A major “Islamophobic” incident has taken place in Canada. The National Post explains:
An Ontario legislator is racking up online praise for his response to Islamophobic remarks directed at him at MuslimFest over the weekend. A video posted online and viewed more than 250,000 times shows NDP Gurratan Singh, who represents the riding of Brampton East, responding to a man’s anti-Muslim remarks at the event in Mississauga, Ont. In the video, Singh tells the man that he condemns racism.
But what did this man, whose name is Stephen Garvey, actually say to garner this kind of attention, scorn, and charges of “racism” and “Islamophobia”? He asked the provincial politician Gurratan Singh whether he supported “political Islam” or “sharia law.” That’s it.
Let’s look at a comparable example about the subject matter of hate speech and racism, as this is the second time in less than a week that such a topic has made national headlines in Canada.
Several days ago, Jihad Watch ran the first such piece, which was about a Canadian federal Liberal candidate who spewed hatred against Jews. Liberal Party candidate and prominent religious leader Hassan Guillet was busted by B’nai Brith for his history of antisemitic comments, and only upon a public outcry was he dumped by the Liberals as a candidate.
Here is what was said about him:
- Guillet referred to Israel as an “apartheid state,” with no justification for this claim. Imagine if someone said that Islamic states are apartheid states, based on their supremacist values.
- “In January of 2017, Guillet celebrated the release of Raed Salah, a Hamas-aligned activist who has accused Jews of staging the 9/11 terror attacks and has claimed that Jews use children’s blood for baking holy bread.”
- Guillet hailed Salah as a “jihad-fighter” and “frontier-fighter” whom “Allah will surely support.” Guillet congratulated Salah “on being freed from ‘the prisons of occupied Palestine,’ and prayed that he will some day be successful in the fight to liberate ‘the whole of Palestine.’”
Something is dreadfully wrong when a so-called respectable religious leader gets away with spewing dangerous, racist and hateful statements against Jews for so long, and is subsequently accepted by the federal governing party as a political candidate. Meanwhile, the media and certain politicians jump on the back of a citizen simply for asking questions about the sharia and political Islam.
The media generally ran with a narrative about Garvey’s remarks being “Islamophobic” and what a big hero Singh was for keeping his composure under the strain of Garvey’s “racism.” The media also went on about how Singh made his brother, federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, so proud. Notice, however, that Singh never addressed Garvey’s concerns about sharia or political Islam, but instead dismissed him with name-calling (“racist”), which escalated an already volatile situation. When Garvey was accused of being racist by Gurratan Sigh, he shouted– “I am not racist. I am not racist.” The media dismissed this as special pleading, but in fact concern about sharia is not racist.
While every Western society should continue to fight the ills of racism (including racism between visibly minority groups and religious discrimination and supremacism), there needs to be caution about crying wolf. Let’s be fair and ask the question: what was “hateful,” “racist” and “Islamophobic” about Garvey’s questions? Maybe Garvey can be accused of disrupting a peaceful event, given the scene he created, and there were also unverified accusations that Garvey was disparaging toward police in his rage that followed the incident, but creating a scene is outside the domain of whether Garvey should be categorized as a “racist” or “Islamophobic.”
Garvey was also accused of ignorance in mistaking a Sikh for a Muslim. This sometimes happens, but there is no actual evidence that Garvey did confuse the two. He was directing his question about sharia to a politician, which is valid in itself, and does not indicate that he assumed that the politician was Muslim. Sharia has been a longstanding concern in Canada: back in 2003, then-Ontario Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty declared after a long brouhaha concerning religious arbitration in Ontario that “there will be no Sharia law in Ontario….there will be one law for all Ontarians.” The question about sharia is no less relevant today.
It is unjustifiable to immediately judge Garvey as a “racist” because he inquired about Singh’s position on political Islam and sharia. Garvey, like many others, has now experienced being tried and convicted of “hate,” “racism” and “Islamophobia” in the court of public opinion by the media, the Singh brothers, and other Canadians who have surrendered to political correctness and identity politics. Such capitulation comes at a high cost for those who value the rule of law and freedom, and especially for the significant number of immigrants who have escaped countries where political strife based on religion is mainstream, disruptive, and even abusive and violent.
The attention given to this incident and the reaction to it from the Ontario legislature sets a disturbing precedent. The fallout from Garvey’s scene at MuslimFest only highlights the urgency of why questions about sharia and political Islam need to be openly addressed and discussed in Canada, without fear of reprisal. There needs to be a public discussion of Islamic supremacism, Muslim Brotherhood groups which are operating successfully on Western soil, efforts by powerful Sharia activists worldwide to curb the freedom of speech, Canada’s anti-Islamophobia motion M-103, which has been championed by questionable operatives, the Liberal Party’s determination to return Islamic State fighters back to Canada, the allowance of dual citizenship to jihad terrorists, the Islamic supremacist entryist problem in Canada, etc. But such discussions are being shut down, since no one wants to face what Garvey is facing now, and others before him have faced, suffering reprimands, dismissals and defamation for calling out the real dangers of sharia.
