Column contributes to Muslim-bashing

Toronto Star December 5, 2002 Thursday

Copyright 2002 Toronto Star Newspapers, Ltd.
Toronto Star

December 5, 2002 Thursday Ontario Edition

SECTION: LETTER; Pg. A29

LENGTH: 205 words

HEADLINE: Column contributes to Muslim-bashing

BODY:
Latest attack on Jews brings deafening silence

Dec. 2.

Rosie DiManno uses hurtful and sweeping generalizations to indict an entire religion and community for the actions of a few.

Of course most of “us” Muslims abhor indiscriminate violence, but why should we apologize for the actions of some lunatics?

To pick up on some prevalent stereotypes, how would it sound if DiManno had asked Italians to express sympathy for the victims of the Mafia or for black organizations to apologize for all the innocent people killed in inner-city drug wars?

In the case of the Canadian Muslim Civil Liberties Association, we are not in the practice of issuing such statements even when Muslims are killed overseas. It would have simply taken a phone call to learn that our mandate has evolved to focus on issues of domestic concern.

As you can appreciate, Muslims and Arabs are living in a very different climate at the present time.

This column only contributes to the climate of distrust and provides justification for a small but growing segment of Canadians who are targeting and alienating Muslims and Arabs in all walks of life.

Faisal Kutty, General Counsel Canadian Muslim Civil Liberties Association Toronto

Tags: CMLCA, Rosie DiManno

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