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The shooting of six worshippers at a mosque in Quebec City in January was lamented around the world as an act of terrorism perpetrated against Muslims.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau decried the massacre as a terrorist attack. So did Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard and many others, from elected officials to ordinary folks.

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The slayings seemed to fit popular notions of what constitutes terrorism in the eyes of reasonable people. It seemed to satisfy a lay person’s reading of the Criminal Code of Canada, which defines terrorism as acts committed: “(A) in whole or in part for a political, religious or ideological purpose, objective or cause, and; (B) in whole or in part with the intention of intimidating the public, or a segment of the public, with regard to its security.”

And the Muslim community of Quebec City has certainly said it feels terrorized by the slayings of six brothers, fathers, sons and friends in their sacred space.