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1 Cultural & Social Affairs Department Oic Cultural & social affairs Department OIC islamophobia Observatory Monthly Bulletin – APRIL 2014 I. Manifestations of Islamophobia: I.I. In the Americas: 1. Canada: Anti-Islamic pamphleteer gets nine months for promoting hate, but can still hand out flyers – A man charged for handing out anti-Islam flyers in Toronto was sentenced on 1st April to nine months in jail for promoting hate, among other charges, but was still allowed to hand out his flyers. In February 2014, Eric Brazau, 49, was convicted of willful promotion of hatred, criminal harassment, mischief and breach of probation by failing to keep the peace. He was charged in September, 2012. The judge called Mr. Brazau’s conduct “despicable,” but rejected the Crown’s suggestion to stop Mr. Brazau from making and handing out the flyers because it would have imposed on him a higher standard than the Criminal Code’s section on the wilful promotion of hatred. Justice Ford Clements said: “Brazau’s speech and pamphlets not only vilified Muslims but demonstrate prejudice, intolerance and insensitivity towards Muslims and their religious values.” Mr. Brazau had already served nine months in pre-trial custody and said he would be appealing the sentence. Judge Clements said the court did not have the right to moderate Mr. Brazau’s views, “as repugnant as they are,” and excluded the Crown’s suggestion that his probation included counselling and community service. In: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/anti-islamic-pamphleteer-gets-nine-months-for-promoting-hate-but-can-still-hand-out- flyers/article17760151/, retrieved on 03.04.2014 2. US: Texas terror suspect planned mosque attack, officials say – Robert James Talbot Jr. considered himself a revolutionary seeking to create a different society by robbing an armored car, killing police and even blazing a bloody path though a service at a mosque where he would shoot men, women and children at prayer, officials said. Talbot was ordered held without bond on 2nd April at a hearing in Houston, Angela Dodge, a spokeswoman for Kenneth Magidson, the U.S. attorney for the southern district of Texas, said in an email. Talbot, 38, of Katy, Texas, was arrested a week earlier, but government terror experts gave new details at April 1st’s hearing on what they said were his plans. When Talbot was taken into custody, prosecutors released documents outlining what they said was his effort to recruit five or six like-minded individuals “to blow up government buildings, rob banks and kill law enforcement officers. Talbot created a Facebook page titled “American Insurgent Movement,” the complaint alleged. 1 His goal as stated on Facebook, according to the complaint, was to create “a Pre-Constitutionalist Community ... [for] those who seek True patriotism and are looking for absolute Freedom by doing the Will of God. Who want to restore America Pre-Constitutionally and look forward to stopping the Regime with action by bloodshed.” The complaint alleged that in a 15 March Facebook post, Talbot said: “In a few weeks me and my team are goin active for Operation Liberty…I will not be able to post no more. We will be the revolution, things will happen nation wide or in the states. They will call us many names and spin things around on media. Just remember we fight to stop Marxism, liberalism, Central banking Cartels and the New World Order. In: http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-texas-terror-suspect-mosque-attack- 20140402,0,2322303.story#axzz2xoqoZRoK, retrieved on 03.04.2014 3. US: Falls police say they are looking for suspects in serious graffiti incident – Niagara Falls police were investigating the vandalism matter as a possible hate crime due to the content of the graffiti. B.F. Patel of Middle Eastern descent and the owner of the former Moore Business Forms headquarters building, in the 900 block of Buffalo Avenue, told investigators that sometime between 3 p.m. of 2nd April and 11:30 a.m. of the following day someone spray-painted racist graffiti on his property. Officers noted that three phrases were painted on the building in orange and blue paint. The phrases were, “(Expletive) you”, “Sand (Expletive)” and “(Expletive) with us now”. Falls Police Superintendent Byran DalPorto said: “We’re looking at this very seriously…Not only does graffiti do extensive property damage, when you use racist comments it could be considered a (criminal) harassment or even a terroristic threat.” DalPorto confirmed the case was being handled as a hate crime, adding: “Even if it’s (suspects) under the age of 18, it’s still a serious crime and we’re treating it that way…We will arrest them and they will have to answer for their acts.” Patel told police the cost to repair the vandalism