Canadian Islamic Congress

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The Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC) refers to itself as Canada's largest national non-profit and wholly independent Islamic organization[1] without affiliation to any foreign group, body, or government and says it represents -- Sunni and Shi'a, men and women, youth and seniors. It has been described as "conservative and traditional" in outlook[2] particularly when compared to two liberal Muslim groups, the Muslim Canadian Congress and the Canadian Muslim Union.

The Congress is based in Kitchener, Ontario; its president is Dr. Mohamed Elmasry and its vice-president is Wahida C. Valiante. The group originated with a 1994 meeting of Muslim leaders from across the country and it was formally incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1998.[3] In 2003, the Congress consisted of 24 affiliated organizations and a further 180 individuals as members, an annual budget of more than $100,000 and had half a dozen part-time employees on staff and a board of directors of approximately 20 individuals from across the country.[3]

Contents

[edit] Issues

[edit] Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

In March of 2006, the CIC issued a communique in which it condemned the government of Steven Harper for "blindly following the lead of Washington and of the influential pro-Israel Jewish lobby in both countries."[4]

The CIC called Canada's withdrawal of all aid and support from Hamas "a resounding slap in the face to Canadian values... It makes a mockery of our traditional stand as a nation concerned with peace and justice." The CIC also stated that in refusing to recognize the Hamas government elected in the Palestinian territories, "Prime Minister Harper and his government are saying loudly and clearly that Canada no longer cares about the plight of Palestine and Palestinians ... This is beyond hypocrisy; it is a shameful devaluation of Canada's international reputation for fair-minded, ethical and constructive diplomacy."[4]

In January of 2008, the Canadian Islamic Congress and the Canadian Arab Federation issued a media communique which stated "the Apartheid regime of the Jewish state escalated its genocidal crimes against the indigenous people of Palestine" and that "Palestinians continue to endure death, deprivation and destruction under more than 40 years of brutal Israeli occupation that has become an insidious and unremitting genocide." The communique concluded by stating that "The world can no longer afford to stand by and watch from the sidelines as an entire people slowly bleeds to death."[5]

[edit] 2008 Essay Contest

In 2008 the Canadian Islamic Congress and the Canadian Arab Federation (CAF) launched an essay contest that "invites Canadian high school and university students (ages 17 through 27) to write an essay on the theme "The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine" and is part of activities commemorating the 60th anniversary of Al Nakba - the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their homeland in 1947-48."[6] Bnai Brith Canada, a Canadian Jewish Organization, critcized the contest, stating that it is a "blatant propagandistic initiative that distorts reality, delegitimizing the existence of the Jewish state in any shape or form”. The national essay contest announced by these groups encouraging youth to write on “Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine”, is based on the false assumption that the Jewish presence in the Jewish People’s ancestral homeland is illegal" and that "This sham of a contest joins together Canadian-Arab groups, which purport to reflect mainstream positions, but which clearly hold extremist notions that deny Israel’s right to exist."[7]

The Canadian Islamic Congress and the Canadian Arab Federation (CAF) criticized Bnai Brith Canada, stating that "This call to shutdown academic research and free speech is typical of B’nai Brith’s contempt for the basic principles of academic institutions. These tactics of intimidation are becoming an all too common refrain of pro- Israel organizations, and are simply designed to stem the growing public awareness of Israel’s apartheid policies" and that "Israel was founded upon the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. Between 1947 and 1948, nearly 800,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes and lands and over 500 Palestinian villages and neighborhoods were destroyed, and their inhabitants prevented from ever returning to their homeland."[6]

[edit] National Post

[edit] CIC Criticism

Since 1998, the CIC has been active monitoring media coverage for anti-Muslim or anti-Islam sentiment and has issued reports highlighting its findings. It has opposed the use of phrases such as "Islamic guerrillas," "Islamic insurgency" and "Muslim militants" saying that terms like "militant" or "terrorist" should be used without a religious association "since no religion teaches or endorses terrorism, militancy or extremism."[8] The Congress has singled out the National Post as being "consistently is No. 1" as an anti-Islam media outlet.[9]

