Anti-dhimmitude from the National Post, with thanks to all who sent this in:
In Britain and much of continental Europe, radical clerics preaching hate to Muslim communities is nothing new. Here, thankfully, it remains less common. But recent lessons have taught us about the dangers of such ideas winning adherents on the fringes of our Muslim communities. Consequently, we would expect our government to do everything in its power to keep out clerics who have been preaching hate elsewhere.
Whether or not Ottawa is indeed willing to do so may well be tested by how it handles the planned visit of Sheik Riyadh ul-Haq.
Formerly a cleric at Birmingham Central Mosque, one of England’s largest mosques, Mr. Haq has been described by Tarek Fatah — host of Canadian TV show The Muslim Chronicle — as “a nasty piece of work.” According to transcripts distributed last week by the Canadian Coalition for Democracies (CCD), Mr. Haq has delivered speeches and lectures in which he has endorsed martyrdom; claimed that other religions are engaged in a “war against Islam”; described the Taliban as trustworthy “servants of Allah”; attacked Muslims considered by Westerners to be “moderates”; described Jews and Hindus as “the most unrelenting, unforgiving” enemies of Islam; and repeatedly launched other rants against Jews, including claiming they believe they “are superior to every other race” and have “monopolized” everything from “the global economy” to the Holocaust, and urging others “to see through their propaganda, their lies, and deceit and to view them as they really are and thus treat them accordingly.”
These are not the sorts of messages that should be reaching Muslim youth. But later this month and next, Mr. Haq is scheduled to pay a visit to Canada. While an appearance at McMaster University in Hamilton has been cancelled, he still plans to address youth in Toronto and Montreal….
It is not a viable option to begin expelling citizens — even landed immigrants — for expressing extremist views.
Why not?
But that doesn’t mean we are compelled to open our doors to hate-mongers. While no visitor will single-handedly turn law-abiding young Muslims into Jihadis, voices of hatred foment hostility and unrest with extremely dangerous consequences. To help prevent those, our immigration and security officials should pay close attention to the messages visitors are bringing to Canada.
Yes. For a start.