Canadians will vote in the country’s 42nd general election on Oct. 19. In the lead-up to the vote, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made several calculated decisions to capitalize on popular Islamophobic and justifiable anti-Islam sentiment to secure another victory for the Conservative Party.
Al-Jazeera America Harper has latched onto international events to marginalize Muslims for voters. For example, on Jan. 8, Harper responded to the attacks in Paris on the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, by claiming that an “international jihadist movement has declared war.” He then pledged to propose a new anti-terrorism legislation once the parliament resumes regular session in late January. (And I suppose several Muslim terrorist attacks in Canada had nothing to do with it?)
His bill, the Anti-Terrorism Act 2015 or Bill C-51, will transform Canada’s spy agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), from an information gathering service to one that proactively attempts to thwart terrorist plots in Canada and abroad. The act will also lower the threshold for monitoring suspected Muslim national security threats, including adding a vaguely defined category called Muslim terrorist “sympathizers.”
The bill passed in the House of Commons on Feb. 23 and is now being sent to Committee. If Canada’s past anti-terror legislations are any guide, Muslim communities will likely see increased surveillance and profiling under Bill C-51. (Good!) Previous counterterrorism laws have resulted in the infringement of Muslims’ civil liberties through arbitrary detention and inclusion in no-fly lists, as well as secret surveillance. (Even better!) Harper is not even pretending Bill C-51 will be any different. (Best of all!)
(Unlike Barack Hussein Obama) “Our Government has never hesitated to call Islamic jihadi terrorism what it is,” he said of terrorist groups, introducing the bill.“And just as we are not afraid to condemn it, we are not afraid to confront it.”
Asked how security forces will distinguish between radicalized individuals and teenagers “messing around in the basement,” Harper said, “it doesn’t matter what the age of the person is, or whether they’re in a basement, or whether they’re in a mosque or somewhere else.”
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) and the Canadian Muslim Lawyers’ Association (CMLA) have demanded an apology. (Don’t hold your breath) “The Prime Minister’s comments … implicated Canadian mosques as venues where terrorism is advocated or promoted,” (They ARE) the group said in a statement.
“The words used by our elected leaders have a profound impact on public perceptions.” Harper’s response gives unwarranted credence to a common misconception truth (Mosques incite violence and are breeding grounds for terrorists)
However, since the October 22 shooting in Ottawa, several mosques across the country have been targeted by violent Islamophobes. Harper’s statements and failure to condemn the string of vandalism against mosques in Canada have perpetuated this dangerous conflation. (Apparently, he doesn’t care)
Harper’s fear mongering is not limited to warning of potential Muslim terrorists. He has also used his platform to curtail the (anti-Canadian, Islamic supremacist) “rights” of Muslim women.
A 2011 law introduced by Harper’s Conservative immigration minister requires Muslim women to remove niqabs (full face-covering headbags) during citizenship ceremonies. Zunera Ishaq, a Pakistani woman, who postponed her citizenship ceremony in January, is suing the government. Ishaq says the ban fails to accommodate her religious beliefs. In a ruling on Feb. 6, Canada’s Federal Court sided with Ishaq and struck down the ban, saying it was unlawful.
Harper’s government has since appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court. “It is offensive that someone would hide their identity at the very moment where they are committing to join the Canadian family,” Harper said on Feb. 12.
The Conservative Party has also released an online petition asking Canadians to show support for the ban. “In Canada, women are full and equal members of society — including when they take the oath of Canadian citizenship,” reads the petition.
Harper’s campaign against the niqab has received some pushback from the Liberal Party. Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, said of Harper’s comments. “Harper’s approach frays away the edges of our multicultural fabric … (by) stoking and pandering to fears rather than allaying them.” (No stoking required, Muslims are experts at creating fear of them)
Harper’s attempts to win over voters by demonizing Muslims are working. (Excellent!) Most voters have fallen prey to rampant Islamophobia (justified anti-Muslim sentiment) in the media and claims of security threats.
An internal government poll in 2012 found that 80 percent of respondents support banning the niqab during citizenship ceremonies. Similarly, a new poll by the Angus Reid Institute found that 82 percent of Canadians surveyed support Harper’s Bill C-51. In fact, 36 percent of the respondents felt that the bill does not go far enough. The bill also gained support from all Liberal members of parliament, who voted along with Conservatives to pass the bill through the House of Commons.
Unfortunately, Trudeau is unable to remain consistent in his opposition to those pandering to Islamophobes. This is indicative of the general political climate in Canada. Opposition parties have failed to offer a strong alternative and challenge Harper’s overreaches. (Good!)
The network of grassroots movements is not enough to counter the normalization of Islamophobia (justified fear of Islam) within Canada’s mainstream politics. Our political leaders have the responsibility to empower alienated communities instead of capitalizing on their oppression for electoral gains.
Canadian Muslim who joined ISIS, reportedly killed, but no one is sure. Calgary-born terrorist Farah Shirdon claimed the Islamic State is ‘mobilizing for a brilliant attack’ in New York City. Weeks after he was allegedly killed in combat, Shirdon spoke with Vice News, debunking rumors of his demise.
this Canadian jihadi where is his glasses? i guess he didn’t need them anymore
if that really is him
How can people be so stupid as to follow such a morally bankrupt individual as this mohammed guy? How can they honestly believe that his way of death is the way to peace and life? The insanity is appalling.