[edit] Response from the National Post

A number of writers for the National Post have subsequently critcized the CIC over accusations that it is anti-Islam. Alexander Rose, wrote that "judging by its [CIC's] support for the [2001] Durban Conference, during which hook-nosed Jews were equated with apartheid and genocide, the CIC doesn't seem to have problems with some kinds of truly inflammatory racist language" and that the CIC's "fetish for censorship in the interest of "social harmony," as the CIC puts it, reeks of the very authoritarianism oppressing Muslims in Egypt, Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia." In addition, Rose stated that "By editing out bad language, it seems, the CIC believes that correct thoughts will result, even at the necessary expense of reporting the truth."[10] Robert Fulford wrote that the CIC "justifies its existence mainly by complaining about acts of prejudice that haven't happened" and that "it's ridiculous to suggest that we avoid the subject of religion when crimes are committed in the name of that religion by men and women considered part of it."[11] whileJonathan Kay wrote that "the folks at the Canadian Islamic Congress purport to be the arbiters of what can and can't be said in this country" and that CIC President Elmasry is "the country's self-appointed judge of all that is hateful." [12]

[edit] Statement and Apology to Daniel Pipes

In the April 29, 2005 edition of the Friday Bulletin, CIC VP Wahida Valiante wrote that Daniel Pipes, a Conservative American Political Commentator, "is a follower of Hitler," "uses the tactics of Hitler" and "wants to ethnically cleanse America of its Muslim presence." Pipes denied he ever made these statements and subsequently filed a notice of libel. The CIC subsequently apologized "without reservation" and "retract[ed the] remarks in the column." The CIC also sent funds to cover Pipes' legal expenses and made a donation in his name to a Canadian charity. Pipes stated that the CIC's apology establishes that, in Canada, "Islamist groups do not have impunity to fabricate lies about their opponents." [13] [14]

[edit] Human Rights complaint against Maclean's

Main article: Canadian Islamic Congress human rights complaint against Maclean's Magazine

In December 2007, the CIC launched complaints with the Canadian Human Rights Commission, British Columbia Human Rights Commission and the Ontario Human Rights Commission against Maclean's Magazine accusing the magazine of publishing 18 articles between January 2005 and July 2007 that they considered Islamophobic in nature including a column by Mark Steyn titled "The Future of Islam".[15] According to the CIC complaint, Maclean's is "flagrantly Islamophobic" and "subjects Canadian Muslims to hatred and contempt."[16] In April, 2008 the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) stated that it did not have jurisdiction to hear the complaint based on a gap in the legislation (the relevant portions of Ontario Human Rights Code only address discrimination via signs or symbols, not printed material). Despite not having jurisdiction, the Commission published a statement condemning the articles published by Maclean's as "xenophobic", "destructive", "Islamophobic" and "promoting prejudice". The Commission indicated that more discussion on the topic of Islamophobia in the media was warranted. [17] The British Columbian and federal complaints were still unresolved as of April, 2008. The British Columbia Human Rights Commission is scheduled to hear the compaint in June of 2008.

[edit] Opposition to extremism

The organization has warned Muslim parents to monitor the on-line habits of teenagers and discourage membership in foreign political organizations or preoccupation with religious rituals. It has also cautioned mosques to be on the alert against infiltration of the congregation by "foreign Muslim groups who may have hidden agendas."[18]

It has distributed a brochure warning that "some misguided Muslims may try to recruit Canadian Muslims, especially our young people, and use them to commit crimes against our country, or abroad" and urged the community to reject "extremist imported ideologies".[2]

The CIC urged a moderate response to Danish cartoons of the Islamic prophet Muhammad published in 2005. Anger at the depictions resulted in violent rallies and attacks on Danish institutions in Europe and the Muslim world. Elmasry urged Canadian Muslims to have a "controlled and calm" response consisting of writing letters to the editor and the Danish government. He also urged Muslims to engage in outreach by inviting non-Muslims into their homes and have open houses in mosques. He discouraged attendance at demonstrations saying that "[d]uring demonstrations, you don't have control of who will do what. Opposing sides who are anti-Muslim or supporters of freedom of expression could show up and a shouting match can turn violent. Instead, we've encouraged a more proactive approach to plead with the government to recognize anti-Islam the way it does anti-Semitism."[19]

[edit] War in Afghanistan

The CIC calls for Canada's military mission in Afghanistan to end in 2009 and for Canada to urge the United Nations to sponsor a peace conference involving all parties.[20]

[edit] Veiled voters

The CIC has opposed a proposed law by the federal Conservative government that would require all voters to show their faces before being allowed to cast ballots. The proposal is a response to Elections Canada issuing a directive to poll clerks to permit women wearing veils for religious reasons to vote. The CIC states that the proposed Tory law is unnecessary and will only promote discrimination against Muslims and provide “political mileage among Islamophobes.”[21]

