Canadian MPs debate anti-Islamophobia motion

(AhlulBayt News Agency) - MPs started the formal debate Wednesday night on a binding motion to condemn Islamophobia and systemic racism that's created controversy over concerns about free speech.

Motion 103, which Liberal MP Iqra Khalid proposed last December, would "condemn Islamophobia and all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination" and ask a House committee to study how the government could reduce systemic racism, collect additional data for hate crimes reports, and report back to the House wiithin eight months.

Speaking in the House Wednesday night, Khalid said she doesn’t understand why anyone would oppose it.

“Islamophobia is the irrational hate of Muslims that leads to discrimination,” Khalid said. “With that definition in mind,” she added, “I find hard to believe that any member of this House would vote against a motion that condemns this.”

Critics, including several Conservative leadership candidates, say the motion would limit free speech and that current hate crimes legislation is sufficient. Kellie Leitch, an Ontario MP who's running to lead the Conservatives, has started a petition against M-103. The petition, which collects signatories email addresses and postal codes along with their names, uses the heading "no religion should be singled out for special consideration."

Ontario MP Erin O'Toole, another Conservative leadership candidate, has said he's opposed to the motion as currently worded, and has proposed amendments.

Conservative MP for Cypress Hills-Grasslands David Anderson argued at Wednesday evening’s debate that the motion would be “much clearer” if the word “Islamophobia” was replaced with “hatred against Muslims.”

“If the Liberals are using Islamophobia as a political football here, they’re not serving Canadians well,” Anderson added.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims has called on MPs to vote in favour of Khalid’s motion, particularly in the wake of a shooting at a mosque in Quebec City, which killed six people.

Khalid defended the motion at a press conference earlier Wednesday in front of the House of Commons, accompanied by Canadian Heritage Minister Melanie Joly.

"This is a motion. This is not legislation. And I would be the first person to oppose anything that infringes on our Charter of Rights and Freedoms," Khalid said.

"This motion is about having a study on how we can tackle important issues like systemic racism and religious discrimination in Canada. It's calling for a study. It's calling for a dialogue amongst Canadians."




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