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Montreal, Quebec, January 6^th, 2012- The Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM) expressed its alarm over the second attack of vandalism in one week at the Outaouais Islamic Centre in Gatineau, Quebec.

Graffiti containing anti-Islamic and anti-Arab messages were found on the walls of the mosque on Thursday. It is the third time in the last month and the fourth time in the last four months that the mosque has been a victim of vandalism. Earlier this week, vandals attempted to set fire to two cars in the mosque parking lot. Two windows of the mosque were also broken.

“The increasing number of attacks against Islamic institutions in Canada point towards the serious problem of Islamaphobia, racism and hate,” stated Salam Elmenyawi, president of MCM. “There must be zero tolerance for such violent, hateful acts committed against any community and it must be made clear that such attacks go against the values of our charter and constitution. It is time for our government officials to also recognize the gravity of these attacks and to take concerted action to ensure that they do not happen again.”
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Montreal, Quebec, January 3^rd, 2012- The Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM) expressed its concern over an attack of vandalism at the Outaouais Islamic Centre in Gatineau this Monday.

The vandals attempted to set fire to two cars in the mosque parking lot, in addition to smashing the windows of the cars. Two windows of the mosque were also broken. It is the second time in the last month and the third time in the last four months that the mosque has been a victim of vandalism.

“Canada is a place of peace, tolerance, diversity and pluralism and such hateful actions go against all the values of our charter, constitution and country,” stated Salam Elmenyawi, president of MCM. “It must be made clear that such violent acts of hate and racism that target religious institutions have no place in our country and will not be tolerated. We call on all Canadians to speak out against such attacks and work together to promote peace and social harmony.”
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Montreal, Quebec, December 22^nd, 2011- The Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM) expressed its concern over a recent attack of vandalism at the Abou Hourira mosque in Verdun. Graffiti messages were found on the walls, doors and windows of the mosque.

“Canada is a place of peace, tolerance, diversity and pluralism and such hateful actions go against all the values of our charter, constitution and country,” stated Salam Elmenyawi, president of MCM. “Attacks such as these ones that specifically target religious institutions are becoming alarmingly common in Quebec, highlighting the grave problem of Islamaphobia, anti-Semitism and all forms of racism and hate in general. We call on all Canadians to speak out against such attacks and work together to promote peace and social harmony.”
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Montreal, Quebec, December 21^st, 2011- The Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM) applauded the recent settlement reached between the Quebec Public Security Department and the provincial human rights commission to allow its correctional officers to wear the hijab.

“We welcome this settlement, which both safeguards the rights and freedoms granted in the Canadian and Quebec charter and constitution and also ensures the well-being of government correctional officers,” stated Salam Elmenyawi, president of MCM. “This is not a political issue, but rather a matter of human rights and as the decision from the commission demonstrates, the regulations concerning freedom of religion and freedom of conscious are very clear and distinct and must be upheld and respected. The Quebec Charter of Rights and Freedoms clearly prohibits religious discrimination in the work force and to fire someone because of their decision to wear the hijab was against the very values and freedoms of both Quebec and Canada.”
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Montreal, Quebec, December 19^th, 2011- The Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM) expressed its concern over the increased targeting of the Canadian Muslim community, specifically in the media and by certain members of the National Assembly.

“Recently one of our local Imams, Mr. Foudil Selmoune, was seriously maligned in the media, after his comments in a news interview were severely distorted and taken wholly out of context,” stated Salam Elmenyawi, president of MCM. “After first asking him to explain certain aspects of the penal code in Islamic jurisprudence, his response was unfairly twisted in le Telejournal Radio-Canada and Le Devoir, and he was attacked as being a ‘propagandist’ for Sharia law in Quebec, when in fact at no time did he ever suggest that the Sharia penal code should be imposed anywhere in Canada. It is not the first time we have seen such sensationalist reporting and yellow journalism targeting members of our community and it is completely unacceptable and unjustified.”
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Montreal, Quebec, December 13^th, 2011- The Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM) expressed its dismay over Monday’s announcement by Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney banning Muslim women from wearing facial veils when taking their Canadian citizenship oath.

“It is outrageous to hear our federal ministers say that the wearing of a face veil by a woman who elects to do so out of her own free will in accordance to her religious obligations is against Canadian values,” stated Salam Elmenyawi, president of MCM. “Mr. Kenney forgets that the protection of religious freedoms and expression, as well as respect and tolerance for the religious beliefs and practices of others, are also Canadian values that we cherish in our multicultural country. So long as the women wearing the face veil identify themselves and do not pose any harm to anyone else, it is not Mr. Kenney’s place to deny them their rights and freedoms.”

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Montreal, Quebec, December 7^th, 2011- The Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM) is disturbed by the recent alleged hate crime that occurred Sunday at the Hamilton Downtown Mosque, in Hamilton, Ontario.

