443 results for author: Kashif Ahmed

Concrete action and results on human rights are needed

A UN report raises questions about Canada’s human rights. The parliamentary committee studying discrimination and systemic racism should take note. By Amira Elghawaby Policy Options | September 20, 2017 The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage has begun hearing from witnesses as part of its study of Islamophobia, religious discrimination and systemic racism. After a summer of anti-Muslim rallies and hate incidents and crimes, there is little doubt Motion 103 is necessary —despite past opposition from some Conservative members. This isn’t the view only of Canadian Muslims and their allies, who are deeply concerned about the rise in ...

Concrete action and results on human rights are needed

A UN report raises questions about Canada’s human rights. The parliamentary committee studying discrimination and systemic racism should take note. By Amira Elghawaby Policy Options | September 20, 2017 The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage has begun hearing from witnesses as part of its study of Islamophobia, religious discrimination and systemic racism. After a summer of anti-Muslim rallies and hate incidents and crimes, there is little doubt Motion 103 is necessary —despite past opposition from some Conservative members. This isn’t the view only of Canadian Muslims and their allies, who are deeply concerned about the rise in ...

Grand Forks, B.C., mayor apologizes for calling Syrian refugees potential ‘terrorists’

By Chris Walker CBC News | September 11, 2017 The mayor of Grand Forks, B.C., is apologizing for calling Syrian refugees potential "pedophiles" and "terrorists," but insists he is "not in any way a racist." He responded after CBC News was shown a video of a public meeting held two years ago. Mayor Frank Konrad made a series of comments before a vote at a city council meeting on Sept. 14, 2015, during a debate over whether to support Syrian refugees coming to the community. . . . The mayor's comments are "discriminatory and disappointing," said Amira Elghawaby, with the National Council of Canadian Muslims who watched the exchange ...

Grand Forks, B.C., mayor apologizes for calling Syrian refugees potential ‘terrorists’

By Chris Walker CBC News | September 11, 2017 The mayor of Grand Forks, B.C., is apologizing for calling Syrian refugees potential "pedophiles" and "terrorists," but insists he is "not in any way a racist." He responded after CBC News was shown a video of a public meeting held two years ago. Mayor Frank Konrad made a series of comments before a vote at a city council meeting on Sept. 14, 2015, during a debate over whether to support Syrian refugees coming to the community. . . . The mayor's comments are "discriminatory and disappointing," said Amira Elghawaby, with the National Council of Canadian Muslims who watched the exchange ...

Canada must call Islamophobia what it is – racism

By Sehrish Amjad The Ottawa Citizen | August 30, 2017 Canadian officials were in Geneva this month to answer critical questions about the country's human rights record. The appearance before the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination comes every four years and is an opportunity for racialized communities to hold our governments to account for their action, or inaction, on promoting racial equity in a pluralistic society. This year, there was a painful omission. Canada omitted identifying Islamophobia as a form of racism in its official report. This reinforces harmful narratives that can render Islamophobia invisible. ...

Canada must call Islamophobia what it is – racism

By Sehrish Amjad The Ottawa Citizen | August 30, 2017 Canadian officials were in Geneva this month to answer critical questions about the country's human rights record. The appearance before the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination comes every four years and is an opportunity for racialized communities to hold our governments to account for their action, or inaction, on promoting racial equity in a pluralistic society. This year, there was a painful omission. Canada omitted identifying Islamophobia as a form of racism in its official report. This reinforces harmful narratives that can render Islamophobia invisible. ...

After Charlottesville, Canada’s spy agency expresses ‘concern’ about far-right

By Clothilde Goujard National Observer | August 22, 2017 The Canadian Security Intelligence Service is expressing concerns about far-right extremism in the wake of a racially motivated protest in Charlottesville, Virginia that turned deadly. A spokeswoman for the Canadian spy agency made the comments in response to questions from National Observer about reports that some Canadians participated in the Charlottesville protests, alongside neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klan members and other white supremacist extremists. . . . But a national organization that represents Canadian Muslims appears to have little confidence that Canadian authorities will ...

After Charlottesville, Canada’s spy agency expresses ‘concern’ about far-right

By Clothilde Goujard National Observer | August 22, 2017 The Canadian Security Intelligence Service is expressing concerns about far-right extremism in the wake of a racially motivated protest in Charlottesville, Virginia that turned deadly. A spokeswoman for the Canadian spy agency made the comments in response to questions from National Observer about reports that some Canadians participated in the Charlottesville protests, alongside neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klan members and other white supremacist extremists. . . . But a national organization that represents Canadian Muslims appears to have little confidence that Canadian authorities will ...

Federal appointee to race relations board under scrutiny for writings on Islam

By Stephanie Levitz The Canadian Press | August 21, 2017 A board member with the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, an arms-length federal government agency with a mandate to combat racial discrimination, is in jeopardy of losing her post over her writings on the controversial website Jihad Watch. Christine Douglass-Williams has been writing for the site almost since she was appointed to the foundation's board in 2012. But multiple sources have told The Canadian Press that the government is reviewing that appointment in the wake of an essay that appeared on the site in May. The post, entitled, "Christine Williams: My personal warning to ...

Federal appointee to race relations board under scrutiny for writings on Islam

By Stephanie Levitz The Canadian Press | August 21, 2017 A board member with the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, an arms-length federal government agency with a mandate to combat racial discrimination, is in jeopardy of losing her post over her writings on the controversial website Jihad Watch. Christine Douglass-Williams has been writing for the site almost since she was appointed to the foundation's board in 2012. But multiple sources have told The Canadian Press that the government is reviewing that appointment in the wake of an essay that appeared on the site in May. The post, entitled, "Christine Williams: My personal warning to ...