[edit] Canadian Anti-Terrorism Act, 2001

In 2007, the CIC voiced its opposition to proposals to renew provisions of the 2001 Canadian Anti-Terrorism Act allowing investigative hearings and preventive arrests which had lapsed in early 2006. Speaking on behalf of the conference, Elmasry said "We object to any special courts that deal specifically with terror activities, because at the end of the day it will compromise the civil liberties of Canadians."[22]

[edit] Sharia tribunals

The Canadian Islamic Congress supported recommendations by Marion Boyd that the government of Ontario permit sharia tribunals to which Muslims could voluntarily submit civil disputes and whose findings would then have legal weight under the Arbitration Act. The proposal was opposed by the Muslim Canadian Congress, the Canadian Council of Muslim Women and non-Muslim women's groups.[23][24] The provincial government ended up rejecting the proposal and scrapping existing religious arbitration tribunals for Jews and Christians in the process.[25]

The CIC raised controversy when CIC President Elmasry wrote that Canadian Muslims " [should] not to make a cause of publicly deriding their religion, badmouthing the Prophet, ridiculing the Qur'an and mounting uninformed crusades to smear their Islamic Law, the Shariah."[26]

In the aftermath, the Muslim Canadian Congress demanded that the CIC apologize for "false" accusations that those who criticize sharia are "smearing Islam, ridiculing the Koran [and] badmouthing Muhammad." The MCC stated that CIC President Elmasry accused the group of blasphemy, a crime that carries the death sentence in several Islamic countries, leading some MCC members to fear they will be arrested if they travel certain Islamic countries.."[26]

Arif Raza, MCC's lawyer wrote that "Your [Elmasry's] false and utterly irresponsible accusations of blasphemy have exposed these active, dynamic and prominent members of the Canadian Muslim community and their families to enormously dangerous consequences" and that "you [Elmasry] have defamed their good reputation and exposed them to ridicule and hatred within their own communities in Canada."."[26]

Elmasry responded by stating that Islam has no punishment for denouncing the religion, its holy book or the Prophet Mohammed, and he dismissed as "nonsense" the notion that his words could be construed as a death sentence.[26]

[edit] Public funding of faith-based schools

The Congress expressed support for Ontario Progressive Conservative Party leader John Tory's proposal during the 2007 Ontario provincial election campaign to publicly fund faith-based schools arguing that rejecting the proposal would signify a retreat from multiculturalism.[27]. The proposal which was also supported by Jewish and some Christian groups proved unpopular with the electorate and is cited as a key reason for the Conservative's defeat in the election.

[edit] Support for Hezbollah and Hamas

During the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the Canadian Islamic Congress and the Canadian Arab Federation urged the Canadian government to take Hezbollah and Hamas off its list of designated terrorist organizations. CIC president Elmasry wrote that the Canadian Government should "review its 2002 decision to place Hezbollah and Hamas on its list of banned alleged terrorist organizations" because doing so "is an unconscionable act of hypocrisy and a mockery of justice" since Canada has not placed Israel on the same list. Elmasry also stated that the decision to place Hezbollah and Hamas on this list was "dictated by special interest groups with agendas that are contrary to peace with justice."[28]

[edit] Islamophobia

The CIC has been outspoken in its criticism of a perceived increase in Islamophobia since the September 11, 2001 attacks. It has accused governments and school boards of failing to address harassment and discrimination against Muslims and Arabs and has called for the province of Ontario to launch a public inquiry. At a press conference at Queen's Park, CIC official Wahida Valiante said that "Islamophobia does exist and it's growing." and that "[s]ince 9/11, there has been no effort on behalf of the Ontario government, including the Ministry of Education, to have a comprehensive policy to address the growing isolation and marginalization of Muslim and Arab youth."[29]

[edit] Controversies

[edit] Controversies involving the CIC President, Dr. Mohamed Elmasry

Main article: Mohamed Elmasry

[edit] Michael Coren Show

On October 19, 2004 CIC President Elmasry appeared in a panel discussion on The Michael Coren Show to discuss the topic of "What is a terrorist?". During an exchange with the show's host, he stated that anyone in Israel over the age of 18 was a justifiable target of Palestinian attacks.[30] He also criticized the recent bombing of hotels in Taba, Egypt on the grounds that some of the victims there were not Israelis.[31] At first, Elmasry defended his remarks by insisting that he was merely sharing the standard Palestinian point of view. This led to further charges from his critics, who accused him of using the Palestinians as a scapegoat. In a letter to the Toronto Star, he denied having said what he was reported to have said. These remarks prompted harshly-worded responses from representatives of the Canadian Jewish Congress and several prominent Canadian Muslims.[31] Elmasry later apologized for his remarks calling them his "biggest mistake" in 30 years of public life and offered his resignation which was not accepted by the CIC's board.[32]