would be high, perhaps as much as $30,000. In: http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2014/04/09/falls-police-say-they-are-looking-for-suspects-in-serious-graffiti-incident/, retrieved on 10.04.2014 4. Canada: Montreal Islamic centre gets axe thrown through window – The Assahaba Islamic Community Centre in Montreal’s East-End had an axe thrown through its window with an anti-Muslim note attached to it just after 7 April night’s provincial election. The note also said “F— Liberals,” the winning party. Montreal Police spokesman Cmdr. Ian Lafrenière said investigators were treating the incident as a hate crime, but could not say so conclusively until they had more evidence, as “Maybe at the end of this we’ll find out it was only mischief, with a different intention, but we’re not taking any chances.” In: http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2014/04/08/montreal-islamic-centre-gets-axe-thrown-through-window/, retrieved on 10.04.2014 2 5. US: Man made anti-Muslim remarks, spat on teenage girl on bus in Queens – Police on 15 April were asking the public to help them find a suspect who allegedly spat on a 15-year-old girl and raised his fist to her while making anti- Muslim statements on a bus in Queens. The incident happened around 9 a.m. Monday, April 7, on a Q88 Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus at the Horace Harding Expressway (Interstate 495) and Kissena Boulevard, police said. The man walked up to the teenage girl and he made anti-Muslim statements, spat on her, and raised his fist as he threatened to punch her, police said. Police have released surveillance photos of the suspect. In: http://www.islamophobiawatch.co.uk/police-man-made-anti-muslim-remarks-spat-on-teenage-girl-on-bus-in-queens/, retrieved on 17.04.2014 6. US: Christian protestor promotes hatred in front of Dearborn Mosque – An unidentified woman who claimed to be Christian held up a large sign along an expressway in Dearborn, Michigan across from the Islamic Center of America Mosque in what was clear an act of provocation to insult and slander Muslims. A member of the Mosque named “Norman S.” approached the woman and urged her to come to the mosque and meet Muslims, but the woman refused. The woman, who did not identify herself, kept repeating that she believed that Jesus had died on the cross and was risen again, and added, “And you, the Muslims are deceived.” Later she added, “I am not interested in a religion that fails” when the filmmaker repeatedly asked her to join him in visiting his mosque, noting that Muslims revere Jesus and praised Christianity as a “beautiful religion, too.” The woman held up a large white sign that appeared to be about four feet tall and three feet wide on the side of a highway near the Mosque, which is located at 19500 Ford Road (seen in the picture). In: http://thearabdailynews.com/2014/04/19/christian-protestor-promotes-hatred-front-dearborn-mosque/, retrieved on 20.04.2014 7. US: Islam at center of 9/11 Memorial criticism – Those behind the national 9/11 museum, yet to be opened, were learning, hard way, about the importance of choosing words carefully, as a seven-minute video on the backgrounds of the 19 hijackers discusses their affiliation with al-Qaeda was dubbed controversial. Some who had seen the video said it focused too much on Islam and unfairly implied an association between Islam and terrorism. Peter Gudaitis, of the Interfaith Center of New York, said: “We object to the terms ‘Islamic terrorism’ and ‘jihadist’. There are not real terms. They’re invented terms. I don’t think this is political correctness. Others may disagree.” The Rev. Chloe Breyer, of the Interfaith Center, said: “We’re challenging the museum to take another extra step in making sure there’s a distinction made between Islam and the identity of the hijackers.” 3 The museum spokesman released a statement on 23 April: “A major part of preserving the history of September eleventh is to show who was responsible for the monstrous attacks on America ... the brief film, within the context of the surrounding exhibits, focuses on the roots of al-Qaeda. It does not purport to be a film about Islam or in any way generalize that Muslims are terrorists.” But some said its tone and choice of words, did make generalizations. One board member even resigned over it. Gudaitis said: “Islam as a whole is not a violent religion. We don’t want to see them vilified or victimized.” Breyer said the center was just asking for more, as “We’re just saying, add to it a word about what Islam is for most of its adherents. We’re not suggesting the story be whitewashed or sanitized.” By the time of this news item, memorial coordinators said they planned to leave the documentary as was when the exhibit opened later in 2014.
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