Defining Islamophobia --Appointing an Anti-Islamophobia Activist

"[Islamophobia is defined as]: Includes racism, stereotypes, prejudice, fear or acts of hostility directed toward individual Muslims or followers of Islam in general."

"In addition to individual act of intolerance and racial profiling, Islamophobia can lead to view and treating Muslims as a greater security threat on an institutional systemic and societal level."

Federal Anti-Racism Strategy

"I would like to say that I am extremely sorry for the way that my words have carried, how I have hurt the people of Quebec, and this is what I am going to express to Mr. Blanchet."

"I understand that the words and the way that I said them have hurt the people of Quebec. I have been listening very carefully. I have heard you and I know what you're feeling and I'm sorry."

Canada's first anti-Islamophobia representative Amira Elghawaby

Canada's first anti-Islamophobia representative Amira Elghawaby is still facing strong opposition from Quebec politicians, despite her apology for past comments that some felt framed Quebecers as being anti-Muslim.

In Canada, there are advantages that appeal to the Liberal government of Justin Trudeau in overtly appeasing the concerns of any large voting bloc. Through immigration and refugee absorption Canada has a sizeable number of a myriad of ethnic, cultural and religious groups. Many of these groups have suffered persecution, civil wars, oppression, poverty and gross human rights abuses in their countries of origin. They are generally not a restive group; they bring their memories with them while they integrate into Canadian society.

Many, like Canada's large and growing Muslim population bring with them not only their religion and variations on the religion replete with tribal, clan and sectarian divisions among themselves, but also grievances they hold politically and culturally against one segment of the Canadian population of long-standing, Jews. The grievances are generally expressed through condemnation of the State of Israel, a Jewish state which has long been in a controversial position with the Arab population calling themselves Palestinians.

A name-identity lifted from the ancestral Judean population which in ancient Biblical times denoted the  heritage lands occupied by indigenous Jews. Jews comprise a much smaller percent of the Canadian population than the Arab/Muslim population. And although the current government like those before it, herald themselves as protective of human rights and against racism, fundamentalist Muslim citizens of Canada mount constant provocations against Canadian Jews.

These are the Muslims who rise up in angry indignation at the understandable suspicion by non-Muslims, driven by the unending international incidents of acts of extremist Muslim terrorism. Prime Minister Trudeau saw fit for reasons of his own recently to appoint an anti-Islamophobia activist to a government post to counter anti-Muslim sympathies in the greater interests of defending Muslims and pursuing the government policy of equality and security among all people.

Ahead of her meeting with Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, newly appointed federal anti-Islamophobia representative Amira Elghawaby discusses the importance of having ‘difficult conversations.’

The Province of Quebec, which recently passed legislation to make it illegal for government workers to wear religion-identifying symbols such as a kippah, a turban, or a cross or Muslim headscarf, was cited by the government's newly-appointed Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, raising hackles in Quebec because of her past condemnation of Quebec as a racist society. "She is there to speak for the community with the community and build bridges" Justin Trudeau said in defence of Amira Elghawaby.

Her acerbic comments on Quebec as a racist society may not have been far off the mark, but this is also a spokesperson for the Muslim community who makes no distinction when speaking of "Islamophobia" between ordinary, law-abiding, liberal, rational Muslims happy to fit into the rest of society, and those who publicly espouse violence against Israel, and harass, threaten and commit crimes against Jewish students and Jewish institutions.

Her record of activism speaks to ignoring reactionary, antisemitic encounters, along with foreign-influenced Islamist elements infiltrating Canada's Muslim leadership. Unremarkable in any way, no different than that part of the Muslim population that has no interest in political Islam.The question is, why did Justin Trudeau not consider appointing someone like the eminently moderate journalist Tarek Fatah, who has always condemned political Islam, to the role? Someone from the Muslim Canadian Congress for example. Raheel Raza comes to mind.

The Canada Revenue Agency is performing audits of specific Muslim-centred charities. Canada's national security agencies and the Research and Analysis Division of the CRA's Charities Directorate based on the Finance Ministry's 2015 Assessment of Inherent Risks of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in Canada, points at the "most likely" destination for Canadian funds supporting terrorism to be Afghanistan, Egypt, Lebanon, Pakistan, the Palestinian Territories along with terrorist groups with "a Canadian nexus" including Islamist fronts associated with al-Qaida, the Islamic State, Hamas and Hezbollah.

The Muslim groups that Amira Elghawaby interacts with, was employed by, are enraged by the Canada Revenue Agency's audits and lobbies to have them discontinued; The Muslim Association of Canada and the National Council of Canadian Muslims (formerly known as CAIR, an avowedly Islamist group) demand the CRA audits be cancelled.

And what is the current government of Canada concerned with? Getting out the vote.

"Trudeau again chooses to divide Canadians by appointing someone who has made anti-Quebec, anti-Jewish, and anti-police remarks."

"He must appoint someone who can unite all of us in the fight against racism and Islamophobia."

Pierre Poiliviere, Leader of he Official Oppostiion