The Canadian Islamic Congress today issued a strong statement condemning ultra-conservative American evangelist, Rev. Jerry Falwell, for commenting on national television that Prophet Muhammad -- the prophet of Islam -- was a "terrorist."
In an October 6, 2002 interview on the widely aired CBS newsmagazine show, 60 Minutes, Falwell stated "I think Muhammad was a terrorist." The show is carried by numerous stations in Canada.
"Falwell's statement constitutes hate-speech against an identifiable religious minority group," responded CIC legal counsel, Faisal Joseph. "It is both slanderous and provocative and totally irresponsible for any religious leader, specially at this sensitive time. We are therefore filing a formal complaint with the CRTC against all Canadian TV channels who broadcast this interview, and are considering further legal action under Canada's hate crime laws."
In recent years, hate crime convictions have become more frequent in this country as public and legal awareness have increased. In 1998, Mark Harding of Toronto was convicted for "promoting hatred against an identifiable group contrary to s.319(2) of the Criminal Code." Prof. Jane McAuliffe of the University of Toronto, an expert witness called by the Crown, said "there is no legitimate support in the Qur'an or Islamic religious doctrine for the position that Islam advocates violence."
CIC national president Prof. Mohamed Elmasry was deeply shaken after watching last Sunday's edition of 60 Minutes. "Canadian TV channels should not be facilitating the spread of such blatant hate and bigotry in this country. It is not only illegal; it is immoral, and goes against our most cherished Canadian values."
"We are also calling on Canadian Christian leaders, especially the Canadian Council of Churches, to denounce Falwell's statements," Elmasry added. "We know that he does not speak for them."
Mrs. Wahida Valiante, CIC's national vice-president, added that "Falwell's statements negatively affect not only Canadian Muslims, but all people of faith in this country ... He does not speak in any way for us."
Controversial American right wing religious leader Jerry Falwell, once a popular televangelist, has been associated with extreme Christian conservatism throughout his public career. For several decades his name has been inseparably linked with the American fundamentalist movement and political lobby, The Moral Majority, whose beliefs include anti-immigration, ethnic assimilation, unilingual society and close relationships between government and state-supported conservative Christianity.
CONTACT Faisal Joseph (519) 672-4510 Ext. 6342
Dr. Mohamed Elmasry (519) 888-4567 Ext. 3753 (O) (519) 746-7928 (H) np@canadianislamiccongress.com
Mrs. Wahida Valiante (905) 881-8024 nvp@canadianislamiccongress.com ________
A response that i came acrossed:
PRESS RELEASE from :
The Church of Exhortation
RR # 1
Chesley Ontario
N0G 1L0
Dear Editor
It is shocking to me that the Canadian Islamic Congress has been complaining about Jerry Flawell’s comments regarding his truthful statement that " Muhammad the Prophet of Islam was a terrorist" and their insistence that the Canadian TV stations should be charged with Hate-Crimes for mearly running the article It was in the Toronto Sun of May/10/01, in an article by George Jonas who stated, ...‘Hardly a day passes without a news item showing the forces of Fragmentation at work in Canada. Last week, for instance, a bill was introduced in the house of Commons, intending to stop Canadian CHARITIES from funneling money to foreign terrorists.’ Jonas went on to say ‘ One would have thought that all CANADIANS would welcome at least the aims of such legislation. Wrong. The Canadian Islamic Congress Promptly wrote a letter to parliamentarians threatening a constitutional challenge to Bill- C-16 as too "Draconian"’.
Is then testifying about a false religion or false Prophet hateful? Is testifying about ones religious convictions when those convictions clearly indicate that the Prophet of Islam was a liar, now considered hateful? Is it not against ones Constitutional Freedoms in Canada to contest another religion and even state what is the obvious, that the prophet of Islam, Muhammad, was a terrorist?
If The Canadian Islamic Congress, considers Bill C-16 as unconstitutional, that is, if The Canadian Islamic Congress considers Giving the money that they collect from all Canadians and then handing over all of it or even One dollar of it to Terrorists Groups around the world to be OK , then how is it possible for them to object to free speech and freedom of religion?
You can’t have it both ways , or can you?
Thank you.
Rev Mark Harding
Exhorter Minister for
The Church of Exhortation. __________
Previously posted story: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=29483
An Ontario man convicted of promoting hatred against Muslims says his community-service sentence has included indoctrination into Islam.
After losing an appeal to Canada's Supreme Court on Oct. 17, Mark Harding must resume his sentence of two years probation and 340 hours of community service under the direction of Mohammad Ashraf, general secretary of the Islamic Society of North America in Mississauga, Ont.