Islamophobia Reigns!

"For decades, organizations affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, of which Hamas is also an adherent, have managed to embed themselves at all levels of Canadian Society."

"[The Muslim Brotherhood that has declared] jihad against the Jews [established a vast network of charities and fundraising across Canada]."

Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP)

 

"This report is a wake-up call for all Canadians."

"[The federal government should] designate the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization and] immediately freeze public funding to suspect organizations."

"Our report exposes how federal agencies have become complicit in sustaining and legitimizing networks that promote antisemitic and anti-Israel ideologies under the guise of charity and social welfare."

"These entities are exploiting the very values of tolerance and pluralism that Canada holds dear, weaponizing public institutions against Jewish communities and undermining Canadian democracy itself."

ISGAP board adviser Dr. Charles Asher Small 

Haras Rafiq, left, a director at Secure Canada, is with the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy speaks at an event in Toronto. Photo by Rob Roberts/National Post

 

"We stand on Guard for Thee? The Growing Influence of the Muslim Brotherhood on Politics, Academia, and Civil Society in America", published this week by the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy on whose board of directors sits Canada's former justice minister Irwin Cotler. The report sounds a long-overdue warning of the prominent presence in Canada of an organization established in Egypt almost a century ago. The Muslim Brotherhood's primary focus is the establishment of an Islamic caliphate. Antisemitic conspiracies is an integral feature of their ideology.  

 

Tellingly, while the Muslim Brotherhood has experienced no measure of suspicion by the Western governments they have inveigled their way into, establishing themselves as a respected group speaking for Islam and the welfare of Muslims in the global umma, they are recognized as a terrorist group and outlawed in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. That enlightened view in recognition of what the Brotherhood represents is not shared by Western democracies, a puzzling lack of awareness.

 

Ignorance of the fact that Hamas is a Palestinian offshoot of the Brotherhood prevails. A Florida-based research group, the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, identified a number of Canadian charities with extensive links to the Muslim Brotherhood, pointing out their exploitation of Canadian law to enable them to raise funds for Muslim Brotherhood factions in the Middle East. Samidoun, based in Vancouver is one of them, recently declared a terrorist group by the federal government, but permitted to continue their Islamist agitation within Canada, along with fundraising.

 

NGO Monitor presents information about Samidoun in the European Union Parliament (March 2023)

 

The Muslim Association of Canada which boasts of being the "largest Muslim grassroots Canadian charitable organization", has been concerning in their influence in Canada on government and its agencies. A 2021 Canada Revenue Agency audit found "the concept of the Muslim Brotherhood appeared" in the charity's "governing documents". According to the Muslim Association of Canada, a "systematic Islamophobia" bias is in play, appealing the CRA audit that found sufficient grounds to revoke its charitable status, though it remains a registered charity on the federal government's database.

  

"This report is nothing more than recycled Islamophobic tropes dressed up as 'research' when in reality it's a biased, unsubstantiated hit piece that relies solely on discredited allegations -- allegations that were questioned by the Ontario Superior Court for their apparent bias and ultimately abandoned by the CRA in concluding its audit and reaching a resolution with MAC". Muslim Association of Canada rebuttal.

 

As it happens, the federal investigation revealed "most prominent members, directors and officials" of MAC were involved with either International Relief Fund for the Afflicted and Needy (IRFAN-Canada) "or a network of charities that appear to have been used to propagate and fundraise for Hamas in Canada". Designated a terror entity in 2014, IRFAN-Canada transferred almost $15 million to Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group in Gaza. 

"I think all Western countries have come to an understanding that the Brotherhood is a problematic group and I think the findings of all other countries apply also to Canada."

"The Brotherhood has an ability to push within Muslim communities narratives that are highly divisive, that are polarizing. It promotes values that are antithetical to those of Western constitutions when it comes to democracy, while it comes to women's rights, when it comes to gay rights, when it comes to freedom of religion, when it comes to antisemitism."

"[While the Islamist group itself] might not be directly engaged in terrorist activities, it promotes a narrative -- it mainstreams a narrative -- that lays the groundwork for jihadist groups to recruit. It creates this narrative of victimization: the narrative that Muslims are constantly under attack by the West with widespread Islamophobia."

Lorenzo Vidino, terror finance researcher, George Washington University Program on Extremism 

The leading Canadian Muslim advocacy group, the ISGAP report points out, the National Council of Canadian Muslims, has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, Originally known as the Council on American-Islamic Relations Canada (CAIR-CAN), it was an outgrowth of the U.S. CAIR group, "a self-described Muslim Brotherhood front organization".  

"This report does not serve Canadian interests. It amplifies foreign narratives designed to fuel Islamophobia and division within our society."

