Justin Trudeau brushes aside criticism about speech at Islamic conference after allegations of links to Hamas

Canadian Press | Dec 11, 2012 3:43 PM ET | Last Updated: Dec 11, 2012 6:47 PM ET
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THE CANADIAN PRESS/Richard Lam Justin Trudeau walks back to his hotel after speaking with reporters in Vancouver, BC, November 23, 2012.

 

Justin Trudeau is brushing off criticism about his upcoming keynote speech at an Islamic convention, saying he’s proud to be participating in the event.

His planned Dec. 22 appearance at the Reviving the Islamic Spirit event has been attacked by an anti-Islamism website and those complaints have been picked up by some mainstream media outlets.
The critics have raised concerns about radical views and the alleged affiliation of other speakers at the event later this month; they have also pointed to alleged ties between major conference sponsors and the Islamic militant group Hamas.

But Trudeau makes no apologies for his decision to attend.

When asked about the controversy, Trudeau said he doesn’t share the critics’ concerns and he accuses them of trafficking in misinformation. He said politicians from all parties have spoken at the annual Toronto event — including former New Democrat leader Jack Layton a few years ago.

“If there are concerns about some of the speakers that I’ve heard rumours about, I think there’s also a bit of misinformation,” Trudeau said during a news conference Monday in St-Jerome, Que.
“I’ve heard a number of people express concerns about this event that I certainly don’t understand and I don’t share…

“It’s a group of young people who’ve pulled this together. Most of the organizers are young Muslims who are looking at trying to bridge the gap between the reality for Muslim Canadians and mainstream Canada and I’m very proud to be able to contribute.”

The convention had 30,000 attendees in 2011 and at least as many are expected this year. The working title of Trudeau’s speech is: “Being Inclusive in Canada: Our Story, Our Politics, Our Future.”

A spokeswoman for the convention said the criticism is an example of broader fear-mongering about Muslims.

“Unfortunately, (such criticism) will always exist and I think the idea of a large congregation of Muslims gathering is often attached with speculation over the last decade or so,” Farhia Ahmed said Tuesday.

“There’s been wide speculation about whether or not Muslims are all terrorists… That’s also what the media has been portraying.”

She said the allegations about malicious activities linked to event speakers and sponsors have not been proven: “From the opinion of the organizing committee, most of it is fear-mongering,” Ahmed said.

The event, founded by young Canadian Muslims a decade ago, aims to promote a forum for people to hear different viewpoints related to Islam.

Ahmed said the organizers do not condone any negative behaviour, activities or anything related to terrorism. She could not immediately say whether any potential presenters had been turned away in the past for these concerns.

“Absolutely we would turn them down and have no relation with them,” she said.

Criticism of Trudeau’s appearance emerged on the website Point de Bascule Canada (or Tipping Point Canada), and the theme was picked up by a pair of popular radio stations in Montreal, one French and one English, and on the Sun News TV network.

Point de Bascule Canada calls itself an independent, non-partisan website that “defends our liberties by educating people on the Islamist threat.” The website did not immediately respond to an interview request.