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Vol. 81/No. 12 March 27, 2017
Communist League protests attacks on Muslims
BY BEVERLY BERNARDO
MONTREAL — On March 1 a group calling itself the Council of Conservative
Citizens of Canada or C4 sent a bomb threat targeting Muslims at
Concordia University to local media outlets. The threat to set off daily
bombs from March 1- 3 came as the Muslim Students Association was
holding “Islam Awareness Week” on the campus. The university
administration evacuated three buildings at the school’s downtown campus.
A similar note was sent to nearby McGill University’s radio station
CKUT, threatening future actions against Muslims there.
These threats come after the murder of six Muslims on Jan. 29 at the
Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec City and vandalism against two mosques
in Montreal — the Khadijah Centre and the Mosque Tawuba — in February.
Philippe Tessier, Communist League candidate for mayor of Montreal, sent
a message to the Muslim Students Association condemning the bomb threat
and demanding that its perpetrators be “arrested, prosecuted, and
jailed.” He called on “all working people and our unions to speak out
against scapegoating and victimizations of Muslims and Jews.”
On Feb. 27, a bomb threat had forced the closure of the Calgary Jewish
Community Centre.
The next day MSA members welcomed people to their Awareness Week
information tables set up in a busy campus pavilion. They offered
samosas, donuts, and cotton candy to those who came to discuss with them.
“We planned this event to continue through today, and, with the support
of the university, we decided we would not be intimidated. That’s why
we’re here today, despite the threats,” Rim Hamila, an MSA vice
president, told the Militant.
“We wanted to show we have nothing to hide,” said Ibrahim, another MSA
member. “Many students and professors have come by to tell us they are
happy we are holding this event.”
Tessier came to express his solidarity and join the discussion.
“I think everyone has a right to their religious beliefs; we are all
human beings,” Ahmed Joma told Tessier. “I think the majority oppose
these attacks perpetrated by sick individuals.”
“I think the problem is deeper,” Tessier said. “The bosses and their
government seek to divide working people and turn us against each other.
That’s why the mobilizations taking place today in the United States
against the deportation of immigrants are so important.
“Your event today is part of that fight back,” he said.
Related articles:
Socialist Workers Party: ‘Defend right to abortion’
SWP in Seattle takes campaign to workers’ doorsteps
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