"Canadians should be concerned about foreign influence, particularly the foreign-funded industry of anti-Muslim hate that fuels reports like this."

"These authors should be ashamed of themselves for trafficking in Islamophobic tropes that endanger Canadian Muslims and undermine social cohesion."

Muslim Association of Canada 

Islamophobia is the trigger-word whose purpose is to invoke the non-Muslim conscience against bigotry against Muslims. It is the ultimate victimhood word, designed and designated to prick empathy for a beleaguered religious group. A group, in actual fact, that has made it a vital part of their purpose in life, faithful to the injunctions of the Koran, to vilify and reproach non-Muslims for their ungodly ways. To target Jews and kuffars as enemies of Islam.

 

It is the Muslim community following the example of the committed jihadists among them that have trafficked in antisemitism, harassing the Canadian Jewish population, excoriating and damning Israel, lauding the courage of Islamist terrorists as freedom fighters, suggesting that Jews deserved the rapine, torture, mass murder perpetrated on peaceful Israeli farming communities. And while vehemently and violently violating Canadian population cohesion by their divisive and unlawful actions, portraying themselves as victims. 

Protesters gather for the Sit-In for Gaza outside the Alberta Legislature on October 18, 2023 in Edmonton, Canada. (Stringer/Anadolu via Getty Images)

"In the Current Climate of Islamophobia"

"There are sufficient grounds for the revocation of the Organization's charity registration."

"[Some members of the Muslim Association of Canada's senior leadership were] clearly engaging in activities that would be considered in support of the Muslim Brotherhood [manifesting in the organization's activities and decisions]."

Canada Revenue Agency

 

"[The Canada Revenue Agency conducted an unfair evaluation through a] Protestant-Christian lens [amounting to] systemic Islamophobia; [members' freedom of religion, expression and assembly were violated]."

Muslim Association of Canada

"It is perhaps not surprising that agencies whose mandate it is to monitor terrorist threats would focus on the more prominent threats at any one time."

"In recent years, one major source of such threats has involved groups that pervert Islam and falsely cloak themselves in its mantle."

"The fact that a donor to a charity also donates money to illegal causes does not mean that the charity is involved in the illegal causes that the donor supports."

"A brief look a the websites of the United, Anglican, Presbyterian and Catholic churches of Canada discloses web links about social action on issues like climate change, the economy, housing, resource extraction, Palestinian rights and LGBTQ+ rights that are similar to statements made by some Canadian political parties."

"No one suggests their charitable status should be revoked because of that."

Judge Markus Koehnen, Ontario Superior Court of Justice

The Canada Revenue Agency's Ottawa headquarters. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

 

The Muslim Association of Canada challenged the Canada Revenue Agency's decision to withdraw its charitable status on the suspicion that the MAC supported outlawed terrorist groups. Verifiable links have been discovered between the MAC and outlawed groups (in Canada and elsewhere) such as Hamas. A letter was sent by the Canada Revenue Agency that various breaches of tax law from 2013 to 2015 were discovered halfway through an audit of the Muslim Association by the CRA.

The breaches ranged from maintenance of flawed record keeping, to improper links between the MAC and the Muslim Brotherhood and a Canadian front for Hamas. The conclusion was revocation of charitable status for the MAC, leading to a court challenge of the audit and its conclusion, deleterious to the status and operation of the MAC. The CRA was green-lighted by a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to continue its audit, dismissing the Muslim Association of Canada's challenge to the audit.

According to the Canada Revenue Agency, the MAC violated tax law through its "advancing" of the cause of the Muslim Brotherhood, a recognized international Islamist movement complete with political and charitable arms whose goal is the implementation of Islamic law globally. The Muslim Brotherhood is outlawed in Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, so its odour is not only offensive in the West but in the Middle East as well.

A former president of the Muslim Association was held to have worked on a political campaign for the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, which the CRA believed was concealed information. As well, the present president is said to have enjoyed an ongoing connection with senior members of the Muslim Brotherhood, supported by emails and conference invitations. 

 

Until 2013, contends the CRA, the Muslim Association had been providing resources to the International Relief Fund for the Afflicted and Needy allowing it to sponsor events, promoting it, and giving it a fund-raising platform. Incriminating in view of the fact that the International Relief Fund's charity registration had been revoked in 2011 by the Canada Revenue Agency following an audit revealing that the organization had sent over $14.6 million to "operating partners that were run by Hamas officials". It was subsequently labelled a terrorist organization in 2014 as a result of its Hamas support. 

