Islam

Wednesday June 9, 2021

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday June 9, 2021

Muslim family in Canada killed in ‘premeditated’ truck attack

The attack took place in the city of London, Ontario province. A boy aged nine, the family’s only survivor, is in hospital with serious injuries. 

A 20-year-old Canadian man has been charged with four counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

The attack was the worst against Canadian Muslims since six people were killed in a Quebec City mosque in 2017.

“It is believed that these victims were targeted because they were Muslim,” Det Supt Paul Waight told a news conference on Monday. 

Police are weighing possible terrorism charges, he said, adding that it is believed to be a hate crime.

Two women – aged 74 and 44 – a 46-year-old man and a 15-year-old girl were all killed. They have not been named, in accordance with the wishes of the family. A nine-year-old boy was in hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, said police.

Police named the alleged attacker as Nathanial Veltman, 20, of London, Ontario. He was arrested without incident at a shopping centre about 6km (4.8 miles) from the crime scene. 

It is not yet known if the suspect has ties to any hate groups, said Det Supt Waight.

“There is no known previous connection between the suspect and the victims,” Det Supt Waight said, adding that the suspect was wearing a vest that appeared to be “like body armour”. 

Police said Mr Veltman had no previous convictions.

Officials added that there was good weather and high visibility conditions when the black truck was seen mounting the kerb on Hyde Park Road at around 20:40 local time on Sunday.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford was among those who paid tribute to the victims, tweeting: “Hate and Islamophobia have NO place in Ontario.” 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted that he was “horrified” by the news.

“To the loved ones of those who were terrorised by yesterday’s act of hatred, we are here for you,” he wrote.

“This was an act of mass murder, perpetrated against Muslims, against Londoners, and rooted in unspeakable hatred,” said London Mayor Ed Holder.

In a statement, Mayor Holder said he was speaking “on behalf of all Londoners when I say our hearts are broken”. 

“We grieve for the family, three generations of whom are now deceased.”

Nawaz Tahir, a London lawyer and representative of the Muslim community, said during the police news conference: “These were innocent human beings who were killed simply because they were Muslim.”

“We will stand strong against Islamophobia. We will stand strong against terror with faith, with love, and a quest for justice,” he continued. 

“Hate will never overshadow the light of love.”

It is not the first time members of the Muslim community in Canada have come under attack.

In January 2017, a Canadian man fatally shot six worshippers at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre, and seriously injured five others. The perpetrator was sentenced to life in prison. 

Canada’s deadliest vehicle-ramming attack happened in 2018, when a self-described “incel” (involuntary celibate) ploughed his van into a group of pedestrians in Toronto, killing 10 people. (BBC) 

 

Thursday December 7, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday December 7, 2017

Defiant Trump confirms US will recognise Jerusalem as capital of Israel

Donald Trump has defied overwhelming global opposition by declaring US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, but insisted that the highly controversial move would not derail his own administration’s bid to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In a short speech delivered at the White House, Trump directed the state department to start making arrangements to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem – a process that officials say will take at least three years.

“I have determined that it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel” Trump said. “While previous presidents have made this a major campaign promise, they failed to deliver. Today, I am delivering.”

Trump said: “My announcement today marks the beginning of a new approach to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.”

Rex Tillerson, the secretary of state, announced his officials would “immediately begin the process to implement this decision by starting the preparations to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem”.

Trump’s announcement provoked condemnation from US allies, and a furious reaction from Palestinian leaders and the Muslim world.

Trump insisted that his decision would not derail his own administration’s attempt to make peace, stressing that he was not stipulating how much of Jerusalem should be considered Israel’s capital. Palestinians see East Jerusalem as the capital of their own future state, and Trump did not rule out a future division of the city. (Source: Guardian)

 

