PRESS RELEASE
(Ottawa – 18/010/2005) – Canadians need to pressure the government to take a human rights approach to security.
This was the message of a recent lecture entitled “Security for Canada: an Islamic and Human Rights Perspective” held at Carleton University with the internationally renowned speaker, Professor Tariq Ramadan from Oxford University and Human Rights activist, Alex Neve, Secretary General for Amnesty International Canada.
“The strength of democratic societies relies on their capacity to know how to stand firm against extremism while respecting justice in the means used to fight terrorism”, said Professor Tariq Ramadan.
“We shall achieve this balance only if every citizen, after the shock of terrorist attacks, makes the effort to get to know his neighbour better – his differences, his complexities, his values and hopes,” Ramadan added.
The October 13th event was organized by Muslim Presence Ottawa with the support of 12 key organizations.
The event promoted the idea that Islam, human rights and security can exist in harmony in Canada and welcomed dialogue about some crucial issues that will impact all Canadians.
Senior members from the RCMP, CSIS, Canadian Border Services Agency , Emergency Preparedness and Public Safety as well Foreign Affairs attended the event. Mr. Jim Judd, Director of CSIS, spoke as a respondent and recognized the concerns of Canadians on this crucial issue.
Mr. Bob Carty, award winning producer for CBC radio and board member of Canadian Journalists for Free _expression (CJFE) helped to facilitate the evening’s dialogue as moderator of the event.
Alex Neve urged Canadians to pressure the Canadian government to take a human rights approach to security.
“We have to bring basic universal human rights principles firmly into the centre of understanding what security truly means,” said Mr. Neve.
“If we give up on the notion of an unwavering, commitment to fundamental human rights – globally defined, globally applied and globally enjoyed – we will of course have caved in to terror, given up on justice and ultimately agreed to a world divided, unequal and full of violence,” he added.
A mass letter to the Prime Minister of Canada was signed by attendees urging the government to ensure that Canadian values are not sacrificed in the battle against extremism.
“We cannot afford to sacrifice our human rights and our core values of justice and equality of all citizens in our collective war against extremists,” said spokesperson from Muslim Presence Ottawa, Shelina Merani.
