An update on this story: as you can see below, now “journalist” Marc Thibodeau is pressuring Amnesty International to drop its support for Ensaf Haidar. Suddenly, because she met me, it is unimportant to this man that her husband is unjustly imprisoned in Saudi Arabia and awaiting lashings that could kill him. Thibodeau is showing himself to be the ideological kin of the Saudis who are persecuting Raif Badawi: they are punishing Raif for thoughtcrime, and Thibodeau is harassing Ensaf, also for thoughtcrime. Totalitarians all. If Raif Badawi is murdered in Saudi Arabia, will Thibodeau pop the cork on a bottle of non-alcoholic champagne?
Another fascist, hard-Left “academic” Thomas Juneau, weighs in also in Thibodeau’s latest salvo, and also on Twitter:
Follow up article in La Presse on this, quoting me: few people have heard of Spencer in Quebec, who, like other racists and Islamophobes, amalgamates all members of one group together and fails to differentiate between extremists fringes and the majority.https://t.co/yfQKBAgGdJ
— Thomas Juneau (@thomasjuneau) February 26, 2019
Hello @thomasjuneau. Kindly explain why you're libeling me as a "racist." Are you an academic and yet you think Islam is a race? Do you think Muslims are all of one race? Are you aware that people convert to Islam and also leave Islam, while it is impossible to change one's race? https://t.co/0YaUFJJIGZ
— Robert Spencer (@jihadwatchRS) February 26, 2019
Hello @thomasjuneau. Please explain why you're libeling me as an "Islamophobe." Doubtless you're aware that this is a smear term chosen by a Muslim Brotherhood group (the IIIT) to intimidate people into fearing to oppose jihad mass murder and Sharia oppression. Why do you use it? https://t.co/0YaUFJJIGZ
— Robert Spencer (@jihadwatchRS) February 26, 2019
Hello @thomasjuneau. You libelously claim that I "fail to differentiate between extremists [sic] fringes and the majority." Please provide a quote from me in which I do that. Something I said, not what someone claims I've said. Or have you not actually read anything I've written? https://t.co/0YaUFJJIGZ
— Robert Spencer (@jihadwatchRS) February 26, 2019
Last questions, @thomasjuneau. Do you really think it is "racist" and "Islamophobic" to oppose jihad mass murder and Sharia oppression of women, gays, and others? Are you really in favor of Raif Badawi being imprisoned and lashed? How do you sleep? https://t.co/0YaUFJJIGZ
— Robert Spencer (@jihadwatchRS) February 26, 2019
“Ensaf Haidar says she is being unjustly ‘demonized,'” translated from “Ensaf Haidar dit être injustement ‘diabolisée,'” by Marc Thibodeau, La Presse, February 26, 2019:
Ensaf Haidar believes that she has been unfairly “demonized” because of the friendly ties she has established with an American author who has been denounced as an “extremist” by several organizations fighting against hate propaganda.
Saudi dissident Raif Badawi’s wife claims that an article from La Presse yesterday about her friendship with Robert Spencer was a “message to Islamists to attack” her.
She warned that she would hold the daily responsible for “any harm” to her safety, that of her children or that of her husband, who has been detained since 2012 in Saudi Arabia.
The Sherbrooke resident also criticized the credibility and conclusions of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which accuses Robert Spencer of stirring hatred against Muslims through his work.
She has also retweeted the writings of author and activist Djemila Benhabib, who has accused another organization critical of Spencer, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), of being in the pay of fundamentalists. Ms. Benhabib serves as Vice President of the Raif Badawi Foundation.
Repressed by the English government
Ms. Haidar again refused yesterday to answer La Presse’s questions about her friendship with Mr. Spencer, whom she met especially during a visit to Washington a few weeks ago.
The American had been turned back by the British government in 2013 on the pretext that he was holding a speech on Islam likely to disrupt “intercommunity peace”.
The SPLC notes that he has spent a good part of his life producing books and articles aimed at “demonizing and mistreating Muslims and the Islamic faith”.
Spencer says he denounces “jihadist terror and sharia oppression” and has never written anything that encourages hatred “against anyone”.
The coordinator of the section of Amnesty International of Estrie, Mireille Elchacar, who has worked for a long time with Ms. Haidar, said yesterday that her organization did not have any advice to give her regarding her association with the American author.
