Islamophobia

Tuesday January 31, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday January 31, 2017

Quebec City mosque shooting: Alexandre Bissonnette identified as alleged gunman

Quebec provincial police now say that only one of the two men detained Sunday night in connection with the mass shooting at a mosque in Quebec City that killed six people is considered a suspect.

Surete du Quebec said in a statement just after noon Monday the second person is considered a witness, but they did not offer any names. Media reports identified the “witness” as Mohamed Belkhadir. Earlier reports said the man’s name was Mohamed Khadir or El Khadir.

Reports from Quebec media, including La Presse, TVA, and Radio Canada, say that Alexandre Bissonnette is the lone person suspected in the shooting.

The horrific attacks occurred inside the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec in Quebec City’s Ste-Foy neighbourhood just before 8 p.m. ET, when a masked gunman entered the building and opened fire, according to witnesses and police.

The victims were identified as men who ranged in age from 35 to 60. Five people remain in hospital, with two of those in critical condition and the three others stable. At least 14 others suffered minor injuries and were released, according to the University of Quebec Hospital Centre spokeswoman Genevieve Dupuis.

Thirty-nine people escaped the mosque shooting without injuries.  (Source: Global 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)

 

Friday November 20, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Friday November 20, 2015 More than 30 U.S. states refusing Syrian refugees on 'shaky legal ground' The governors of at least 31 mostly Republican states have announced they will bar Syrian asylum-seekers from attempting to start new lives in their communities. But the tough-sounding pledges Ñ coming just days after 129 people were murdered by Islamic militants in France Ñ may not have much of a legal foundation to stand on, according to Washington authorities on immigration and refugee issues. "It's very shaky legal ground," said Robert McCaw, the government affairs officer with the Council on AmericanÐIslamic Relations on Capitol Hill. "The thing is, these governors don't really have any legal means to prevent the resettlement of Syrian refugees." To date, governors of the majority of America's states Ñ including such southern bastions of conservatism as Georgia, Alabama and Florida, as well as northern states like Michigan, Illinois and Maine Ñ have pulled in the welcome mat, saying Syrian refugees pose a security risk that must be taken into account. Their tough line also mirrors that which some Republican presidential candidates are taking in the wake of the Paris attacks. But immigration isn't a state-determined issue here, it is a federal one. U.S. refugee admissions are announced by the State Department every year on Oct. 1 as part of the White House's presidential determination for allowing refugees in a given fiscal year. State governors thus do not have the authority to set limits on who or what the refugee influx should look like, said Westy Egmont, director of the Immigration Integration Lab at Boston College. "Any refugee welcome to the U.S. has legal status, and therefore the freedom of movement within all 50 states," Egmont said. "We don't have borders between New Hampshire and Vermont, or New York and Pennsylvania. People are coming and they get to choose where they choose to b

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday November 20, 2015

More than 30 U.S. states refusing Syrian refugees on ‘shaky legal ground’

The governors of at least 31 mostly Republican states have announced they will bar Syrian asylum-seekers from attempting to start new lives in their communities.

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday November 18, 2015 Paris attacks polarize Canadians on refugee resettlement plan Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall is asking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to suspend his plan to accept 25,000 Syrian refugees by January 1st. Premier Wall believes Friday's attacks in Paris are a reminder of "the death and destruction even a small number of malevolent individuals can inflict upon a peaceful country and its citizens." And he's not the only one voicing such fears. Jurisdictions across Europe and North America are rethinking their intake of Syrians amid reports that one of the Paris attackers may have been processed as a refugee from Syria. In Europe, Poland's plan to take in 4,500 refugees now appears in doubt and Germany's open-door policy is facing a fresh wave of criticism. In the United States, eight Republican governors have vowed to close their doors to Syrian refugees. But yesterday President Barack Obama stood by his plan to admit 10,000 refugees in 2016. In Canada, online petitions demanding a halt to Prime Minister Trudeau's plan are making the rounds. One such petition, in Quebec Ð a province whose cultural rifts are often compared to those in France Ð has gained nearly 59,000 signatures in a matter of days. A competing petition calling for support for the refugees quickly racked up nearly 25,000 signatures of its own. Those working behind the scenes to try to bring thousands of Syrian refugees to Canada have not been swayed by the attacks in Paris. Immigration Minister John McCallum issued a statement yesterday reiterating the government's commitment to immediately resettle 25,000 refugees and that it will not compromise Canada's security in order to do so. (Source: CBC News) http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-november-17-2015-1.3322358/paris-attacks-polarize-canadians-on-refugee-resettlement-plan-1.3322384 Canada, North America, racism, bigotry, islamophobia, Sy

