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Speech row rocks multi-ethnic Canada Speech row rocks multi-ethnic Canada
(40 minutes later)
By Henri Astier BBC NewsBy Henri Astier BBC News
More than half-a-million Muslims live in Canada Canada is often thought of as a land of bland consensus and multicultural harmony - the last place where you would expect to see a religious minority up in arms, and journalists accusing the state of gagging freedom of speech.More than half-a-million Muslims live in Canada Canada is often thought of as a land of bland consensus and multicultural harmony - the last place where you would expect to see a religious minority up in arms, and journalists accusing the state of gagging freedom of speech.
Yet in recent months, these have become fixtures of the country's public debate.Yet in recent months, these have become fixtures of the country's public debate.
The Canadian equivalent of Denmark's cartoonists, or the Netherlands' Ayaan Hirsi Ali, is the outspoken conservative columnist Mark Steyn. The opening shot was fired by Mark Steyn, an outspoken conservative columnist regarded by supporters as the Canadian equivalent of Denmark's cartoonists or the Netherlands' Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
In a 2006 article he used demographics to suggest that the West would succumb to Muslim domination.In a 2006 article he used demographics to suggest that the West would succumb to Muslim domination.
The piece, entitled "The future belongs to Islam" and published by the Toronto magazine Maclean's, argued that Europe was "too enfeebled to resist its remorseless transformation into Eurabia".The piece, entitled "The future belongs to Islam" and published by the Toronto magazine Maclean's, argued that Europe was "too enfeebled to resist its remorseless transformation into Eurabia".
Mr Steyn summarised the presumed global advantage of militant Islam with a stark equation: "Youth + Will = Disaster for whoever gets in your way."Mr Steyn summarised the presumed global advantage of militant Islam with a stark equation: "Youth + Will = Disaster for whoever gets in your way."
To some, he had crossed the line between vigorous polemic and Islamophia. To some, he had crossed the line between vigorous polemic and Islamophobia.
The notion that Muslims should be feared by virtue of their numbers and purported militancy is "quite inflammatory", says Toronto law student Khurrum Awan.The notion that Muslims should be feared by virtue of their numbers and purported militancy is "quite inflammatory", says Toronto law student Khurrum Awan.
Short shriftShort shrift
Mr Awan and fellow students marched on Maclean's a year ago to demand a chance to issue a full-length rebuttal in Canada's only nationwide news magazine.Mr Awan and fellow students marched on Maclean's a year ago to demand a chance to issue a full-length rebuttal in Canada's only nationwide news magazine.
When people feel insulted they should have recourse Khaled MouammarCanadian Arab Federation "What we said is that we want an opportunity to participate in the debate when you are talking about the issues that relate directly to us," Mr Awan told the BBC News website.When people feel insulted they should have recourse Khaled MouammarCanadian Arab Federation "What we said is that we want an opportunity to participate in the debate when you are talking about the issues that relate directly to us," Mr Awan told the BBC News website.
Maclean's editor gave the students short shrift. He said he had published 27 letters in response to the Steyn article, and would "rather go bankrupt" than let outsiders dictate the content of his magazine.Maclean's editor gave the students short shrift. He said he had published 27 letters in response to the Steyn article, and would "rather go bankrupt" than let outsiders dictate the content of his magazine.
Late last year the students, supported by the Canadian Islamic Congress, took their demand to the federal Human Rights Commission and similar bodies in British Columbia and Ontario.Late last year the students, supported by the Canadian Islamic Congress, took their demand to the federal Human Rights Commission and similar bodies in British Columbia and Ontario.
The move both publicised the dispute and highlighted a previously little-known aspect of the commissions' remit - the possibility of suppressing speech. The move both publicised the dispute and highlighted a previously little-known aspect of the commissions' remit - the possibility of acting against speech that is deemed offensive.
DefianceDefiance
The human rights commissions were set up in the 1960s and early 1970s to investigate claims of discrimination in housing and employment.The human rights commissions were set up in the 1960s and early 1970s to investigate claims of discrimination in housing and employment.
But section 13 of the 1977 Human Rights Act authorised them to hear complaints about material "likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt" by reason of race, age, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, etc.But section 13 of the 1977 Human Rights Act authorised them to hear complaints about material "likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt" by reason of race, age, gender, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, etc.
Mark Steyn is a writer with a zest for vigorous polemic (photo flapsblog) To some groups, this provides a useful remedy. "When people feel insulted they should have recourse," says Khaled Mouammar, president of the Canadian Arab Federation, who argues that the Maclean's article promoted hate against Muslims.Mark Steyn is a writer with a zest for vigorous polemic (photo flapsblog) To some groups, this provides a useful remedy. "When people feel insulted they should have recourse," says Khaled Mouammar, president of the Canadian Arab Federation, who argues that the Maclean's article promoted hate against Muslims.
But others are alarmed.But others are alarmed.
Leading the charge against the commissions is Ezra Levant, an Alberta-based publisher who was targeted by a complaint after reprinting the Danish caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in his (now-defunct) newspaper in early 2006.Leading the charge against the commissions is Ezra Levant, an Alberta-based publisher who was targeted by a complaint after reprinting the Danish caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in his (now-defunct) newspaper in early 2006.