Saturday August 27, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Saturday August 27, 2016 The burkini is an option, not oppression, say those opposed to ban Recent attempts in France to ban the burkini have prompted protests and court challenges. Some of those who've defended the body-concealing swimsuit say that while they wouldn't wear one themselves and don't necessarily agree with the religious associations it carries, they will defend women's right to wear what they want. On Friday, the top court in France overturned one town's banÊon the burkini, a ruling that is likely to set a precedent across the country. The decision comes after several Muslim women were ordered to remove the body-covering swimwear on French beaches. Some burkini wearers were also issued fines. Sonu Kilam is the co-founder and designer at East Essence, an online store that sells modern and traditional Islamic clothes. East Essence started to sell burkinis about six years ago, she said, after receiving requests from customers Ñ specifically, Mormon customers Ñ who were looking for modest active wear. "[We] came across the burkini and thought, 'Perfect, it will work for all our customers,'" Kilam told CBC News from Newark, Calif. The company's various burkini options represent about 15 per cent of its sales, she said, and it's not only Muslim women ordering them. Kilam recently got an email from a Canadian woman who wrote, "It's hard for women like me who are 40 or older and don't feel comfortable showing skin to find swimwear in Canada.Ó Other burkini customers include women with skin conditions, Kilam said, and the company recently made a custom burkini for a plus-size woman who wanted something to wear for water aerobics. There have been reports that burkini sales have increased since the controversy started, but Kilam said she hasn't noticed any significant changes. (Source: CBC News)Êhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/world/burkini-ban-follow-1.3736922 France, Burkini, Liberty, Equality, be

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday August 27, 2016

The burkini is an option, not oppression, say those opposed to ban

Recent attempts in France to ban the burkini have prompted protests and court challenges.

Some of those who’ve defended the body-concealing swimsuit say that while they wouldn’t wear one themselves and don’t necessarily agree with the religious associations it carries, they will defend women’s right to wear what they want.

On Friday, the top court in France overturned one town’s ban on the burkini, a ruling that is likely to set a precedent across the country.

The decision comes after several Muslim women were ordered to remove the body-covering swimwear on French beaches. Some burkini wearers were also issued fines.

Sonu Kilam is the co-founder and designer at East Essence, an online store that sells modern and traditional Islamic clothes. East Essence started to sell burkinis about six years ago, she said, after receiving requests from customers — specifically, Mormon customers — who were looking for modest active wear.

“[We] came across the burkini and thought, ‘Perfect, it will work for all our customers,'” Kilam told CBC News from Newark, Calif.

The company’s various burkini options represent about 15 per cent of its sales, she said, and it’s not only Muslim women ordering them.

Kilam recently got an email from a Canadian woman who wrote, “It’s hard for women like me who are 40 or older and don’t feel comfortable showing skin to find swimwear in Canada.”

Other burkini customers include women with skin conditions, Kilam said, and the company recently made a custom burkini for a plus-size woman who wanted something to wear for water aerobics.

There have been reports that burkini sales have increased since the controversy started, but Kilam said she hasn’t noticed any significant changes. (Source: CBC News)

 

Wednesday June 15, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Wednesday June 15, 2016 Justin Trudeau condemns killing of Canadian hostage John Ridsdel Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denounced the killing of Canadian Robert Hall by a militant group in the Philippines as well as the mass shooting that saw dozens killed at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday as "vicious acts of hatred and violence.Ó The prime minister praised Hall's family for their "strength of character in their resilience" in the face of what he described as a "terrible situation.Ó "This is a grievous loss for them, and their country mourns with them," Trudeau said in a brief press conference in the foyer of the House of Commons Monday. Sources close to the situation in Jolo, the island where the al-Qaeda-linked group is based, and within Philippine security confirmed Hall's death early Monday to CBC News. Hall is the second Canadian to die at the hands of the extremist group in recent months after John RidsdelÊwas beheaded in April. Ridsdel and Hall were abducted last September from a seaside resort, along with Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Marites Flor, a Filipina national.Ê Trudeau reiterated the Canadian government's policy not to pay ransom to hostage takers. "We will not turn the maple leaf worn with pride by over 3 million Canadians abroad into targets," Trudeau said. "Terrorism is a scourge on the world. Too many families have endured the unspeakable grief the Hall family is feeling today because of these senseless acts of hatred," Trudeau said. "On behalf of them and of all Canadians, we mourn their loss and reassert our resolve.Ó (Source: CBC News)Êhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/justin-trudeau-robert-hall-death-1.3632389 Canada, ransom, travel, backpackers, radical, islam, hostage, terrorism

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday June 15, 2016

Justin Trudeau condemns killing of Canadian hostage John Ridsdel

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denounced the killing of Canadian Robert Hall by a militant group in the Philippines as well as the mass shooting that saw dozens killed at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday as “vicious acts of hatred and violence.”