But the tough-sounding pledges — coming just days after 129 people were murdered by Islamic militants in France — may not have much of a legal foundation to stand on, according to Washington authorities on immigration and refugee issues.

“It’s very shaky legal ground,” said Robert McCaw, the government affairs officer with the Council on American–Islamic Relations on Capitol Hill. “The thing is, these governors don’t really have any legal means to prevent the resettlement of Syrian refugees.”

Thursday, October 3, 2013To date, governors of the majority of America’s states — including such southern bastions of conservatism as Georgia, Alabama and Florida, as well as northern states like Michigan, Illinois and Maine — have pulled in the welcome mat, saying Syrian refugees pose a security risk that must be taken into account.

Their t
ough line also mirrors that which some Republican presidential candidates are taking in the wake of the Paris attacks. But immigration isn’t a state-determined issue here, it is a federal one.

Wednesday April 22, 2015U.S. refugee admissions are announced by the State Department every year on Oct. 1 as part of the White House’s presidential determination for allowing refugees in a given fiscal year.

State governors thus do not have the authority to set limits on who or what the refugee influx should look like, said Westy Egmont, director of the Immigration Integration Lab at Boston College.

“Any refugee welcome to the U.S. has legal status, and therefore the freedom of movement within all 50 states,” Egmont said. “We don’t have borders between New Hampshire and Vermont, or New York and Pennsylvania. People are coming and they get to choose where they choose to be.” (Source: CBC News)

 

Wednesday November 18, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday November 18, 2015 Paris attacks polarize Canadians on refugee resettlement plan Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall is asking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to suspend his plan to accept 25,000 Syrian refugees by January 1st. Premier Wall believes Friday's attacks in Paris are a reminder of "the death and destruction even a small number of malevolent individuals can inflict upon a peaceful country and its citizens." And he's not the only one voicing such fears. Jurisdictions across Europe and North America are rethinking their intake of Syrians amid reports that one of the Paris attackers may have been processed as a refugee from Syria. In Europe, Poland's plan to take in 4,500 refugees now appears in doubt and Germany's open-door policy is facing a fresh wave of criticism. In the United States, eight Republican governors have vowed to close their doors to Syrian refugees. But yesterday President Barack Obama stood by his plan to admit 10,000 refugees in 2016. In Canada, online petitions demanding a halt to Prime Minister Trudeau's plan are making the rounds. One such petition, in Quebec Ð a province whose cultural rifts are often compared to those in France Ð has gained nearly 59,000 signatures in a matter of days. A competing petition calling for support for the refugees quickly racked up nearly 25,000 signatures of its own. Those working behind the scenes to try to bring thousands of Syrian refugees to Canada have not been swayed by the attacks in Paris. Immigration Minister John McCallum issued a statement yesterday reiterating the government's commitment to immediately resettle 25,000 refugees and that it will not compromise Canada's security in order to do so. (Source: CBC News) http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-november-17-2015-1.3322358/paris-attacks-polarize-canadians-on-refugee-resettlement-plan-1.3322384 Canada, North America, racism, bigotry, islamophobia, Sy

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday November 18, 2015

Paris attacks polarize Canadians on refugee resettlement plan

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall is asking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to suspend his plan to accept 25,000 Syrian refugees by January 1st. Premier Wall believes Friday’s attacks in Paris are a reminder of “the death and destruction even a small number of malevolent individuals can inflict upon a peaceful country and its citizens.”

And he’s not the only one voicing such fears.

