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CTV.ca News Staff - February 9, 2006
Canada caught up in prophet cartoon debate
As Muslims continue to protest around the world over cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad, the controversy has taken hold closer to home.
A rally was held today by Muslim students at St. Mary's University in Halifax.
Protesters are upset with professor Peter March, after he posted the cartoons on his office door. The university ordered him to remove them, but March later said he would bring them into class.
A group calling itself the Palestine Solidarity Society at Saint Mary's University released a written statement saying it does not believe in censorship, but maintains the right to be critical.
CTV's John Vennavally-Rao was at Thursday's protest, which started at Dalhousie University before making its way to St. Mary's.
He said that March actually showed up at the demonstration and that he was happy that the students were exercising their right to protest. March also incidentally didn't bring the cartoons to class today, but did discuss them.
March also alleges that he was visited by several students on Wednesday about the cartoon. "He felt intimidated after that meeting and called police," Vennavally-Rao said.
Montreal Muslims urge calm
Today, the leader of the Muslim Council of Montreal called on the federal and provincial governments to condemn the cartoons, and urged calm in the rest of the world, where riots have killed at least 11 people and injured dozens more.
"We must not allow Islamophobia to be spread under the illusory blanket of freedom of speech,'' Salam Elmenyawi said at a news conference Thursday.
Elmenyawi also said he wants to meet with the organizers of a planned weekend protest against caricatures of the prophet to try and dissuade them.
"While Canadian and Quebec Muslims share in the intense emotions and displeasure of their fellow Muslims the world over, we call upon them to address this most serious matter in a calm and constructive manner,'' said Elmenyawi.
Meanwhile, police are investigating acts of vandalism at two Islamic mosques north of Montreal.
Rocks were thrown through windows at the Islamic Cultural Centre and the Al-Hissane Islamic Centre. They are less than a kilometre apart, said police spokesman Guy Lajeunesse.
Amid rising tensions over the Muhammad cartoons, police believe there could be a connection, and are stepping up patrols around these two mosques.
Student paper takes a stand
Canada entered the fray on Wednesday, after the student newspaper at the University of Prince Edward Island reprinted the incendiary editorial cartoons.
The drawings were included in 2,000 copies of The Cadre that were distributed on campus. University administration promptly ordered the papers taken off the stands, however.
Ray Keating, the editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper, defended his decision to print the cartoons. He said they were published along with commentary to provide the information people require to make an informed decision…..
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060209/cartoon_canada_060209/20060209?hub=TopStories
Canadian Press - February 09, 2006
Two Quebec mosques vandalized
As tensions continue over Prophet cartoons
MONTREAL -- Police are investigating acts of vandalism at two Islamic mosques north of Montreal and officers will step up vigilance in the area.
Rocks were thrown through windows earlier this week at the Islamic Cultural Centre and the Al-Hissane Islamic Centre. Police spokesman Guy Lajeunesse said Thursday the two mosques are less than a kilometre apart.
"At one of the mosques, two rocks, about the size of two baseballs, were tossed through a window which was shattered," Lajeunesse said. "In the second mosque, only one rock was found inside. No one tried to get inside . . . It was simply vandalism by someone who threw rocks to break windows," he added.
With tensions on high around the world over cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad, Laval police believe there could be a connection.
Several controversial drawings, including one depicting Muhammad wearing a bomb-shaped turban, were originally printed in a Danish newspaper in September and have since been reprinted in other European newspapers in support of freedom of speech.
Lajeunesse said officers on patrol have been told to pay special attention to the two mosques….
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/story.html?id=b435271d-7d61-498e-8813-f87ea79940cc
Xinhuanet - February 10, 2006
Canadian students rally against professor
posting controversial cartoons
OTTAWA, Feb. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Muslim students at Canada's St. Mary's University in the eastern port city of Halifax held a rally Thursday to protest against a professor who posted the cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad on his office door, Canadian television reported.
Professor Peter March was ordered by the university to remove the cartoons he posted Wednesday, but he said he would post them in his classroom to make a point about freedom of expression.
A group calling itself the Palestine Solidarity Society at Saint Mary's University organized the rally and released a statement, saying that it does not believe in censorship, but maintains the right to be critical.
Demonstrators condemned March's action as showing a lack of respect for the Islamic faith.
Meanwhile, a student newspaper at the University of Prince Edward Island which reprinted the cartoons has also come under strong criticism.
The drawings were included in 2,000 copies of "The Cadre" that were distributed on campus Wednesday. University administration promptly ordered the papers taken off the stands, saying publication of the controversial cartoons was a "reckless move."
On Thursday, the leader of the Muslim Council of Montreal, the country's second largest city, called on the federal and provincial governments to condemn the cartoons, and urged calm in the rest of the world.
"We must not allow Islamophobia to be spread under the illusory blanket of freedom of speech," Salam Elmenyawi said at a news conference….
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-02/10/content_4161182.htm
Ottawa Sun – February 10, 2006
Muslims are reaching out to fellow Canadians
in hopes of erasing images of cartoon violence
by Donna Casey
WITH VIOLENT protests continuing to erupt around the world over cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed as a terrorist, a local Muslim leader wants to bring less heat and more light to a crisis that has pitted religious rights against free speech.
Imam Gamal Solaiman will throw open the doors of the city's main mosque tomorrow afternoon and invite the public to listen to a talk about the life of Islam's revered prophet and why Muslims were so offended by the political caricatures published by European newspapers.
"Loyalty to him is considered loyalty to the religion itself," said Solaiman of the revered teacher Muslims believe was chosen by Allah to hear and pass on the words of the Koran. . .
Since outrage over the cartoons exploded last week, Canadian Muslim leaders have seized the opportunity to bridge the divide between Muslims and the larger community, who, despite the events of 9/11, still have little actual knowledge of Islam and its beliefs and are often guided by stereotypes.
"There's no substitute to meeting one another," said Riad Saloojee, executive director of the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations, an Islamic grassroots organization.
"The more Canadians and Canadian Muslims meet and get to know each other at a personal level, the less chance there will be of xenophobia and misunderstanding," Saloojee said.
While there is a demonstration planned for Sunday outside the Danish embassy, local Muslim leaders have been encouraging believers to e-mail newspapers with their opinions instead of taking to the streets, or boycotting European products.
"In Canada and other parts in the world, the reaction has been quite muted and quite peaceful," said Saloojee….
http://ottsun.canoe.ca/News/OttawaAndRegion/2006/02/10/1434735-sun.html
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