“Ensaf is very happy to be able to use her Canadian citizenship and her freedom of expression” to put forward her beliefs, Ms. Elchacar noted.
After Radio-Canada quoted Amnesty International about it in an afternoon article, Haidar was outraged online.
“What are they trying to do? Why are they questioning Amnesty on this subject? I will also review my relationship with Radio-Canada! She wrote.
“Not a good idea”
Thomas Juneau, a Middle East specialist at the University of Ottawa, believes that Ms. Haidar’s friendship with Spencer is “not a good idea.”
The American author is unknown in Quebec, but “occupies a fairly important media space among far-right Islamophobes” south of the border, said Mr. Juneau.
“At the intellectual level, he should not be taken seriously at all. But he must be taken seriously at the political level,” notes Mr. Juneau, who is concerned that individuals like Mr. Spencer find online “a powerful megaphone” to disseminate their ideas.
“Like Islamophobes in general, he tends to amalgamate extremists with the daily, moderate practice of the vast majority of Muslims,” he notes.
Michael Copeland says
Thibodeau thus further demolishes his own credibility.
A spectacular own goal.
mortimer says
Thibodeau may be receiving bribes from Saudi Arabia to whitewash their EVIL TREATMENT of journalists and take the HEAT off of Saudi FASCISM.
THIBODEAU, if you lie down with DOGS, YOU WAKE UP WITH FLEAS.
End PC says
Yes, I suspect money is buying this and other attacks against anti-Islam experts, as well as buying white-washing of Islam by corrupted “scholars.” Should not be surprised.
Jon Sobieski says
This episode with fascists attacking Spencer and Haidar gives us a look into the plotting and scheming. Such emails/DMs enthusiastically chatting about how they can use the pen to destroy Haidar and Spencer. Do Goebbels proud. It’s orgasmic to them.
Westman says
What a horrible man is Marc Thibodeau to put a man’s life at risk to shoot a few self-satisfying arrows. We have seen so many like him who are without natural affection and I have personally have watched new journalists have their lives, over the years, descend from idealism to depression and a bottle through the results of “gotcha” jouralism.
Of course, anyone who actually reads the Quran and Sunna knows the future mahem coming to Canada, from Islam, comes from the true believers, not the complacent. What excuse Thibodeau will offer, when it is undeniable, one can only imagine. Given his current ease of possibly getting a man killed, one could conclude his desire for attention knows no bounds, not even causing loss of life.
J D.S says
More stupidity coming out of “junior’s” Canada. Smear tactics As this supposedly journalist puts out shows his journalism is nothing but NOTHING and reasonable people will just ignore his rantings
gravenimage says
Fascist “journalist” Marc Thibodeau steps up his smear campaign against Ensaf Haidar for meeting Robert Spencer
…………………
Repulsive.
Has Thibodeau said what is so bad about opposing the horrors of Jihad?
mortimer says
Neither Thibodeau nor Juneau know Islam’s jihad doctrine.
mgoldberg says
He likely thinks arguing against ‘Islamophobes’ is his Jihad, and he will furiously continue to believe that….. and will adamantly refuse to study what he was shown by Robert, and anyone else.
gravenimage says
I’m sure they are ignorant about Islam–but they won’t let this stop them.
vlparker says
Leftists are vermin. There is no other way to put it. They are human trash totally devoid of any decency.
tedh754 says
These people won’t learn until the knives are at their throats.
Trish says
I don’t Know who that man is but I do know that CAIR and SPLC are BOTH bad news. As for being called an Islamaphobic, a phobia is defined as an irrational fear…I believe it’s perfectly rational for myself (and anyone else who has ever tasted FREEDOM) to be fearful about the fact that the Western hemisphere is being taken over by the East, and it’s lack of freedom, WITH full cooperation of our politicians AND against the WILL of the People they’re supposed to be SERVING….
John McCall says
As a Quebecker, I’m ashamed of this asshole reporter and I apologize to Robert collectively for all of us. For those who might dismiss me as not a real Quebecois because of my name, my great grandfather arrived here in the mid 1800s, I was born at the Lachine General Hospital in 1952 and was raised in St. Sauveur see Monts in the Laurentians.
gravenimage says
I know that not all Quebecois are like this creep, John. I also know that there have been those with English backgrounds–and certainly, with English names–in Quebec for centuries.