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Friday September 4, 2015 How Canada could be doing more to stop the migrant crisis They are desperate people taking desperate measures as they flee war, persecution and poverty. They endure abuse, starvation and, for the unlucky, death in their search for asylum. The numbers are numbing. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that 60 million displaced persons are on the move. Each day an additional 42,500 Ð the equivalent of everyone living in the Northwest Territories Ð are forced to leave their homes. The flows, the most since the mass displacements after the Second World War, are global. They are desperate people taking desperate measures as they flee war, persecution and poverty. They endure abuse, starvation and, for the unlucky, death in their search for asylum. The numbers are numbing. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that 60 million displaced persons are on the move. Each day an additional 42,500 Ð the equivalent of everyone living in the Northwest Territories Ð are forced to leave their homes. The flows, the most since the mass displacements after the Second World War, are global. The number of European migrants increased 51 per cent in 2014: through Turkey, the worldÕs top refugee-hosting country; across the Mediterranean; and within Ukraine. The number of Asian migrants is up 31 per cent, with Iran and Pakistan now in the top four refugee-receiving nations. Displacement in the Middle East, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa is up 18 per cent. Ethiopia has replaced Kenya as the top African host nation. The numbers from the Americas are up 12 per cent because of the six million still displaced within Colombia. Refugee claims are up 44 per cent in the United States as a result of the increased flow from Central America. The displaced are labelled variously as aliens, illegals, migrants or refugees. Few countries particip

The refugee settlement issue was regarded as a European problem from a North Americans standpoint two months ago in September

Jurisdictions across Europe and North America are rethinking their intake of Syrians amid reports that one of the Paris attackers may have been processed as a refugee from Syria.

In Europe, Poland’s plan to take in 4,500 refugees now appears in doubt and Germany’s open-door policy is facing a fresh wave of criticism.

In the United States, eight Republican governors have vowed to close their doors to Syrian refugees. But yesterday President Barack Obama stood by his plan to admit 10,000 refugees in 2016.

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday November 12, 2015 Refugees as a long-term investment in the country Immigration Minister John McCallum and the new Liberal government have drawn global attention and praise with a frantic Beat the Clock pledge to bring 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada by the end of the year. The deadline is probably unnecessarily tight and, to do it right, Canadians would probably give the new Trudeau government the breathing room needed to push the Jan. 1 deadline. But the government has the support of the UN Refugee Agency, provinces, cities, the military, airlines, labour organizations, churches and Canadians. It evokes memories of the last time this country opened its arms in such a compassionate embrace and one Toronto man knows better than any the work involved in pulling off such a herculean task. Scott Mullin was 22 and barely out of Carleton University when the Star headlined a March 5, 1979, piece about him Ñ ÒViet refugees view Canadian as a god.ÕÕ A few months later, the CBC called him ÒThe One-Man Board of Immigration,ÕÕ in a July 1979 piece from reporter Peter Mansbridge. Mullin, now the vice-president of community relations for the TD Bank, determined which of the so-called Vietnamese Òboat peopleÓ came to Canada and which were denied passage, relying largely on gut impressions which resulted in far more ÒyaysÓ than Ònays.Ó ÒWe have to look upon this for ourselves as an investment in the future,ÕÕ the young Mullin told Mansbridge 36 years ago. ÒThe first six months we might have a lot of problems, but whatÕs this guyÕs son going to be like and howÕs he going to do? I think thatÕs the important thing you have to look at.ÕÕ (Source: Toronto Star) http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/11/11/refugees-as-a-long-term-investment-in-the-country-tim-harper.html Canada, Syria, Syrian, migrants, Hercules, emperor, Justin Trudeau, John McCallum, immigration, refugees, war

In Canada, online petitions demanding a halt to Prime Minister Trudeau’s plan are making the rounds. One such petition, in Quebec – a province whose cultural rifts are often compared to those in France – has gained nearly 59,000 signatures in a matter of days. A competing petition calling for support for the refugees quickly racked up nearly 25,000 signatures of its own.

Those working behind the scenes to try to bring thousands of Syrian refugees to Canada have not been swayed by the attacks in Paris.

