 |
|
"It's
safe to say that the overall consequence has been one of
alienation, loss of trust in our security agencies and civil
cynicism," Saloojee said
|
OTTAWA,
June 9, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Canadian security
agencies use unacceptable intimidation tactics, aggressive behavior and
threats of arrest against Canadian Muslims while investigating
allegations of terrorism, according to a leading Muslim group.
The
Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) has said the
Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and Royal Canadian Mounted
Police (RCMP) used intrusive tactics such as discouraging legal
representation and threats of arrest under the Anti-Terrorism Act, to
compel individuals to accept interviews.
Security
officials also used to ask intrusive and inappropriate questions, give
improper identification and solicit informants through intimidation, the
Muslim group said in a statement, a copy of which was e-mailed to
IslamOnline.net Wednesday, June 8.
"It's
safe to say that the overall consequence has been one of alienation,
loss of trust in our security agencies and civil cynicism. The results
are quite alarming," said Riad Saloojee, the council's executive
director.
Fears,
Anxiety
A
survey conducted by the Muslim civil liberties group showed that
Canadian Muslims were routinely singled out and harassed by the security
agencies.
Eight
percent of respondents to the survey, which included around 467 people,
mostly young Arab males, said they were "visited" by the RCMP
or CSIS officials.
Nearly
half of respondents said visits by security officials made them feel
fearful, anxious and nervous, while about one-quarter said they felt
harassed and discriminated against.
"What
we found was that people are very scared in the Muslim community, even
the people who filled out the survey were concerned about their
safety," council spokeswoman Halima Mautbur told CBC News Online.
The
survey also showed that the interrogators asked questions on how the
interviewed is committed to
Islam,
how often a day does he pray and what does he think of the Iraq
invasion-turned-occupation.
"They
suggested that having a commitment to your faith is dangerous in this
post 9/11 world or that it could get you into trouble," Mautbur
said.
Rights
Violated
Morshed
Abu Ala, a Toronto Web designer and student, recounted how he was
visited by the Canadian security officials at his home in March 2002,
according to the Canadian press.
"They
showed their badges," he said. "I said I was on my way to
write an exam."
Abu
Ala was telephoned by the security officers three times during the exam
and when he eventually agreed to speak with them; they asked him whether
he "knew any terrorists."
They
also asked him numerous questions about his political beliefs, his views
about the Sept. 11 attacks, whether he attends mosque and how often, and
whether he didn't think the Qur'an was intolerant toward non-Muslims.
After
the security officials became convinced that he was not involved in any
suspicious activities, the officers offered Abu Ala money to become an
informant but he refused.
"I
felt like my rights had been violated," he said. "I asked for
a lawyer. They said I did not need one."
Intimidated
The
Muslim group's survey also showed that some respondents were asked by
security officials, in an intimidating manner, to gather information on
others, the Canadian press reported.
"For
example, one respondent reported that when he refused to become an
informant, the security official then abruptly ended the interview and
proceeded to recite the names of the respondent's children and several
other pieces of personal information."
One
person said he was 16 years old when questioned by CSIS officials, who
told him not to let his parents know.
"We
hope that the study will lead to much-needed debate on this issue and
will serve as the impetus for corrective action," Saloojee said.
The
number of Canadian Muslims has increased dramatically over the last
decade, according to a national census.
With
approximately 600,000 Muslims in the country, Islam became the number
one
non-Christian
faith in Canada.
