Thank-you Mr. Robin for your response (Gazette, April 22) to my letter (Gazette, April 1). It may surprise you to learn that there are a growing number of immigrants here in Canada who are opposed to M103. These immigrants moved to Canada legally from politically oppressive countries with blasphemy laws so that they could raise their children without fear of being jailed or killed for their religious or political views. Imagine their distress when the country they moved to starts imposing speech limitations. To them, it is the first step towards blasphemy laws.
My concern with M103 is that although it would appear to be noble in cause and protect moderate Muslims, it will also inadvertently protect radicalized Muslims. Case in point: earlier this year, two Imams in Toronto and Montreal were filmed calling for the execution of Jews and other non-Muslims. Not only were these Imams not prosecuted under hate speech laws, the protesters outside the mosque were subsequently investigated for hate speech and labelled as Islamophobes. Although the opposition has called upon the Liberal party several times to clearly define what Islamophobia is, they have refused, leaving a very large and fuzzy line, which most Canadians are afraid to cross.
In response to Alexandre Bissonnette, there is currently a publication ban on his trial. I would hope that when the ban is lifted, Canadians will learn the events that led Mr. Bissonnette to be charged in the murder of six Muslim men. Only when we know the facts behind this horrific act can we prevent it from happening again. Censoring an entire country for the actions of one man is not the answer.
Although we do not know why Bissonette was involved, we do know why radical Islamists kill. They kill in the name of Allah. The website religionofpeace.com records all of the Islamic terrorist attacks since 9/11. Since that day, there have been 30,679 deadly attacks. This year, in March alone, there have been 154 attacks (1,106 killed and 1,325 injured). Recently the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, told citizens that terrorism is “part and parcel” of living in a big city. As French presidential candidate M. Macron stated, terrorism “is part of our daily lives for years to come.” Did the citizens of any of those countries foresee the impact of mass immigration in their daily lives? Currently, some Muslim men are being filmed walking illegally into Canada outside of border security. Trudeau is eager to welcome asylum seekers with open arms so why are these men not using the proper immigration protocols? Are they trying to avoid detection?
History clearly shows that under optimal political conditions, countries can be destabilized. Submission of the masses by government is step one. I submit to you Mr. Robin that if you believe Canada to be immune to the issues currently affecting the stabilization of other Western countries, that you are in fact naÄŹve, not I.
Canadians are generally politically passive and I am no different. I am not a political activist and I’ve never been to a protest and I don’t want a spotlight, so I would prefer for someone else to stand up whilst I support from the wings. But I find myself now in a position, if I don’t speak up, who will? I will not take my, nor my children’s freedom in Canada for granted. Award winning author Ayaan Hirsi Ali is an ex-Muslim from Somalia who was also a victim of female genital mutilation. During an interview with an Islam-apologist she stated “You grew up in freedom so you can spit on freedom because you do not know what it is to not have freedom.”
So I ask you Mr. Robin, if I don’t speak up against M103 because in your words, it is a policy, not a law, do I stand up when the law is in place? Or will I be profiled for being Islamophobic? Do I wait to see if blasphemy laws are put in place? Or will I be called a racist or a xenophobe and jailed at that point? Or do I keep my mouth shut until blasphemy laws are punishable by death as they are in many Muslim countries including Iqra Khalid’s homeland of Pakistan (the author of M103)? Oops ... too late!
Barb Bauer, St. Albert