John McCall says
Thanks Graven
gravenimage says
🙂
mortimer says
Most Quebeckers won’t swallow this BS. Thibodeau was sent on a search-and-destroy mission by his editor.
Thibodeau didn’t investigate the LIES about Robert Spencer, but merely REPEATED THE LIES without finding out if there was any merit in them.
Thibodeau IS NOT DOING HIS JOB OF LOOKING TO FIND THE TRUTH if all he can do is to REPEAT OLD PROPAGANDA UNCRITICALLY.
Thibodeau is a PROPAGANDIST, not a reporter… a sell-out.
Take a shower, Thibodeau. You know what you smell like.
Johane says
I’m a Quebecker and I’m also ashamed of what these guys are saying. Robert Spencer is just telling the truth about Islam and JIhad etc. LIke he said in his tweet Islam is not a race. Nowadays, the “libtarts” are calling anything and anybody racist…
AleX says
As a Canadian living in Québec, I too wish Robert well. His site is very instructive.
Same with the participants in the comments’ section: I haven’t seen a better and more informed, intellectual and source-based, refined and articulate readers elsewhere.
If only the smug, uninformed Thibodeau have read some articles in JW before publishing his garbage article! Shame on him and shame on La Presse, a hub of leftist infestation and linguistical fascism of French supremacism!
Thibodeau should be held accountable for libel and defamation of a writer and its readers.
gravenimage says
Agreed, AleX.
Terry Gain says
“At the intellectual level, he should not be taken seriously at all. But he must be taken seriously at the political level,” notes Mr. Juneau,
…….
What utter nonsense. A debate is In order. Please challenge him Mr. Spencer. He’s obviously a know-nothing about both Islam and you.
mortimer says
Agree … exactly. DEBATE if you can. However, even Islam’s top debaters have been defeated by Robert Spencer.
Giacomo Latta says
Leftists aren’t debaters. They are deaf broken records.
LB says
Robert already challenged him by saying “Please provide a quote from me in which I do that. Something I said, not what someone claims I’ve said.” Naturally, no response from the programmed fascist NPC who can only repeat buzz-words and catch-phrases provided to him by leftist hive mind. If he can’t respond to a tweet, what makes you think he will accept an open public debate lol
Terry Gain says
LB
I never said either Juneau or Thibodeau would accept a debate challenge. I am sure they wouldn’t because they would get creamed. But they should very publicly be challenged so that their cowardice is exposed.
eduardo odraude says
Thibodeau writes,
“The SPLC notes that [Spencer] has spent a good part of his life producing books and articles aimed at “demonizing and mistreating Muslims and the Islamic faith”.”
Thibodeau’s use of the word “notes” there and at another point in the article is his rather sneaky way of passing off an opinion as though it were a fact. After all, one merely “notes” facts, whereas one must argue for one’s opinion. But Thibodeau wants his readers not to notice that he and the SPLC are merely expressing their own, highly questionable, opinion. We are supposed to take it that they are merely passively “noting”, noticing or reporting, something that exists in plain sight. Thibodeau further camouflages that little sleight of hand verb by using appropriate journalistic distancing at earlier points in his article, for example by putting “extremist” in quotations marks. But having gotten his readers thus to drop their guard, Thibodeau then slips in that little verb, “notes,” and hopes no one will notice his manipulation there.
If Thibodeau were an honest “journalist,” he would instead have written, “In my opinion, the SPLC’s assertion about Spencer is correct, and here’s why I make that claim…” But Thibodeau could not do that, because he does not have the facts on his side.
Jon Sobieski says
Yup. I think the Telegraph or Daily Mail, in describing the jihadi bride who wants to come back to England with her just born son this way She ‘fled’ England to Syria. What? She fled England? She chose and left, But they want to instill this idea she was persecuted in England and garner sympathy. It is so phoney. Same technique, yes?
eduardo odraude says
Sounds like it.
gravenimage says
+1
Giacomo Latta says
”The SPLC notes …”
No one has heard of Thibodeau. Most are familiar with the SPLC. He will be forgotten tomorrow.
mortimer says
If Muslims are so ‘MODERATE’, Mr. Juneau, then why are THOUSANDS OF MUSLIMS NOT ‘DAILY’ PROTESTING THE ARREST OF RAIF BADAWI?