 

The Muslim Association, according to the CRA, accepted funds from Qatar Charity, known to fund al-Qaeda, considered part of a Hamas fundraising network titled "Union for Good". The Muslim Association of Canada, according to the Canada Revenue Agency, failed to implement an anti-terrorism policy in "a truly meaningful manner". Judge Markus Koehnen, presiding over MAC's court challenge, ruled that it would be premature to stop the CRA from combing through the file. 

 

In support of the Muslim Association, University of Toronto Islamic legal scholar Professor Anver Emon is of the opinion that Finance Canada's risk model lacks sufficient evidence to flag recipients of terrorism funding from Canada, citing Afghanistan, Egypt, India, Lebanon, Pakistan, the Palestinian territories, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen, in the current "climate of Islamophobia".                                                                                                                        

Islamophobia? REALLY?!!!

"Adopting the religious ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood is not the same thing as supporting the political ideology of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood."

"[The revenue agency 's Review and Analysis Division] conflated two entirely separate concepts."

"[As a registered charity, Muslim Association of Canada understands that it is subject to audit by the revenue agency, but it is] not subject to an audit that holds it to a different standard than audits of other religious charities."

"Put bluntly, the current [revenue agency] audit is so tainted by Charter infringements that is is unsalvageable."

Muslim Association of Canada appeal to Ontario Superior Court of Justice

 

"[The association, known as MAC] has not raised credible evidence that it was unfairly targeted by the Canada Revenue Agency [CRA], nor that in conducting the audit the CRA treated the Muslim Association of Canada [MAC] any differently than it would another charity."

Federal Attorney General submission

The Canada Revenue Agency's Ottawa headquarters. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

It is the aim of the Muslim Association of Canada [MAC] to persuade the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to put a stop to Canada's revenue agency [CRA] in its audit of the MAC, accusing the CRA of violation of Charter Rights guarantees of equality and freedom of religion, expression and association. The charity accuses Canada Revenue Agency of systematic bias and Islamophobia.

 

The currently registered charity's lawyers plan to argue at a hearing that the audit, initiated in 2015 is discriminatory against Muslims. On the federal government's part, the case should be dismissed on the basis that the revenue agency's selection of the association to undergo an audit and examination to follow do not represent an infringement on Charter rights.

 

The MAC bills itself as a promoter of community service, education and youth empowerment, its mosques, schools and community centres in monthly use by 150,000 Canadians. The Review and Analysis Division of the revenue agency's charities directorate is currently conducting the audit. It is a division that has connections with national security agencies in carrying out such audits. 

 

Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier requested of taxpayers; ombudsperson Francois Boileau to conduct a systemic review of the concerns from Muslim-led charities regarding their treatment by the revenue agency. Citing obstacles in accessing relevant information, Boileau was unable to examine the issue "deeply enough" in assessing the existence of bias in application of the revenue agency's processes.

 

The federal attorney general in a written submission to the court, spoke of the revenue agency's preliminary audit findings which identified "several serious issues" relating to the Muslim Association of Canada's non-compliance with its charitable registration obligations, including involvement in political activities of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, buying considerable real estate, providing support to an organization listed as a terrorist entity, and issuing improper donation receipts.

 

The MAC has initiated the Charter challenge, having provided "a detailed response" to the revenue agency, yet to issue a final decision on the audit. "Realizing that the die is already cast by a severely flawed audit process" led the association to its challenge. Conveniently overlooking the fact that the Muslim Brotherhood is recognized as a terrorist group and outlawed in Egypt itself as well as in Saudi Arabia. The Hamas terrorist group in Gaza developed as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood.

 

According to the charity the government is at fault by taking an incorrect approach from the beginning through identifying the risk of terrorist financing with minority groups labelled as foreign, Muslim organizations in particular.  "With such a starting point it is hardly surprising, although deeply disappointing, that Muslim Canadians are all painted with the same brush and an organization like MAC that runs mosques and schools is regarded as inherently suspect because its membership belongs to the same religious group as organizations like al-Qaeda". 

Canada: The Serpent in Our Midst

"It is disturbing that the Muslim Association of Canada would host speakers who hold and express such noxious views. The announced speakers have spoken out against women, the LGBT community, and Jews."

"I believe that people should be allowed to express even abhorrent ideas. But our government should not fund those bad ideas. ... And [it] should bother all other Canadians, Muslims and non-Muslims alike [that they do]."

Human rights activist Kaveh Shahrooz, former policy adviser to Global Affairs

 

"[The Muslim Association of Canada's lineup of speakers is problematic, given several of those speakers' proselytizing] misogynistic, anti-LGBTQ+, antisemitic, and often violent beliefs that stand in stark contrast to cherished Canadian values."

"We believe that most Muslim Canadians reject these ideologies, but considering some of the speakers the organizers have invited to speak to our neighbours in Canada's Muslim community, we are concerned that this is something the leadership at the MAC might be trying to change."