“Canada is a place of peace, tolerance, diversity and pluralism and such hateful actions go against all the values of our charter, constitution and country,” stated Salam Elmenyawi, president of MCM. “It is especially hurtful for these attacks to come as Muslims around the world are celebrating the start of the new Islamic year. All places of worship must be safe spaces for peaceful worship and reflection, especially in light of the fact that they are often frequented by innocent, young children. We thank the Hamilton police hate crime unit for investigating whether this constitutes as a hate crime and hope that they will be swift to apprehend the perpetrators.”
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Montreal, Quebec, December 6^th, 2011- The Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM) calls on all Canadians to help end violence against women, in commemoration of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada.

“This marks the 22^nd anniversary of the tragic murders that took place at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal and all Canadians should remember those innocent victims by renewing our pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about any form of violence against women,” stated Salam Elmenyawi, president of MCM. “Around the world, the numbers for abuse against women range from 15% to 71%. At times of war and in conflict zones, it is often girls and women who pay the heaviest price, becoming victims of war rapes, sexual slavery and forced prostitution. Here at home, 61% of Canadians say they know at least one woman who has been physically or sexually assaulted. We must speak out against this and say enough is enough.”

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Montreal, Quebec, December 1^st, 2011- The Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM) welcomed the recent removal of Abousfian Abdelrazik’s name from the United Nations Security Council terrorist blacklist this week.

“We congratulate Mr. Abdelrazik for his determination and success in having his name removed from this blacklist,” stated Salam Elmenyawi, president of MCM. “Since his return to Canada, Mr. Abdelrazik has been forced to live under crippling restrictions, despite his innocence and the lack of any evidence against him. He was unable to work, to travel and even to have a bank account. He was abandoned by his own Canadian government and left to suffer, but now he has a chance to resume a normal life and seek the justice he deserves.”
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Montreal, Quebec, November 30^th, 2011- The Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM) calls for harsher penalties for crimes motivated by hate, following the recent verdict of a suspended sentence for a woman who pleaded guilty to assault after pulling of a Canadian Muslim woman’s face veil at a Toronto shopping mall.

“Canada, and especially the Greater Toronto Area, is an increasingly pluralistic and multicultural society and it must be clear that hate motivated crimes will never be tolerated,” stated Salam Elmenyawi, president of MCM. “The seriousness of such crimes is diminished when those found guilty are given suspended sentences and merely have to perform community service. Such verbal and physical attacks go against the very Canadian values and principles that we are all committed to and must be condemned in the strongest terms.”
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JOINT STATEMENT

Montreal, Quebec, September 9^th, 2011- The Muslim Council of Montreal and the Canadian Islamic Congress jointly expressed their dismay today over Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s comments in a recent CBC interview.

“Mr. Harper’s statements about the threat of ‘Islamicism’ are nothing more than anti-Muslim rhetoric and fear-mongering and we are shocked to see such remarks from the leader of our country,” stated Salam Elmenyawi, president of MCM. “Such divisive, demonizing language does nothing to promote security and unity; rather it will only serve to fuel the fire of suspicion, intolerance and hatred. The threat of terrorism is real, but it is a threat we face from extremists of all walks of life. Mr. Harper’s comments unfairly target the Muslim community and this is uncalled for, especially from the prime minister.”
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Montreal, Quebec, August 24^th, 2011- The Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM) extends its congratulations to the people of Libya, as the country moves closer to freedom following the storming of Col Muammar Gadhafi’s Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli by the Libyan Freedom Fighters.

“The Libyans have been bravely fighting for freedom for the past six months and we hope that gaining power over what was one of the final areas to remain under Gadhafi’s control will bring with it the swift establishment of a just state in Libya,” stated Salam Elmenyawi, president of MCM. “Gadhafi’s brutal and oppressive regime over the country and people of Libya is coming to an end and we hope to see him captured and brought to justice for all his atrocious crimes.”

“We regret the loss of all the innocent lives that have been lost in this war and we recognize the sacrifices of the thousands who gave their life for the freedom of their country. We pray for them and their families, and for all Libyans, hoping that these sacrifices will not have been in vain. We hope the international community will support the efforts of Libya in rebuilding their country and establishing a just and democratic state.” Continue reading

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Montreal, Quebec, August 22^nd, 2011- The Muslim Council of Montreal extends its sincere condolences to the family of the late Honourable Jack Layton, federal leader of the NDP and the Official Opposition, in the wake of his death.

“Mr. Layton devoted his life to serving Canada and helping to secure a better future for all Canadians,” stated Salem Elmenyawi, president of the MCM. “The strength, courage and conviction he displayed in successfully leading a federal election campaign while fighting cancer speaks of the enormous sacrifice he made for his country and of the depth of his commitment to the public interest.”
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