The SILENCE OF MUSLIMS with regard to INJUSTICE IN SAUDI ARABIA means APPROVAL of applying BRUTAL SHARIA LAW.
So, Mr. Juneau, the SILENT MAJORITY OF MUSLIMS APPROVES SHARIA… and their SILENCE makes them complicit.
You can’t have it both ways.
Terry Gain says
As you know Mortimer, the Koran vilifies and dehumanizes Jews and commands Muslims to make war on them. There is no such thing as a moderate Muslim. The distinction is between Active Jihadists and Passive Jihadists.
All Muslims are adherents of the same evil, supremacist, totalitarian, irrational, conquest ideology.
RobT says
One thing to keep in mind about this story is that the Quebec government intends to forbid state employees from wearing religious garb on the job. I’m not a fan of the measure, one that is effectively a hijab ban that dares not speak its name while affecting Christians and Jews who never caused trouble, but it falls within the conception of state secularism that has been in place in Quebec since the 1960s. Unsurprisingly, the multicultaralists and federal government propagandists like La Presse have been working constantly to portray the measure as islamophobic.
Enter Mrs. Haidar who, three weeks ago, weighted in on the debate by agreeing with a minster who called the hijab a form of women’s oppression. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence Thibodeau went out looking for dirt around that time. La Presse had no problem printing articles about Mrs. Haidar and her husband’s plight as long as they could use them to promote the arrival of refugees from the muslim world, but the moment she criticized one aspect of Islam, they ran a hatchet job on her.
gravenimage says
Thanks for this background.
Keys says
Yes, at this time I believe that “journalist” Marc Thibodeau would survive a visit to a Saudi Arabian embassy and come out in one piece, likely a wealthier “man”.
Lydia Church says
Slander, Propaganda, and Lies Center at it again with their smear campaigns, it’s getting as bad as the UK around here now…!
Lydia Church says
The SPLC is the hate group!
Coonie says
The truth seldom pleases, Mr. Spencer must have a superhuman strength to try to make it understood … especially among the leftists.
gravenimage says
+1
dan christensen says
Robert Spencer is the incarnation of Marcus Tullius Cicero and Dr. Johnson. We all hope that he may keep going on strongly. His texts are unusual clear and to the point – he has the support of every thinking person.
Dixi.
gravenimage says
Hear, hear!
Coonie says
Bravo!!!
Max says
Socialists and Muslim apologists like Marc Thibodeau have one rule. The end justifies the means, regardless of the human or any other cost. They are psychopaths.
Terry Gain says
Perhaps, but in my experience Islamophiles have a very superficial and unjustified understanding of Islam. They have fallen for the propaganda. Muslims are masters of propaganda.
gravenimage says
This is often true, Terry.
Charles says
I can only imagine the fear one must have felt when Tomas De Torquemada, or Robert Bellarmine, or John Hathorn leveled the charge of “blasphemy” against you. Thomas Juneau is a modern day version. I find Robert Spencer’s courage to tell the examined, demonstrable truth as a public service. Never once has he incited violence, but rather has exposed the theological underpinnings of terror, censorship, and control of social systems under the rule of Islamic jurisprudence. Thank God for the power and resolve of our first amendment rights, otherwise shallow minded sophists like Thomas De Juneau would “virtuously” hunt the critics and the investigators.
Terry Gain says
Mr. Spencer has always been careful to distinguish between Islam as an ideology and Muslims as people. These attacks upon him have no merit. No one in North America is more knowledgeable about Islam.
Larry A. Singleton says
It’s bad enough that JW has no print function to speak of. When I try to print out what I can that stupid “secured by sucuri” tag pops up on every page and superimposes itself on the article.
I know people work hard getting these articles out. People don’t pay for them, etc, etc, etc.
But I wish that these so-called conservative sites would have some mercy on those who truly study the issues and print out the articles so that we don’t have to read them off a damned computer screen.
gravenimage says
Larry–I could be mistaken, I am not that tech savvy–but I believe that the Securi problem may be at your end. (I had a similar problem–not with JW–and it was on my end).
You can contact Marc Louis at the “Contact Us” box on the right-hand side of the page–it is the second contact down–for help with technical issues.