PM Harper will need the support of Canadians to win in the next election because the lie bral left under turdeau are pandering to the muslums. I urge all to support Bill C 51 to better control terrorists in Canada. To support the judge in Quebec, who told the muslum to take off the head rag before testifying in her court. To support the head bag ban before pledging allegiance to Canada and so on. All support for PM Harper.
YES, please get out and vote for Harper.
Cat, it could be a very close race given the left wing media (especially CBC) and all the stupidity and ignorance in Canada re: islam. It’s hugely important that people vote for Harper and do whatever they can to support Harper. If that creep Trudeau gets in Canada is really doomed.
Cat…..
Harper has a majority government now and I don’t see that changing much in the next election. Liberals are at the bottom of the political pile right now. It’ the NDP that we need to be watching.
Harper Government has not banned the Hijab for the Canadian citizenship ceremonies…only the niqab ( face veil). It is not unlawful to wear a headscarf, turban, or other religious head gear in Canada.
The Quebec judge was not following Canada Law when she told the woman to remove her headscarf. Even Harper said the woman was allowed. On Friday, a spokesman for the prime minister said the hijab ought to be allowed in the Quebec case.
I agree with you though that we should all support Harper and vote for the PC Party in the next election. He’s our only hope for keeping Canada strong.
As the saying goes… If you are receiving flak, you’re over the target! Since muslims seem to be upset with Harper, one can only surmise that he and the Government are doing their job properly!
The muslims that are whining about all this don’t seem to realize that when you have a group of muslim terrorists ( Toronto 18 ) that threaten the PM with kidnap and beheading….you have just called attention to yourself and your stupidity! If he didn’t know much about the satanic cult before hand…..he surely knows ALL about you now!
So….keep showing us Canadians what you really are! I’ll be happy to have Harper as my PM with a majority government! If you muslims think that things are getting tough for you now….. tee hee….just wait! You aint seen nuthin’ yet!!!
WE’RE WATCHING YOU, MUSLIM!!!
God bless Mr. Harper and the conservative government!
God bless ISRAEL!
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) and the Canadian Muslim Lawyers’ Association (CMLA) have demanded an apology.
The filth Muslim immigrants demand an apology for the Prime Minister taking measures to PROTECT Canada. Kick them all out. They are a threat to Canada. They clearly want mass muslim terror attacks to succeed.
Demographics: although the Muslim population of Canada is only 3.2 (this is according to the reports published in 2011), there are indications that this percentage is rapidly increasing.
In British hospitals 9.1 % of the babies are Muslim even though the Muslim population of UK is only 4.6 %, which means that the percentage of babies is double the Muslim population. At this rate, within 20-25 years, nearly 25 % of the voters in UK will be Muslim.
It is also reported that in France the ratio of Muslim babies to Muslim population is similar: although the Muslim population in France is only 10 %, at least 20 % of the babies are Muslim there. Sumilarly, this also means that within 15-20 years at least 30 % of the French voters will be Muslim.
If we extrapolate from UK and France, the Canadian population of Muslims is probably growing at the same rate, and if this is the case, they will almost certainly gain a lot more political influence in a few decades.
OKAY Canadian, show the world how patriotic and knowledgeable with the evilness and danger of Islam ,and vote for Mr. Harper.
Please, learn a lesson from the huge mess the Americans have done by voting for not only the wrong person, but for our horrible enemy.
Capitalize? Maybe. The truth about mutts, hell yeah! Seems like he is the only leader in North America not afraid to use the words jihad, Islam, etc. for terror attacks! Investigate mosque’s, bring bill C-51, it’s great for the safety of Canada, and all real Canadians! Just look at most of the names of theses terrorist’s. Where do you think they are from???
As a proud CANADIAN I agree with everything that Harper has done, is doing and will do in the future. He is one of the few leaders willing to act against radical islam.
WE ARE WATCHING YOU , muslim!!
There will be NO caliphate here! GET THE HELL OUT NOW!
God bless Mr. Harper and the conservative government of Canada!
God bless ISRAEL!
He’s also doing a good job with the economy. He’ll be elected with a greater majority than last election and I’m pretty sure (80% sure) that Québec will go conservative.
Almost everybody I know that voted NDP or Liberal will vote Harper.
That Bill C-51 is really perturbing the Muslim groups. If they were beyond reproach, they would welcome it as majority of Canadians do.
The thousands of captured Yazidi and Christian sex slaves are tortured and gang raped. Defiled by ISIS savages — but the girls are pure, beautiful and innocent in the eyes of the Holy One, our Beautiful Creator. Little children, as young as 5 years old and under are removed from their mothers. God help them all.
The Christians and Yazidis are our brothers and sisters. Don’t let this agony and suffering take place in our nations.
U.S. France and other Western powers must stop financing, arming and training barbaric Muslim terrorists. Arm and train the victims! Christians, Yazidis, and Peshmerga Kurd fighters!
Yazidi women: Slaves of the Caliphate
Now if only we could get Obama to follow Harper’s lead! Not likely I’m afraid!
A muslim, follow Harper? I don’t think so!