the stood on a sidewalk in what police have said was a hate-motivated attack.

The London killings, along with a 2017 shooting at a Quebec City mosque that killed six people are cited in the letter as reasons why the national summit is needed.&nbsp;

"As a result of these and countless other vile Islamophobic incidents, both subtle and overt, the need for urgent action is undeniable," the letter reads. "The voices representing Muslim communities from across Canada must be heard.&nbsp;

The letter commends Trudeau in voting with other MPs to hold an emergency national summit on Islamophobia before August.&nbsp;

A mourner brings flowers to the spot in London, Ont., where four members of a Muslim family were run down and killed in what police say was a hate-motivated attack. London Mayor Ed Holder and Quebec City Mayor Regis Labeaume are jointly calling for a national summit on Islamophobia.

Mayors of London, Quebec City issue joint call for national summit on Islamophobia

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