The vast majority of Canadians feel Israel should be sanctioned because of its oppression of Palestinians. The pro-Israeli organizations, among them B’nai Brith brand anyone criticizing Israel as an anti-Semite and supporter of terrorism. One Canadian lawyer challenged B’nai Brith in court and won an important landmark decision.
The recent discovery of thousands of graves of indigenous children in Canada has led to the burning of churches. This is not the way to seek redress and reconciliation.
Islamophobia is a global phenomenon. It is also the last respectable form of racism. Even in a country like Canada that prides itself on being multicultural, Muslims are attacked and murdered in cold blood. Unless Islamophobia is declared a hate crime, Muslims will continue to suffer and die.
Not only is Islamophobia widespread in Canada, it has reached such alarming proportions that Muslims are being killed in the streets. The latest manifestation of this was the horrific attack on the Afzaal family in London, ON, in which four members of the same family were murdered.
January 29 marked four years since the terrorist attack on Quebec City Mosque that left six dead and 19 injured, some permanently disabled. Have any lessons been learned from that crime? Judging by the conduct of the Quebec provincial government, the answer must sadly be ‘No’.
