...born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad

Combating phantom hatred: The Canadian Arab Federation has just posted this August 16^th article from the Mississauga Times:

A large crowd of people learned more about hate crime, stereotypes and 'Islamaphobia' at University of Toronto Mississauga Thursday night.

The Canadian Arab Federation hosted the forum with several guest speakers, including Mohammed Ashour, president of the Muslim Students Association at UTM.

An initiative of the federation, with funding from the Ministry of the Attorney General and the Hate Crime Victims Provincial Support Network the forum was held to build awareness of the challenges facing Canadian Arabs in Ontario, stemming from negative stereotypes, racism and hate crimes.
Commissioner with the Ontario Human Rights Commission, Raja Khouri discussed the Ontario Hate Crimes Community Working Group of which he is also a member.

The director of the Anti-racism and Cultural Diversity office at UTM, Nouman Ashraf, also spoke. He was appointed by the Attorney General to serve on a Community Hate Crimes committee in 2007.

I read the newspapers. I keep tabs on the blogs. So you would think if all these “hate crimes” against Muslims were occurring, I would have heard about them by now. The only “hate crimes” I’m aware of concern an uppity teenager who was offed by her close male relatives for her “crime” against sharia; or the pro-Israel author who was called “an effing Jew” at a public book signing; or the gnomish TV imam who, after describing “the Jews” as “evil,” called for a jihad against the non-believer.

In other words, there seems to be a whole lot of “kaffirophobia” going on. As for “Islamophobia”—not so much.

Posted by: scaramouche at 11:13 | link | comments (4)

Comments:

#1  13 September 2008 - 15:22

 

According to the latest data from Stats Can on hate-motivated crimes, Muslims are in fact the least targeted. As victims, they come far behind Jews and Blacks.

http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080609/d080609a.htm

Anonymous

#2  21 July 2009 - 04:21

 

Statistics do not necessarily respresent racism in an accurate light.

Racism definitely exists amongst and against many races. The Canadian-Arab Federation was not denying this fact, though. It was merely outlining the discrimination that Muslim people face on a daily basis.

The seminar was mostly based on the awareness and prevention of this pressing issue. 

It's hard to recognize hatred if it's not occuring in your life, I think this is the same for everybody. Therefore, it cannot be denied that most Muslims do experience some form of prejuice, racism, or hatred due to their religious lifestyle. 

Anonymous

#3  21 July 2009 - 04:34

 

Not all hate crimes are reported in newspapers or blogs. 

In fact, the media doesn't focus on stories where Muslims are wronged, but rather the opposite. That's why people, organizations and federations (such as the Canadian Arab Federation) feel that it is their duty to spread awareness on an issue that isn't really being addressed. 

The author is stating that there 'isn't a lot of Islamophobia going on', however the contents of his/her article state otherwise.

Anonymous

#4  21 July 2009 - 04:36

 

 Not all hate crimes are reported in newspapers or blogs. 

In fact, the media doesn't focus on stories where Muslims are wronged, but rather the opposite. That's why people, organizations and federations (such as the Canadian Arab Federation) feel that it is their duty to spread awareness on an issue that isn't really being addressed. 


The author is stating that there 'isn't a lot of Islamophobia going on', however the contents of his/her article state otherwise.

Anonymous

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