The Canadian Islamic Congress welcomes a statement just issued by the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) in response to two sets of complaints filed against Maclean's Magazine -- one by law students Muneeza Sheikh, Naseem Mithoowani, Khurrum Awan and Ali Ahmed; another by CIC president, Dr. Mohamed Elmasry -- in April 2007.
Both complaints refer specifically to an October 2006 Maclean's article titled: "The Future Belongs to Islam," but in its statement the OHRC also expressed "serious concerns about the content of a number of articles concerning Muslims that have been published by Maclean's magazine and other media outlets."
Referring to articles published by Maclean's, the Commission noted that "[t]his type of media coverage has been identified as contributing to Islamophobia and promoting societal intolerance towards Muslim, Arab, and South Asian Canadians" and further noted the "serious harm that such writings cause, both to the targeted communities and society as a whole."
Referring to the Commission's opinion that it should be "possible to challenge any institution that contributes to the dissemination of destructive, xenophobic opinions," law student Muneeza Sheikh said, "The Commission's recognition of the prejudicial impact of Maclean's targeting of Muslim Canadians and the importance of establishing viable avenues to challenge racism in the media has vindicated our concerns."
Naseem Mithoowani was also encouraged by the OHRC findings, saying, "We couldn't agree more with the Commission when it wrote: ‘Freedom of expression should be exercised through responsible reporting and not be used as a guise to target vulnerable groups and to further increase their marginalization or stigmatization in society'."
Legal Counsel Faisal Joseph added; "The fact that the Commission recognized in strong and clear language that Maclean's is part of the racism and Islamophobia that exists in the media against Canadian Muslims, should be cause for shame and embarrassment. Maclean's should now try to solve the problem, not escalate it."
Related complaints against Maclean's have been filed with the British Columbia and Federal Human Rights Commissions. Hearings have been scheduled before the BC Commission from June 2-6, 2008 under s. 7(1) of the BC Human Rights Code, which prohibits publications that subject identifiable communities to hate. The Federal Commission is currently in the process of investigating similar complaints.
The complete Statement issued by the Ontario Human Rights Commission can be accessed at:
www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/news/en/resources/news/statement For more information please contact: Faisal Joseph, CIC Legal Counsel (519) 640-6342
