December 27, 2007

Canadian Islamic Congress explains their human rights

complaint against Macleans Magazine

By Muneeza Sheikh, Naseem Mithoowani, Khurrum Awan, Daniel Simard, Ali Ahmed

On December 10, Citizen columnist David Warren criticized the human rights
complaints our group of law students and the Canadian Islamic Congress have
filed against Macleans Magazine.

The furore is about Macleans' headline article, "The Future Belongs to
Islam," the thesis of which is that Muslims are poised to take over Western
societies, and the "only question is how bloody the transfer of real estate
will be." Muslims are alleged to be "hot for jihad" and to share the basic
objectives of terrorists.

True to the traditions of free speech, we decided to engage the author,
Mark Steyn, in a lively debate on his views on Muslims. We met with
Macleans' editors and asked that they publish a response to Mr. Steyn's
article from a mutually acceptable author. The response was that Macleans
"would rather go bankrupt." And that response resulted in our human rights
complaints.

The issue is whether minority communities have the right to be part of the
free speech that directly relates to them and not to be excluded. Our
research indicates that Macleans published eighteen articles with similar
Islamophobic content between January 2005 and July 2007. Not a single
article was published in response.

What we are seeking is an opportunity for minorities to participate in the
"free" marketplace of ideas. In its truest form, freedom of expression
results in a lively debate among all interested parties -- not just among
those who play by their own exclusionary rules. If Macleans wants to
publish articles alleging that Muslims share the same basic objectives as
terrorists, it has to provide them an opportunity to respond.

Finally, corrections to the record are due. First, our complaints are NOT
against Mark Steyn - he is NOT a party to any legal proceeding. Our
complaint is against Macleans Magazine for preferring bankruptcy over
balance. Second, much has been of the handful of "moderate Muslims" at the
Muslim Canadian Congress [not to be confused in any way with Canadian
Islamic Congress - editor] who oppose us; but take a closer look at their
press release: "Mark Steyn's article was definitely alarmist, but the
answer to his challenge is to write a counter piece and demand that
Macleans publish it..." Hmm!

(Ms. Muneeza Sheikh, Ms. Naseem Mithoowani and Khurrum Awan are 2007 LLB
graduates of Osgoode Hall Law School; Daniel Simard and Ali Ahmed are
Osgoode Hall LLB Candidates, 2009. This article was slightly edited for the
CIC Friday Magazine.)

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