Nadine Osman
Conservative MPs in Canada have blocked a petition based motion denouncing Islamophobia on October 5.
New Democratic Party Leader, Thomas Mulcair, who proposed the motion, expressed his profound disappointment.
The online petition, initiated by President of the Canadian Muslim Forum, Samer Majzoub and sponsored by the Federal Liberal MP, Frank Bayliss, called upon the House of Commons to recognise that “extremist individuals do not represent the religion of Islam, and (condemn) all forms of Islamophobia.”
Mulcair attempted to introduce the motion in Parliament maintaining that, “It is a non-partisan petition signed by more than 66,000 Canadians. Following discussions with all parties in the House, I believe you would find consent, Mr Speaker, for the following that the House joins more than 66,000 Canadian supporters of House of Commons petition e-411 in condemning all forms of Islamophobia,” said Mulcair in the House.
Speaker Geoff Regan asked if Mulcair had unanimous consent to move the motion – which was met by a chorus of ‘no’ responses from the Conservative bench.
Mulcair slammed the Conservatives insisting, “There is really no excuse to block an attempt to have Parliament denounce Islamophobia in all its forms.”
“We must actively fight hate perpetrated against the Muslim community. Just as we must stand against hate perpetrated against any group of people on the basis of their religion, race, sexual orientation or gender identity,” added Mulcair.
Majzoub, the initiator of the petition, expressed his sadness at seeing Conservative MPs stand against inclusion.
“[It is] really encouraging, in a way, discrimination and bigotry against Canadian youth and Canadian women, men and children. To see someone standing up or refusing to have a condemnation of an agreed-upon discrimination, it is beyond the speculation of the imagination,” he said.
“Do I go and speak to my kids who were born in Quebec, in Canada, to tell them some of your representatives accept that you are being targeted, they are being discriminated, they are being attacked on the streets physically and verbally? They are being bashed… Because of your religious background or your culture. It is sad. It is outrageous,” he said.
Majzoub said he planned to come back with an even larger petition to make sure Islamophobia is denounced.
