746 results for author: Ihsaan Gardee

People immigrate. Religions don’t.

By Amy Awad, National Post 27/02/2014 The Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI), a national public policy think tank, claims its mission is to make “poor quality public policy unacceptable.” Their first debate of 2014 is tonight. Unlike recreational debating societies, MLI is supposed to be providing real policy alternatives. But the resolution being debated tonight is informed by fear: “Muslim immigration is no threat to Canada or the West.” Can you imagine if the word “Muslim” were replaced by any other religious or ethno-cultural group — say “Jewish” or “black”? Over the past century, Western democracies have held ...

People immigrate. Religions don’t.

By Amy Awad, National Post 27/02/2014 The Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI), a national public policy think tank, claims its mission is to make “poor quality public policy unacceptable.” Their first debate of 2014 is tonight. Unlike recreational debating societies, MLI is supposed to be providing real policy alternatives. But the resolution being debated tonight is informed by fear: “Muslim immigration is no threat to Canada or the West.” Can you imagine if the word “Muslim” were replaced by any other religious or ethno-cultural group — say “Jewish” or “black”? Over the past century, Western democracies have held ...

In dispute with Muslim organization, PMO wrong to allege skeletons in the closet

By: Natalie Brender  Toronto Star | February 25, 2014 Never forget: these are charged words for Canada’s ethnic or religious groups when it comes to keeping alive the memory of historical atrocities “back home.” But they’re also charged words, in more problematic ways when they’re used to justify grudge-holding and witch-hunts against individuals or groups who may have said inflammatory things in the past that no longer reflect their present positions. When this plays itself out against the background of global conflicts and ethnic groups within Canada, it opens up divisive and dangerous ground. A case in point came in late January, ...

In dispute with Muslim organization, PMO wrong to allege skeletons in the closet

By: Natalie Brender  Toronto Star | February 25, 2014 Never forget: these are charged words for Canada’s ethnic or religious groups when it comes to keeping alive the memory of historical atrocities “back home.” But they’re also charged words, in more problematic ways when they’re used to justify grudge-holding and witch-hunts against individuals or groups who may have said inflammatory things in the past that no longer reflect their present positions. When this plays itself out against the background of global conflicts and ethnic groups within Canada, it opens up divisive and dangerous ground. A case in point came in late January, ...

PMO’s slander insults all Muslims

Letters to the Editor, Toronto Star Re: Prime Minister’s remarks very troubling for Canadian Muslims, Feb. 3 As a Canadian Jew, I am appalled that the Prime Minister’s Office would slander National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) as having terrorist ties. NCCM is Canada’s most conscientious and reputable Muslim civil liberties organization. It is a responsible and essential voice of reason, integrity and human rights for all. NCCM had pointed out that the PM’s delegation to Israel included a prominent Islamophobic spokesperson and a representative of the Jewish Defence League, correctly labelled a terrorist organization in the U.S. ...

PMO’s slander insults all Muslims

Letters to the Editor, Toronto Star Re: Prime Minister’s remarks very troubling for Canadian Muslims, Feb. 3 As a Canadian Jew, I am appalled that the Prime Minister’s Office would slander National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) as having terrorist ties. NCCM is Canada’s most conscientious and reputable Muslim civil liberties organization. It is a responsible and essential voice of reason, integrity and human rights for all. NCCM had pointed out that the PM’s delegation to Israel included a prominent Islamophobic spokesperson and a representative of the Jewish Defence League, correctly labelled a terrorist organization in the U.S. ...

Why Stephen Harper Owes Canadian Muslims an Apology

By Omer Aziz | The Globe and Mail February 5, 2014 Among moderate and educated Muslims – that is, the tens of thousands of Muslims who populate Canadian businesses and universities – there is a quiet insecurity many of us share. After 9/11, the Taliban, al-Qaeda, the Iraq War, and so on, this is the dragging fear that “we” may be labeled and libeled as one of “them,” where “them” can refer to an endless catalogue of reprehensible groups. Each time there is a terrorist attack or a mass killing – the Norway massacre, the Sandy Hook killings, the Boston Marathon bombings – the Canadian Muslim feels a gnawing pang of anxiety ...

Why Stephen Harper Owes Canadian Muslims an Apology

By Omer Aziz | The Globe and Mail February 5, 2014 Among moderate and educated Muslims – that is, the tens of thousands of Muslims who populate Canadian businesses and universities – there is a quiet insecurity many of us share. After 9/11, the Taliban, al-Qaeda, the Iraq War, and so on, this is the dragging fear that “we” may be labeled and libeled as one of “them,” where “them” can refer to an endless catalogue of reprehensible groups. Each time there is a terrorist attack or a mass killing – the Norway massacre, the Sandy Hook killings, the Boston Marathon bombings – the Canadian Muslim feels a gnawing pang of anxiety ...

Why we are suing the Prime Minister’s Office

By Ihsaan Gardee Toronto Star | February 3, 2015 One would think it unfathomable in Canada that the heart of our democratic government – the Prime Minister’s Office – would use the bullying tactics of undemocratic regimes to silence dissenters, but it has. Our organization, a mainstream Canadian NGO has worked tirelessly to protect civil liberties for over a decade, was recently smeared by the PMO as being affiliated with a banned terrorist group. Why? Because we dared to exercise our right to criticize Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s decision to take someone on his trip to the Middle East who praised individuals widely recogn...

Why we are suing the Prime Minister’s Office

By Ihsaan Gardee Toronto Star | February 3, 2015 One would think it unfathomable in Canada that the heart of our democratic government – the Prime Minister’s Office – would use the bullying tactics of undemocratic regimes to silence dissenters, but it has. Our organization, a mainstream Canadian NGO has worked tirelessly to protect civil liberties for over a decade, was recently smeared by the PMO as being affiliated with a banned terrorist group. Why? Because we dared to exercise our right to criticize Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s decision to take someone on his trip to the Middle East who praised individuals widely recogn...