The prime minister praised Hall’s family for their “strength of character in their resilience” in the face of what he described as a “terrible situation.”

“This is a grievous loss for them, and their country mourns with them,” Trudeau said in a brief press conference in the foyer of the House of Commons Monday.

Sources close to the situation in Jolo, the island where the al-Qaeda-linked group is based, and within Philippine security confirmed Hall’s death early Monday to CBC News.

Hall is the second Canadian to die at the hands of the extremist group in recent months after John Ridsdel was beheaded in April. Ridsdel and Hall were abducted last September from a seaside resort, along with Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Marites Flor, a Filipina national.

Trudeau reiterated the Canadian government’s policy not to pay ransom to hostage takers.

“We will not turn the maple leaf worn with pride by over 3 million Canadians abroad into targets,” Trudeau said.

“Terrorism is a scourge on the world. Too many families have endured the unspeakable grief the Hall family is feeling today because of these senseless acts of hatred,” Trudeau said. “On behalf of them and of all Canadians, we mourn their loss and reassert our resolve.” (Source: CBC News)

 

Wednesday December 9, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday December 9, 2015 Donald Trump's Muslim US ban call roundly condemned Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump has provoked condemnation from across the political spectrum, by saying Muslims should be banned from entering the US. Republicans, Democrats, Muslim leaders, the UN and foreign leaders criticised the call as dangerous and divisive. Mr Trump said many Muslims nursed a "hatred" towards America. He said they should be banned "until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on". His campaign manager said that would apply to "everybody" - would-be immigrants and tourists. But Mr Trump told Fox News it would "not apply to people living in the country", adding that Muslims serving in the US military would "come home". Mr Trump's statement was delivered as the US comes to terms with its deadliest terror attack since 9/11. Last week a Muslim couple, believed to have been radicalised, opened fire and killed 14 people at a health centre in San Bernardino. Mr Trump's proposed ban prompted a horrified reaction from Republicans and others. Rival candidate Jeb Bush called Mr Trump "unhinged", while former US Vice-President Dick Cheney said it "goes against everything we stand for and believe in". White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest later challenged the Republican party to denounce the leading candidate, and said that the proposal "disqualifies him from serving as president". Mr Earnest said that the Trump campaign had a "dustbin of history" quality to it, calling the candidate a "carnival barker" with "fake hair". The UK's Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron said they were "divisive, unhelpful and quite simply wrong", while his French counterpart Manuel Valls said Mr Trump "stoked hatred". UN refugee agency UNHCR said it was concerned that the rhetoric was putting an "incredibly important" resettlement programme for vulnerable Syrian refugees at risk. (

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday December 9, 2015

Donald Trump’s Muslim US ban call roundly condemned

Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump has provoked condemnation from across the political spectrum, by saying Muslims should be banned from entering the US.

Republicans, Democrats, Muslim leaders, the UN and foreign leaders criticised the call as dangerous and divisive.

Mr Trump said many Muslims nursed a “hatred” towards America.

He said they should be banned “until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on”.

His campaign manager said that would apply to “everybody” – would-be immigrants and tourists. But Mr Trump told Fox News it would “not apply to people living in the country”, adding that Muslims serving in the US military would “come home”.

Mr Trump’s statement was delivered as the US comes to terms with its deadliest terror attack since 9/11.

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Last week a Muslim couple, believed to have been radicalised, opened fire and killed 14 people at a health centre in San Bernardino.

Mr Trump’s proposed ban prompted a horrified reaction from Republicans and others.

Rival candidate Jeb Bush called Mr Trump “unhinged”, while former US Vice-President Dick Cheney said it “goes against everything we stand for and believe in”.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest later challenged the Republican party to denounce the leading candidate, and said that the proposal “disqualifies him from serving as president”.

Mr Earnest said that the Trump campaign had a “dustbin of history” quality to it, calling the candidate a “carnival barker” with “fake hair”.

The UK’s Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron said they were “divisive, unhelpful and quite simply wrong”, while his French counterpart Manuel Valls said Mr Trump “stoked hatred”.

UN refugee agency UNHCR said it was concerned that the rhetoric was putting an “incredibly important” resettlement programme for vulnerable Syrian refugees at risk. (Source: BBC News)