The Elmasry affair led to criticisms that the media focussed entirely on the comments of the CIC president while neglecting controversial comments made on the same program by a B'nai Brith official, Adam Aptowitzer who stated that "When Israel uses terror . . . to destroy a home and convince people . . . to be terrified of what the possible consequences are, I'd say that's an acceptable use to terrify somebody."[32] The remarks only received attention several weeks after the broadcast, and after Elmasry's apology and proffered resignation, when a press release by the Canadian Arab Federation highlighted them.[32] Following the CAF press release, Aptowitzer retracted his comments and resigned his position with the B'nai Brith. Toronto Star city editor John Ferri told the Toronto Star's ombud, Don Sellar, "we all had egg on our faces...[i]t was embarrassing for every paper in the city not to get the whole story from the outset."[32]

In a letter to the Toronto Star following Sellar's column, Elmasary complained about the affair:

Canadian news media - including the Star - launched a relentless and unfair attack against the Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC) and me while covering up for weeks the outrageous statements made on the same show by Adam Aptowitzer, then the Ontario chairman of the B'nai Brith Institute of International Affairs. While never referring to Aptowitzer's statements, the media used news stories, editorials, op-ed pieces, columns, photos, front-page coverage, cartoons, and radio and television commentaries to paint a negative picture of CIC and myself which seriously distorts and falsifies the truth. It was widely reported, for example, that "Elmasry said all Israelis over 18 were legitimate targets for suicide bombers." This is totally false.

The media never questioned the completeness or the accuracy of the radio show transcript that was given to them. Instead, they totally and completely relied on the heavily selective one provided to them, which was one-sided and referred only to my remarks, but not to those by Aptowitzer.[33]

[edit] Controversies involving the CIC VP, Wahida C. Valiante

In an article written in February of 2003, CIC Vice-President Wahida C. Valiante wrote:

Unfortunately, the Jewish idea of being “chosen” not only institutionalized racism, but also set a terrible precedent for human history in general, where racial superiority claims became the norm, the divisive standard by which all others, those not like us were to be judged and treated.[34]

Rachael Turkienicz, a professor of Jewish studies and education and an officer of Canadian Jewish Congress’ Ontario region, wrote, in a letter to Valiante, that she had “badly misinterpreted the concept of ‘the chosen people,’ which in fact refers to the relationship between Jews and God and that “It certainly does not connote ‘racial superiority,’” Turkienicz said. The article was guilty of deploying “a purportedly anti-racist message in the cause of its own prejudice.”.[35]