Gail Adelson-Marcovitz, national chair, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs 

"This is not a surprise that they are also using their convention as a platform to bring in people to preach these kinds of hate lectures and providing a platform for them to spread these kinds of things in Canada."

"But what are they going to add to Canadian values? By bringing these questionable people, what is their main intention here?"

Reza Banal, Human-rights activist for justice for victims of Khomeinist regime

Anti-Semitism on full display Sunday in Toronto during a pro-Palestinian protest on Yonge St. Photo by Brian Lilley /Toronto Sun

On June 2nd, the day after Canada Day, a group of people assembled with 'Palestinian' flags in Thornhill just north of Toronto, along a strip mall whose proprietors were mostly Jewish, in a suburb of Canada's largest, most populous city where a large contingent of Jews live. Just north of Thornhill, lies another suburb, Richmond Hill, which has become a stronghold of Muslim-Canadians, mostly immigrants from abroad. It's a short drive from one to the other, about 15 minutes. The assembled crowd of Muslims began shouting about liberating 'Palestine' and calling out slanderous imprecations against Jews until the York Regional Police arrived to take charge of the situation.

 

This is a reflection of today's Canada, where Jews have lived for generations and where now that the country has taken in tens of thousands of Syrian refugees along with others from the world of Islam escaping obscene intolerance from their own governments along with threats to their lives, have joined other Muslims who emigrated from their home countries over the years to become Canadian citizens. Among them are those whose message the Muslim Association of Canada associated with the Muslim Brotherhood conveys, are taken seriously.

 

A national three-day conference was mounted in Toronto from the first to the third of July hosted by the Muslim Association of Canada. This is a faith group for whom the government of Justin Trudeau has seen fit to fund in federal 'anti-hate'  youth engagement and security programs for the past three years, with millions of dollars. Both Jewish advocacy groups and Muslim human rights activists feel outraged with the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decision to fund the Muslim Association of Canada.

 

This is a group that has charitable status in Canada. Yet it has always been and lately more so, a reactionary politicized Islamist group. One that claims outrage that the Canada Revenue Agency has singled it out for an audit. It claims bias in the CRA bureaucracy of systemic Islamophobia. Despite the Revenue Agency investigation, the federal government still continues funding the operation of the CRA. Prime Minister Trudeau in fact spoke at an Islamophobia summit a year ago, criticizing the CRA, saying that "Institutions should support people, not target them".

 

The ongoing Canada Revenue Agency's audit has revealed a link between the association and foreign entities, leading the association to launch a Charter of Rights complaint against the CRA, hoping to succeed in having the audit closed. Links between it and the Muslim Brotherhood and its offshoot Hamas, have been amply revealed. Of the speakers for the three-day conference, one, Syrian Mohammed Rateb Al Nabulsi, defends the death penalty as punishment for homosexuality; being gay "involves a filthy place, and does not generate offspring". He approves Muslim states that stipulate the death penalty for gays.

 

Another featured speaker, Muhammad al-Shinqiti, speaking of the death of Arab-Israeli police officer Amir Khoury who was defending the Jewish community of Bnei Brak in Northern Israel from a terrorist attack and who was mourned by that community at his funeral, spoke of Khoury as a Christian Arab as a "traitor". Shinqiti wrote: "Nothing destroys nations more than treason from within", and this man is meant to address Canadian Muslims, the implication being that they cannot be Canadians and faithful to Islam at the same time.

 

A co-founder of the Muslim Association of Canada, another featured speaker, Jamal Badawi, billed as an activist, author and preacher, expounds on defence of suicide bombings as acts of heroism. He also speaks of the permissiveness of Islam in wife-beating. All of which speaks revealingly not of human-rights-defence on the part of the Muslim Assocation of Canada, but deliberate divisiveness between members of the Islamic faith and other citizens of Canada. 

 

And to have the federal government funding this group and their odious messaging is beyond belief. 

The lineup of speakers for an upcoming convention of the Muslim Association of Canada is disturbing owing to several speakers’ habits of proselytizing “misogynistic, anti-LGBTQ+, antisemitic, and often violent beliefs that stand in stark contrast to cherished Canadian values," says Gail Adelson-Marcovitz, national chair of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. Photo by Getty Images/iStock

"[The Muslim Association of Canada describes itself as a] wholly Canadian organization that operates only in Canada [with ] no organizational link or affiliation with other organizations [but it also explicitly identifies with the Muslim Brotherhood worldwide."

"[The Muslim Association of Canada claims it] strives to practise Islam as embodied in the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet and as understood in its contemporary comprehensive and balanced context by the late Imam Hassan Albanna, the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood." 

Terry Glavin, journalist, author