EFC Response to the term "Islamophobia"

Canada is known around the world as a place where people enjoy the freedom of religion and expression, the freedom to live according to their beliefs and personal conscience. As a country, we have learned through experience that tolerance and respect for others contributes to the freedom and well-being of all, and to the public good.

When freedom of religion is respected and protected, all other freedoms thrive.

Yet in Canada people of deep religious conviction sometimes experience animosity and hatred because of their faith. In response to this and because of her personal experience of racism and religious discrimination, MP Iqra Khalid put forward Motion 103.

At the heart of Motion 103 is a recommendation that the House of Commons Heritage Committee study the issue of racism and religious discrimination.

There is a lot of confusion about M103. First, it is a motion, not a bill. It is not legislation, and does not propose any law that would criminalize speech. It is a motion asking the House of Commons to recognize a problem and study it.

All political parties in the House of Commons agree on the need for such a study. All MPs speaking to the issue agreed that anti-Muslim hatred should be studied, along with all forms of racism and religious discrimination. But M103 makes specific reference to Islamophobia.

It is this term, which is vague and not defined in the motion, that is at the root of the concern about M103. It is not clear whether Islamophobia means hatred against Muslims and anti-Muslim discrimination, or whether it could include criticism of Islam. If Islamophobia is left undefined and open to interpretation, there is concern about  a possible chilling effect on the freedom to critique Islam, and infringement on freedom of speech.

The Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) also introduced a motion calling for a study of racism and religious discrimination, similar to M103, but this motion referenced the five major world religions. This motion was introduced on February 16, 2017, and defeated 165-126 on February 21, 2017.

In Canada, the focus of our laws is the protection of people, not their ideas or beliefs.  People have the freedom to believe and the freedom of speech, but it is the freedom of the person our laws protect, not the beliefs or ideas themselves.

The House of Commons has denounced anti-Semitism, clearly focusing on protecting a people, but not protecting their faith from criticism or challenge. The purpose was the protection of Jews from hatred and discrimination, not the protection of Judaism itself.

This focus on people and not beliefs or ideas is the focus of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Under the Charter, the religious freedom protection in section 2(a) guarantees the freedom of people to manifest their beliefs in a manner consistent with living in a free and democratic society. Religious beliefs themselves are not protected from criticism or challenge. It is an important distinction. 

Concern has been expressed that M103 could lead to anti-blasphemy laws or allow sharia law. Neither is in the content of the motion. Further, the Charter prevents Canadian laws from regulating religious beliefs. The courts struck down The Lord’s Day Act, which restricted commercial activity on Sundays, because it was deemed to have a religious purpose.

If you have concerns about M103, you can communicate them to  your MP, as there will be a vote on M103 later this spring.

In your communications, remember to be respectful and full of grace.  Regrettably, MPs – in particular Ms. Khalid, who introduced the motion – have been receiving many communications characterized by fear and even hate - the very types of expressions which prompted the motion in the first place.

If the motion is passed, the Heritage Committee will proceed with a study on the issues of racism and religious discrimination. The Committee may have public hearings, which will allow groups and individuals to appear or make written submissions.

This will be an opportunity to ask the Committee to either define the term Islamophobia carefully or recommend the use of another term.  At the conclusion of its study, the Committee will make recommendations back to the House of Commons and to the government.

Above all, we must continue to denounce anti-Muslim hatred. We were appalled by the killing of Muslim worshipers in Quebec and by the increase in hatred against Muslims.

As evangelicals, let’s remember Jesus’ call to love our neighbour. Now is a good time to reach out to your Muslim neighbour, classmate or co-worker.

Motion M103, introduced by MP Iqra Khalid

 
That, in the opinion of the House, the government should:

1. recognize the need to quell the increasing public climate of hate and fear;
2. condemn Islamophobia and all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination and take note of House of Commons’ petition e-411 and the issues raised by it; and
3. request that the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage undertake a study on how the government could:
   1. develop a whole-of-government approach to reducing or eliminating systemic racism and religious discrimination including Islamophobia, in Canada, while ensuring a community-centered focus with a holistic response through evidence-based policy-making,
   2. collect data to contextualize hate crime reports and to conduct needs assessments for impacted communities, and that the Committee should present its findings and recommendations to the House no later than 240 calendar days from the adoption of this motion, provided that in its report, the Committee should make recommendations that the government may use to better reflect the enshrined rights and freedoms in the Constitution Acts, including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Conservative Party of Canada motion, introduced by MP David Anderson

 
That the House:

1. recognize that Canadian society is not immune to the climate of hate and fear exemplified by the recent and senseless violent acts at a Quebec City mosque;
2. condemn all forms of systemic racism, religious intolerance, and discrimination of Muslims, Jews, Christians, Sikhs, Hindus, and other religious communities; and
3. instruct the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage to undertake a study on how the government could
   1. develop a whole-of-government approach to reducing or eliminating all types of discrimination in Canada, while ensuring a community-centered focus with a holistic response through evidence-based policy-making,
   2. collect data to contextualize hate crime reports and to conduct needs assessments for impacted communities; and that the Committee report its findings and recommendations to the House no later than 240 calendar days from the adoption of this motion, provided that in its report, the Committee should make recommendations that the government may use to better reflect the enshrined rights and freedoms in the Constitution Acts, including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.