His accuser, a Calgary Muslim leader who cited the Koran in his complaint, said the publisher had spread hatred.His accuser, a Calgary Muslim leader who cited the Koran in his complaint, said the publisher had spread hatred.
In January Mr Levant appeared before an Alberta Human Rights official charged with deciding whether to refer the matter to a special tribunal.In January Mr Levant appeared before an Alberta Human Rights official charged with deciding whether to refer the matter to a special tribunal.
In a videotaped statement later posted on his website, Mr Levant called the commission a "sick joke" and defiantly pleaded guilty.In a videotaped statement later posted on his website, Mr Levant called the commission a "sick joke" and defiantly pleaded guilty.
"I'm not going to try to minimise what I've done and beg for mercy," he told the BBC News website."I have the right to violate all those Koranic precepts because we follow Queen Elizabeth's law, not Muhammad's law.""I'm not going to try to minimise what I've done and beg for mercy," he told the BBC News website."I have the right to violate all those Koranic precepts because we follow Queen Elizabeth's law, not Muhammad's law."
Rights, old and newRights, old and new
But by focusing on the legal process, Mr Levant and others added an important new dimension to the dispute. It no longer centred on the familiar "Islam v West" question.But by focusing on the legal process, Mr Levant and others added an important new dimension to the dispute. It no longer centred on the familiar "Islam v West" question.
Canada's Human Rights Act is not an Islamic creation; Jewish and other groups have supported complaints under its speech provisions.Canada's Human Rights Act is not an Islamic creation; Jewish and other groups have supported complaints under its speech provisions.
The human rights statutes were designed to deal with discriminatory acts, not discriminatory words Alan BorovoyHuman Rights lawyer And the complainants against both Maclean's and Mr Levant, in BBC interviews, professed their attachment to free speech and abhorrence of radical Islam.The human rights statutes were designed to deal with discriminatory acts, not discriminatory words Alan BorovoyHuman Rights lawyer And the complainants against both Maclean's and Mr Levant, in BBC interviews, professed their attachment to free speech and abhorrence of radical Islam.
The core of the dispute is best understood not as a clash of civilisations, but as a conflict within the West itself.The core of the dispute is best understood not as a clash of civilisations, but as a conflict within the West itself.
It pits old liberal values that sanctify individuals against a new emphasis on the rights of groups.It pits old liberal values that sanctify individuals against a new emphasis on the rights of groups.
Mr Levant regards commission officers as "new-fangled, political crusaders" bent on overturning centuries-old Common Law.Mr Levant regards commission officers as "new-fangled, political crusaders" bent on overturning centuries-old Common Law.
Canada's Human Rights Tribunals, he points out, are quasi-judicial bodies, not regular courts bound by strict standards of procedure to protect defendants.Canada's Human Rights Tribunals, he points out, are quasi-judicial bodies, not regular courts bound by strict standards of procedure to protect defendants.
Every single "section 13" complaint referred to the federal Human Rights Tribunal has been upheld.Every single "section 13" complaint referred to the federal Human Rights Tribunal has been upheld.
And those targeted often incur heavy costs even if a complaint is dropped - as was the case for Mr Levant, who says his legal bills amount to C$100,000 (£49,000).And those targeted often incur heavy costs even if a complaint is dropped - as was the case for Mr Levant, who says his legal bills amount to C$100,000 (£49,000).
'Flawed approach''Flawed approach'
The commission officials who vet complaints deny acting like rogue inquisitors, and insist they strictly follow the law.The commission officials who vet complaints deny acting like rogue inquisitors, and insist they strictly follow the law.
"We have a legal obligation to consider every complaint we receive if it fits one of the grounds for which discrimination cases can be heard," says Carmen Gregoire, a spokeswoman for the Canadian Human Rights Commission."We have a legal obligation to consider every complaint we receive if it fits one of the grounds for which discrimination cases can be heard," says Carmen Gregoire, a spokeswoman for the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
But according to critics, the fact that commissions are acting within the law offers little comfort.But according to critics, the fact that commissions are acting within the law offers little comfort.
Alan Borovoy, a veteran lawyer who campaigned to set up the commissions, says their willingness to hear complaints about speech rests on flawed legislation.Alan Borovoy, a veteran lawyer who campaigned to set up the commissions, says their willingness to hear complaints about speech rests on flawed legislation.
He regards the provisions on "hatred or contempt" as departures from the original purpose of the Human Rights Act, and wants them scrapped.He regards the provisions on "hatred or contempt" as departures from the original purpose of the Human Rights Act, and wants them scrapped.
"The human rights statutes were designed to deal with discriminatory acts, not discriminatory words," he says."The human rights statutes were designed to deal with discriminatory acts, not discriminatory words," he says.
Mr Borovoy believes that minorities' push for equality, which he supports, has led to a neglect of traditional freedoms.Mr Borovoy believes that minorities' push for equality, which he supports, has led to a neglect of traditional freedoms.
"Other interests have for the time being trumped the free-speech values and I'm hoping that with some of these cases we might be able to turn the tide," he says."Other interests have for the time being trumped the free-speech values and I'm hoping that with some of these cases we might be able to turn the tide," he says.