THE CANADIAN ISLAMIC CONGRESS MEDIA COMMUNIQUE
ISLAMIC CONGRESS REJECTS VIOLENT RESPONSE TO ANTI-ISLAM CARTOONS
February 6, 2006
ISLAMIC CONGRESS REJECTS VIOLENT RESPONSE TO ANTI-ISLAM CARTOONS
-- SAYS OFFENDING EDITORS SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE HOLOCOUST DENIERS
The Canadian Islamic Congress today issued a strong rejection of recent
violent protests against the publication of anti-Islam cartoons in a number
of European newspapers.
Responding especially to attacks on Danish and Norwegian embassies in some
countries, the CIC said that "treating people as guilty-by-association is
against Islamic teachings. Instead, those journalists -- whether
cartoonists, commentators, or editors -- who show no respect for other
religions or faiths, should themselves be treated no differently than
Holocaust deniers. They should be legally challenged on that basis."
The statement went on to urge that offending journalists not be granted
media visas, interview access, or other professional considerations, and
that the publications they work for should be boycotted for disseminating
hate literature.
"People of faith the world over should appeal to the professional ethics of
the international media to stop the spread of hate, whenever and wherever
it happens," the statement concluded. "Muslim minorities everywhere pay a
heavy price for this kind of bigotry -- it is Muslims, not Islam, that need
to be defended here."
The CIC sent today's statement to the embassies of both Denmark and Norway,
as well as to those of Muslim countries in Ottawa.
CONTACTS:
Dr. Mohamed Elmasry
(519) 746-4107 (O)
(519) 498-1350 (Cell)
e-mail: np@canadianislamiccongress.com
Mrs. Wahida Valiante
(905) 771-1023
e-mail: nvp@canadianislamiccongress.com