Canadian government tells two linked to Muhammad film to keep quiet

Shameful. Western governments should be standing strongly for the freedom of speech, and protecting those who are being threatened for exercising it. Instead, this. "Feds' advice to two Canadians linked to anti-Islam film: button your lip," by Joan Bryden for The Canadian Press, September 21 (thanks to all who sent this in):

OTTAWA - The federal government has some advice for two Canadians who fear for their lives after being wrongly linked to an anti-Muslim film that has sparked violent protests around the globe: button up.
That response has infuriated Nader Fawzy, one of two Canadian Coptic Christians against whom Egypt has issued arrest warrants for alleged involvement in the production, distribution or promotion of the film, Innocence of Muslims.

Fawzy says he believes the arrest warrants are aimed at silencing activists who've criticized the persecution of Copts in Egypt.

And now, he said, the Canadian government is compounding the injustice by suggesting they keep quiet.

"Why I should be quiet?" Fawzy demanded in an interview, noting that freedom of speech is guaranteed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

"Is the Canadian government, because they are scared from those people, they are going to change the way how you live in Canada? I'm so sorry, I'm Canadian citizen and when I came to Canada, I came to live in free country."...

Those days are vanishing quickly.

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PCPCP | September 25, 2012 4:04 AM | Reply

Pm@pm.gc.ca
That email again:
Pm@pm.gc.ca
Please say something! Lives are at stake. Freedom is at stake. Western civilization is on the brink
Pm@pm.gc.ca!!!!!

PCPCP | September 25, 2012 6:19 AM | Reply

So here's my letter to Stephen Harper. Not too pro but I think it makes the point ok. I beg you fellow Canadians to get involved in this important issue.
Regarding the film The Innocence of Muslims. I understand the government's concern to avoid unrest, but it is not free citizens' duty to maintain order. That is the role of government. Free citizens do however bear the responsibility to raise issues that threaten their freedom and that of their posterity. Government must never prohibit or seek to dissuade citizens from such discourse. Criticism of totalitarian ideology such as militant Islam which openly seeks to dominate all other ideologies is exactly the type of free speech that should be engaged in publicly. Please desist from discouraging Canadians from doing this important work. And remember that satire is a time honoured form of criticism which all other faith groups have been subjected to and have born with grace. The movie trailer did not cause any violence. Militant Islam is a violent ideology which justifies it's atrocities by referencing verses from the Koran and Hadith. Violent idealogues bear sole responsibility for their actions. There are appeals and demands from numerous Islamic figures and groups for western governments to limit free speech with respect to religions. Now is the time for Canada to affirm and encourage discourse. I personally will consider it an act of tyranny for the government of Canada to ever suppress criticism of Islam

Jan replied to comment from PCPCP | September 25, 2012 7:32 AM | Reply

???

Can you be a bit clearer ?

gravenimage | September 25, 2012 11:58 AM | Reply

Canadian government tells two linked to Muhammad film to keep quiet

Shameful. Western governments should be standing strongly for the freedom of speech, and protecting those who are being threatened for exercising it. Instead, this.
................................

Shameful, indeed. Just like with cartoonist Molly Norris. The FBI simply told her they could not—or would not—protect her, and advised her to change her name and go into hiding.

Shame, on either side of the border.

OTTAWA - The federal government has some advice for two Canadians who fear for their lives after being wrongly linked to an anti-Muslim film that has sparked violent protests around the globe: button up.
................................

"Wrongly linked"—just like Ali Sina and Eric Allen Bell. Just a rumor is enough to put you in danger from homicidal Muslims. The authorities should be doing *everything possible* to safeguard these people, and to track down the vicious Muslims who would threaten them.

That response has infuriated Nader Fawzy, one of two Canadian Coptic Christians against whom Egypt has issued arrest warrants for alleged involvement in the production, distribution or promotion of the film, Innocence of Muslims.

Fawzy says he believes the arrest warrants are aimed at silencing activists who've criticized the persecution of Copts in Egypt.
................................

And that's all that the film does, as well. But with Islam, the criticism of persecution just leads to...more persecution.

Because under Shari'ah, dhimmis are not allowed to complain about their treatment by Muslims.

And now, he said, the Canadian government is compounding the injustice by suggesting they keep quiet.
................................

**Yes**. In fact, this is, in essence, enforcing Shari'ah strictures, on citizens in civilized Canada.

"Why I should be quiet?" Fawzy demanded in an interview, noting that freedom of speech is guaranteed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

"Is the Canadian government, because they are scared from those people, they are going to change the way how you live in Canada? I'm so sorry, I'm Canadian citizen and when I came to Canada, I came to live in free country."...
................................

Fawzy may be a new Canadian citizen, but he understands Canadian rights better than many who were born there...

Uncle Vladdi | September 25, 2012 3:15 PM | Reply

I don't think it was "the government" he spoke to, but only a few timid bureaucratic "officials," who were of course more concerned with keeping their pensions and not themselves being firebombed or beheaded by moslems than with defending a citizen by putting their own lives and careers on the line by having to admit in public that he was in danger from an ancient ongoing extortion-racket CRIME-syndicate whose only "religious" component is where they say:

"God told us to commit these crimes!"

(Capisce?)!

;-)

dumbledoresarmy | October 4, 2012 11:37 PM | Reply

As I recall, the Canadians stood up to the Iranian government over an attempt to suppress the showing of the film 'Iranium'.

I encourage any Canadian who may lob in here via google, despite its now being in the archives, to write to their Member of Parliament, and to Prime Minister Harper, and *demand* that, in order to make the point about freedom of speech once and for all, this film (the 14 minute 'trailer' ) be viewed **in the Canadian parliament**, **on the floor of Parliament**, all members to be told to attend. Free beer and nibblies supplied in order to enable people to put up with its deplorable production values, etc.

And invite these two Copts to be at the showing; and afterward, allow them to explain to the assembled MPs that this wooden and clumsy film is telling nothing but the truth about 1/ Muslim persecution of Copts in Egypt and 2/ assorted incidents in the life of Mohammed (I'm sure they'd be able to refer the assembled MPs to the relevant passages in Koran, Hadith and Sira; chapter and verse; and if they couldn't, well, there are quite a few Islamosavvy Canadians who *could* be called in to assist).

Actually, just for fun, I'd suggest that Geert Wilders' 'Fitna' and Ayaan Hirsi Ali's 'Submission' could be shown in the same session. Afterwards, as a 'palate clearer' artistically speaking (both are rather better made; 'Submission' is indeed an 'arthouse' film in style); but also because a great deal about contemporary Muslim bad conduct, as depicted in both, would snap into focus, after the MPs had seen the atrocious behaviour of Mohammed - the 'model' man for Muslims - on the screen in lurid, living colour.

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