443 results for author: Kashif Ahmed

Religious groups sound alarms as hate crimes appear to be on the rise

By Sammy Hudes Toronto Star | August 21, 2017 In one part of the GTA, three schools were plastered with anti-Semitic, anti-Black graffiti. In another, a Muslim woman’s car window smashed, with “derogatory” comments spray-painted on her property. Hate crimes are nothing new, but religious groups are sounding the alarms as they appear to be on the rise.... Amira Elghawaby, a spokesperson for the National Council of Canadian Muslims, said hate crimes against Muslims across the country show no sign of slowing down. “Our concern is always quite high. Whenever there is, for instance, a terrorist attack done in the name of Islam, we will ...

Religious groups sound alarms as hate crimes appear to be on the rise

By Sammy Hudes Toronto Star | August 21, 2017 In one part of the GTA, three schools were plastered with anti-Semitic, anti-Black graffiti. In another, a Muslim woman’s car window smashed, with “derogatory” comments spray-painted on her property. Hate crimes are nothing new, but religious groups are sounding the alarms as they appear to be on the rise.... Amira Elghawaby, a spokesperson for the National Council of Canadian Muslims, said hate crimes against Muslims across the country show no sign of slowing down. “Our concern is always quite high. Whenever there is, for instance, a terrorist attack done in the name of Islam, we will ...

Hate laws put reasonable limits on freedom of speech

By DARKO PRODANOVIC and ESSA ABDOOL-KARIM Toronto Star | August 8, 2017 "It is time for us to take our masculinity back and beat the living hell out of these [Muslims]. Pin them down on the ground, and beat them until they pass out. And when they're passed out, you beat them further; and when they're on the ground passed out, kick them, break a kneecap, break an elbow, press their hands backwards turn their wrists sideways, start breaking these guys down." This is a particularly egregious excerpt from one of Kevin J. Johnston's Freedom Report videos, in which he angrily encourages Canadians to attack and injure Muslims. Johnston was recently ...

Hate laws put reasonable limits on freedom of speech

By DARKO PRODANOVIC and ESSA ABDOOL-KARIM Toronto Star | August 8, 2017 "It is time for us to take our masculinity back and beat the living hell out of these [Muslims]. Pin them down on the ground, and beat them until they pass out. And when they're passed out, you beat them further; and when they're on the ground passed out, kick them, break a kneecap, break an elbow, press their hands backwards turn their wrists sideways, start breaking these guys down." This is a particularly egregious excerpt from one of Kevin J. Johnston's Freedom Report videos, in which he angrily encourages Canadians to attack and injure Muslims. Johnston was recently ...

Goodale must investigate racism allegations against CSIS

By Faisal Kutty Toronto Star | July 30, 2017 By now many people have heard about the $35-million lawsuit against the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) filed earlier this month. The 54-page statement of claim on behalf of five intelligence officers and analysts allege a toxic workplace where some managers and supervisors discriminate against Muslim, Black and gay employees. The pleadings (yet to be tested in court) also accuse the spy agency of Islamophobia, racism and homophobia. While conceding that there are bad apples in every bunch and that it must be dealt with if the allegations are proven, national security analyst and former ...

Goodale must investigate racism allegations against CSIS

By Faisal Kutty Toronto Star | July 30, 2017 By now many people have heard about the $35-million lawsuit against the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) filed earlier this month. The 54-page statement of claim on behalf of five intelligence officers and analysts allege a toxic workplace where some managers and supervisors discriminate against Muslim, Black and gay employees. The pleadings (yet to be tested in court) also accuse the spy agency of Islamophobia, racism and homophobia. While conceding that there are bad apples in every bunch and that it must be dealt with if the allegations are proven, national security analyst and former ...

Government wants security screening to be culturally sensitive

By Ryan Tumilty Metro News | July 27, 2017 Transport Canada is looking for input to make sure the pat-downs, wand-overs and full-body scans that have become part of airport travel are also culturally sensitive. On behalf of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, Transport Canada has a survey online that asks people who wear cultural, religious or medical clothing about their experience with security. . . . Amira Elghawaby, communications director with the National Council of Canadian Muslims, said she’s glad to see the government consulting on this. “Our government institutions have a duty to ensure that their policies are ...

Government wants security screening to be culturally sensitive

By Ryan Tumilty Metro News | July 27, 2017 Transport Canada is looking for input to make sure the pat-downs, wand-overs and full-body scans that have become part of airport travel are also culturally sensitive. On behalf of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, Transport Canada has a survey online that asks people who wear cultural, religious or medical clothing about their experience with security. . . . Amira Elghawaby, communications director with the National Council of Canadian Muslims, said she’s glad to see the government consulting on this. “Our government institutions have a duty to ensure that their policies are ...

Mississauga website operator charged with hate crimes

By Stewart Bell Global News | July 24, 2017 A former Mississauga mayoral candidate whose online posts targeting Muslims have prompted complaints was arrested Monday for “hate-motivated crime,” Peel Regional Police said. Kevin J. Johnston, 45, was charged with a single count of wilful promotion of hatred following what a statement called “a lengthy investigation into numerous incidents reported to police.” The Freedom Report website where Johnston posts his radio-host style videos, many of them aimed at the Islamic faith and individual Muslims, remained online following the arrest. Johnston was charged under a section that ...

Mississauga website operator charged with hate crimes

By Stewart Bell Global News | July 24, 2017 A former Mississauga mayoral candidate whose online posts targeting Muslims have prompted complaints was arrested Monday for “hate-motivated crime,” Peel Regional Police said. Kevin J. Johnston, 45, was charged with a single count of wilful promotion of hatred following what a statement called “a lengthy investigation into numerous incidents reported to police.” The Freedom Report website where Johnston posts his radio-host style videos, many of them aimed at the Islamic faith and individual Muslims, remained online following the arrest. Johnston was charged under a section that ...