A group of Muslim panelists grappled with tough post-9/11 issues during a live taping of Global’s “Citizenship in a Changing World” series Wednesday evening at the Munk Centre. Featuring personalities such as controversial writer and U of T alumnus Irshad Manji and Tarek Fateh of the Muslim Canadian Congress, the often-heated discussion represented the sweeping diversity of Islamic thought.
“As a Muslim I wouldn’t like to live anywhere other than Canada,” stated Fateh, “but that doesn’t mean there aren’t issues to address.” He mentioned the recent detainment of 19 Pakistani students in Canada as part of an immigration probe “hell bent on keeping them in prison and charging them.”
Mohamed Elmasry, founding president and chair of the board of directors of the Canadian Islamic Congress, seconded Fateh: “What you don’t see in the front pages is [what happens] when CSIS or the RCMP knocks at your door.” He mentioned the barrage of hate mail and calls he has received in his line of work.
Zafar Bangash, Director of the Institute of Contemporary Islamic Thought, took it a step further: “In the pre-9/11 period, Muslims faced discrimination-but it wasn’t government sanctioned… [George W.] Bush says Islam is a peaceful religion, but he has never said Muslims are [a] peaceful people.”
“I think that it would be fair to say that it hasn’t all been unfair,” rebutted Manji, living up to her self-proclaimed ‘Muslim-refusenik’ label. Manji is the author of the polemical semi-autobiography, The Trouble with Islam: A Wake-up Call for Honesty and Change. She criticized Muslims’ selective cataloguing of the few negative experiences while completely ignoring the many “eruptions of decency” they have been shown.
Manji’s comment provoked an onslaught of criticism from other panelists.
“I think the overall experience has been negative instead of positive,” retaliated Bangash. He added that decency should be expected by Muslims as part of the Canadian mosaic, and not heralded.
Terrorism is a significant threat, Manji continued, and the government is justified in its protective measures. “I don’t see any reason Muslims should be excluded [from these measures]… In what other religion are there terrorists [to such a degree]?”
Bangash was quick to object, “The biggest terrorist state in the world today is the U.S. If you’re saying that Muslims are a threat, I don’t think so.” He cited the many cases of Muslims arrested on suspicion of terrorism-links but only guilty of lesser charges such as illegal entry.
Manji proceeded to grill Elmasry about the legitimacy of the Saudi regime and the rights of women. “While Islam can be used as a sword, it can also be used as a shield [from self-scrutiny],” she said. She criticized “Islamo-fetishes,” in which traditionalists elevate the religion as off-limits to human debate, insisting that, “You’ll be showing a lot of faith by asking these questions.”
Dr. Sheema Khan, head of the Canadian branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN), brought the crossfire to a halt, “Our concern is only that [authorities] are above the rule of law. This is what scares our community; there doesn’t seem to be accountability.”
“By and large, Canada has done an excellent job,” praised Fateh, “there has been a deep awakening within the political structure of this country… and it has had a positive effect on Muslims [in that they now] stand up for others who are oppressed.”
All panelists hesitated using labels such as ‘moderate’ and ‘extremist’ to describe Muslims. “In the Qur’an, it says the Muslim community follows the middle path,” stressed Khan, admitting, “we have failed at times to take the middle path.”
The studio audience, comprised mostly of first year Political Science students, remained rapt throughout the debate. “I thought it was a good platform because nobody shied away from the controversial issues,” said Siham Rayale.
“They talked a lot about what should and shouldn’t be done… but no resolution,” commented Tahir Khan, “what have they done to resolve the situation instead of badmouthing others? …They have to realize we’re all in this together.”
