March 4, 2006

CIC ASKS WHY CANADIAN MEDIA ARE SILENT AFTER NAZARETH

CHURCH ATTACKED BY JEWISH EXTREMISTS

-- "Why didn't Canadian Jewish groups condemn this cowardly crime?" asked the CIC statement

Following Friday's attack on a Nazareth church, the Canadian Islamic Congress is speaking out in support of Palestinian Christians whose precarious minority status in Israel is almost completely ignored by the rest of the world.

"Why didn't the Canadian media cover this story?" asked today's CIC statement.

"Neither the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, nor the National Post published a word about it in their Saturday editions; no news items and no editorials. But if the crime had been committed by a Muslim, it would almost certainly have received front page coverage with photos... This omission raises serious ethical and professional questions for Canadian journalists."

On Friday three Jewish attackers, disguised as pilgrims, began throwing firecrackers inside the Basilica of the Annunciation, one of Christianity's holiest sites; the church is in the Arab town of Nazareth, near the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. Palestinian Christians had gathered to mark the beginning of Lent in the ancient church, said to be the spot where Gabriel appeared before the Virgin Mary and foretold the birth of Jesus.

"Why didn't Canadian Jewish groups condemn this cowardly crime?" asked the CIC statement. "An attack on any place of worship is contemptible."

Christian and Muslim Arabs make up about 20 percent of Israel's population and are often the target of systematic discrimination at the hands of the Jewish majority.

Archbishop Michel Sabah, the most senior Roman Catholic cleric in Israel, said the Vatican is closely following Friday's incident in Nazareth. Sabah said that whoever planned the attack was born and bred on racist views against Christians in particular and Arabs in general.

Bishop Eliyas Shakur added, "this is an evil attack on one of the holiest sites for Christianity, not just in Israel but in the entire world. I call on the country's leaders to act immediately ... [to] arrest those who try to damage holy sites of both Christian and Muslim faiths."

"We ask the Israeli government if it is still willing and capable of taking care of its citizens and minorities," he added.

Both Palestinian Muslims and Christians held marches in Israel today to protest the Nazareth attack.


CONTACTS:

Dr. Mohamed Elmasry
(519) 746-4107 (O)
(519) 498-1350 (Cell)
e-mail: np@canadianislamiccongress.com


Mrs. Wahida Valiante
(905) 771-1023
e-mail: nvp@canadianislamiccongress.com