After the Canadian Jewish Congress complained, Ms. Valiente sent the organization a letter acknowledging that her interpretation of the term “chosen people” was “inconsistent with its meaning in the scriptures of the Old Testament.”[36]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Facts about the CIC. The Canadian Islamic Congress. Retrieved on 2007-12-28.
  2. ^ a b Goodspeed, Peter, "Defenders of Islam: Far from being part of a homogenous culture, many Canadian Muslims are in a fierce battle to protect their religion from takeover by extremists", National Post, June 10, 2006
  3. ^ a b Petricevic, Mirko, "A voice for Islam in Canada; When Muslims are unfairly stereotyped, Mohamed Elmasry is quick to respond", Kitchener-Waterloo Record, March 29, 2003
  4. ^ a b Canadian Islamic Congress. "Canada's Decision To Suspend All Aid To Democratically Elected Hamas Government Goes Against National Values, Says Islamic Congress", March 28, 2006. 
  5. ^ Canadian Islamic Congress, Canadian Arab Federation. "Islamic Congress And Arab Federation Call On All Canadians To Condemn Continuing Israeli War Crimes In Gaza", January 21st, 2008. 
  6. ^ a b Canadian Islamic Congress, Canadian Arab Federation. "B'nai Brith Denies Reality Of Ethnic Cleansing Of Palestine, Attempts To Silence Free Speech And Shutdown Academic Research", March 4th, 2008. 
  7. ^ Bnai Brith Canada. "‘Essay contest by Canadian-Arab groups encourages hatred against the Jewish State and its supporters,’ says B’nai Brith Canada", March 3th, 2008. 
  8. ^ Hess, Henry, "Media's portrayal of Islam criticized", Globe and Mail, September 24, 1998
  9. ^ Petricevic, Mirko, "When religion's in the news; Faith groups often voice outrage about unfair media reports, so scholars are trying to determine if the complaints are valid", Kitchener-Waterloo Record, August 25, 2007
  10. ^ Alexander Rose. "Islamist Purging", National Post (retrieved from the National Review Online (NRO), December 12, 2001. 
  11. ^ Robert Fulford. "Elmasry's fantasy outrage", National Post (retrieved from Robert Fulford's website, July 8, 2005. 
  12. ^ Jonathan Kay. "Jonathan Kay on the hate speech experts at the Canadian Islamic Congress", National Post, May 05, 2008. 
  13. ^ An Islamist Apology. New York Sun.
  14. ^ An Apology and Retraction. The Canadian Islamic Congress.
  15. ^ Canadian Islamic Congress, "Human Rights Complaints Launched Against Maclean's Magazine", Canada NewsWire, December 4, 2007
  16. ^ Ezra Levant. "Censorship In The Name Of 'Human Rights'", National Post, December 18, 2007. 
  17. ^ [1] Ontario Human Rights Public Statement
  18. ^ Jiminez, Marina, "For Muslims, guilt by association", Globe and Mail, September 8, 2006.
  19. ^ "MOHAMED ELMASRY; 'Many innocent people paid the price'", Toronto Star, February 12, 2006
  20. ^ Woods, Allan, "Manley's war panel flooded with proposals; Advisory group on Canada's role in Afghanistan extends its deadline for public comment by a week", Toronto Star, December 3, 2007
  21. ^ Bryden, Joan, "New bill to ban veiled voters", Globe and Mail, October 27, 2007
  22. ^ Foot, Richard & O'Neill, Juliet, "Two expired terrorism laws reintroduced; Legislation is tabled in senate Allows preventive arrests, secret hearings", Ottawa Citizen, October 24, 2007
  23. ^ Boase, Sharon, "Women's groups fight sharia in Ontario; Two reports submitted by a Muslim women's organization say introducing Islamic law into the province will harm the rights of vulnerable women", Hamilton Spectator, September 16, 2004
  24. ^ Ogilvie, Megan, "Canadian Muslims give mixed reviews on moratorium; Debate urged on Islamic penal code Proposal would halt death penalty Proposal would halt stoning, death penalty Debate urged on Islamic penal code", Toronto Star, April 1, 2005.
  25. ^ "Ontario rejects sharia law: Jews, Christians to lose their religious tribunals as Premier vows 'one law for all'", National Post, September 12, 2005
  26. ^ a b c d Marina Jiménez. "Sharia opponents demand apology for Elmasry's critical remarks", The Globe and Mail (retrived from the MCC Website}, October 26, 2005. 
  27. ^ Travers, James, "Faith-based funding affects all of Canada", Toronto Star, October 1, 2007
  28. ^ Mohamed Elmasry. "When Islamic Congress Urges Government To Take Hezbollah And Hamas Off 'Terrorist' List", Canadian Islamic Congress, August 22, 2006. 
  29. ^ Marlow, Iain, "Address harassment, coalition urges", Toronto Star, July 6, 2007
  30. ^ Transcript Of Dr. Mohamed Elmasry's Remarks On Michel Coren Show
  31. ^ a b Dimanno, Rosie (November 12, 2004). Another unpleasant spin on terror debate story. Toronto Star. Retrieved on 2007-12-28.
  32. ^ a b c d Sellar, Don, "Arab group got the rest of the story", Toronto Star, November 6, 2004
  33. ^ Elmasry, Mohamed, "Media launched relentless attack", (Letter to the editor), Toronto Star, November 10, 2004
  34. ^ Valiante, Wahida C. (February 13, 2004). The Slave Named Bilal: a Forgotten Page in the History of Islam. The Canadian Islamic Congress. Retrieved on 2007-12-28.
  35. ^ Paul Lungen. "Elmasry’s remarks no surprise to Israeli diplomat", Canadian Jewish News (retrived from CJC website), February 13, 2004. 
  36. ^ Jiménez, Marina (October 28, 2004). Islamic leader apologizes but won't quit A1. The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on Unknown. Retrieved on 2007-12-28.

[edit] External links