Immigration Minister John McCallum issued a statement yesterday reiterating the government’s commitment to immediately resettle 25,000 refugees and that it will not compromise Canada’s security in order to do so. (Source: CBC News)

 OTHER MEDIA

Rolling out the “welcome mat”…

Posted by The Hamilton Spectator on Tuesday, November 17, 2015

 

Winnipeg Free Press, Thursday November 19, 2015

Winnipeg Free Press, Thursday November 19, 2015

 

Thursday October 7, 2015

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday October 7, 2015 HarperÕs proposed niqab ban among civil servants draws condemnation He opened the door earlier in the week with a CBC television interview, saying niqabs could be nixed in the public service Ñ echoing similar comments last week in the French-language leadersÕ debate. But on Wednesday, the Conservative leader went further, lauding QuebecÕs Bill 64, which requires those who wear face coverings to remove them if they want to work in the public sector Ñ or do business with government officials. Although tabled in the National Assembly, the bill has yet to be debated. He called the Quebec Liberal governmentÕs approach measured and pledged that when it came time for federal legislation, he would follow their lead. ÒI believe the Quebec government has been handling this controversial issue in a responsible manner and we will do exactly the same thing in Ottawa,Ó Harper said during a campaign stop in Saskatoon. As if to hammer home the point, the Conservatives released online attack ads in French Wednesday, going after Justin TrudeauÕs position on the niqab. A proposed ban on niqabs in the federal civil service would affect an infinitesimally small number of bureaucrats Ñ if any at all. Statistics from 2011 show only 1.8 per cent of 257,000 federal employees are Muslim women and only a small subset of them is likely to wear face coverings. The Conservatives have already tried to require Muslim women to show their faces at citizenship ceremonies, but those rules are being challenged in the courts. HarperÕs comments on Wednesday make clear he is eyeing additional legislation to require women to unveil every time they want services from the federal government. Harper insisted his government has been Òsaying the same thing for several monthsÓ on the issue. While the prime minister may have been consistent in his comments that niqabs are contrary to Canadian values, that doesnÕt m

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday October 7, 2015

Harper’s proposed niqab ban among civil servants draws condemnation

He opened the door earlier in the week with a CBC television interview, saying niqabs could be nixed in the public service — echoing similar comments last week in the French-language leaders’ debate.

2011-2015

2011-2015

But on Wednesday, the Conservative leader went further, lauding Quebec’s Bill 64, which requires those who wear face coverings to remove them if they want to work in the public sector — or do business with government officials. Although tabled in the National Assembly, the bill has yet to be debated.

He called the Quebec Liberal government’s approach measured and pledged that when it came time for federal legislation, he would follow their lead.

“I believe the Quebec government has been handling this controversial issue in a responsible manner and we will do exactly the same thing in Ottawa,” Harper said during a campaign stop in Saskatoon.

As if to hammer home the point, the Conservatives released online attack ads in French Wednesday, going after Justin Trudeau’s position on the niqab.

A proposed ban on niqabs in the federal civil service would affect an infinitesimally small number of bureaucrats — if any at all. Statistics from 2011 show only 1.8 per cent of 257,000 federal employees are Muslim women and only a small subset of them is likely to wear face coverings.

The Conservatives have already tried to require Muslim women to show their faces at citizenship ceremonies, but those rules are being challenged in the courts. Harper’s comments on Wednesday make clear he is eyeing additional legislation to require women to unveil every time they want services from the federal government.

Harper insisted his government has been “saying the same thing for several months” on the issue.

JustinTrudeau-GalleryWhile the prime minister may have been consistent in his comments that niqabs are contrary to Canadian values, that doesn’t mean members of his own cabinet are all on the same page about a wider ban.

Asked last spring whether the Conservatives would consider implementing measures similar to those in Quebec, Treasury Board President Tony Clement said the federal opposition to niqabs was limited to citizenship ceremonies.

“That is what the prime minister said and that is a point of view that one can hold,” Clement said on March 11, 2015. “That doesn’t mean that you can impose that view in the workplace or in the private sphere. The one place where I think we have a right and an obligation to stress Canadian values is in the act of obtaining one’s citizenship”

Both Trudeau and NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair condemned the latest proposal as an attempt to distract voters from serious questions about Conservative management of the economy. (Source: Globe & Mail)