Another celebration in Canada — Islamic Heritage Month — also made news awhile back, and it turned up a disturbing definition of “Islamophobia” provided by the National Council of Canadian Muslims (formerly CAIR-CAN) for students in a guidebook in the Toronto District School Board. The NCCM defined the term as: “fear, prejudice, hatred or dislike directed against Islam or Muslims, or towards Islamic politics or culture.”
B’nai Brith challenged this definition, and it was slightly altered. But in light of it, there is little wonder that Garvey would be concerned about sharia and political Islam, but the Canadian media and public officials, instead of reassuring him and other Canadians, made him out to be a hate-mongering racist.
If Canadian citizens and media alike continue to be unwilling to address the elephant in the room, Canada’s prized freedoms of expression and of the press will be lost.
My brother @theJagmeetSingh taught me to always confront racism.
I will never respond to an Islamophobe by stating, "I am not a Muslim".
Instead, I will always stand with my Muslim brothers and sisters and say hate is wrong ✊🏾. https://t.co/MaBPc3sBb1
— Gurratan Singh (@GurratanSingh) September 2, 2019
“Jagmeet Singh proud of brother for confronting heckler at MuslimFest,” by Catharine Tunney, CBC, September 2, 2019:
Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he’s proud of his brother for confronting comments Ontario politician Gurratan Singh says amounted to Islamophobia during a festival in Mississauga this weekend.
In a video posted to Twitter on Sunday, a protester later identified as National Citizens Alliance founder Stephen Garvey confronts Gurratan Singh at MuslimFest, and asks if he supports Shariah law and “political Islam.”
The Brampton East MPP responds, “We don’t need that kind of racism in Canada.”
Security can be seen trying to escort Garvey out while he’s yelling, “I’m not racist. I’m not racist at all.”
During a stop in Toronto on Monday to mark Labour Day, Jagmeet Singh told reporters: “I gotta admit, I’m proud of my brother for responding with strength, responding clearly that that is wrong.
“For so many Canadians this a reality, that what happened to my brother yesterday is not a one-off incident.”
The NDP leader, whose family is actually Sikh, said it’s important to come out against any form of racism.
“Any time I’ve been faced — or any time my brother clearly has been faced — with Islamophobia, the response hasn’t been, ‘Hey, I’m not a Muslim,’ it’s, ‘Hey, hate is wrong and we’ve got to stand together,'” Singh said.
“People, because of their gender, because of their sexuality, because of the colour of their skin, because of their language, because of their religion face that on a regular basis. I want to say to you, don’t give up, believe in who you are, be confident, be strong. But it’s all our responsibility, collectively, to make sure you don’t have to take this on your own.”
Gurratan Singh tweeted out the video of the confrontation Sunday, adding he “will always stand with my Muslim brothers and sisters and say hate is wrong.”….
gravenimage says
Canada: Man smeared as “racist” for asking politician questions about political Islam and Sharia at MuslimFest
……………………
How is asking questions about Islam “anti-Muslim”–unless they are assuming that every Muslim wants to impose Shari’ah law? Even less is this “racist”–again, Islam is not a race.
And what kind of fool is Gurratan Singh? Doesn’t he know the depredations of Islam against Sikhs? Yet I have seen this aggressive dhimmitude against any questioning of Islam from some Sikhs nonetheless. (Please note this is *not* a blanket condemnation of Sikhs, just an observation of the suicidal behavior of a few. Sadly, you see this appeasement of Islam from Infidels of many groups).
Rob says
Extract from piece by Rod Liddle in a recent issue of the Spectator:
‘Hideous atrocities carried out by right-wing extremists are quickly identified as such and the ideology behind the atrocities rightly eviscerated. But when atrocities are carried out by Islamic terrorists the ideology is never mentioned and instead it is usually assumed that the perpetrators are suffering from a kind of ‘condition’ which made them do the stuff they did’.
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
I was going post a link to this story but I decided to go right by it. My assessment is that Garvey is an embarrassment to those “freedom fighters” who are well read and knowledgable about Islam. I went to check out some of his videos and they are often “cringe worthy.” One in particular made me wince: he repeatedly mispronounced the word “Shariah.” Did this man ever view one of the many videos by Robert Spencer, Bill Warner, David Wood, Jamie Glazov, Daniel Greenfield (to name but a very few of many)? If he would have then he would know how to pronounce the word! So I can assume that he knows very little.
Obviously, he’s okay with shooting off his mouth without boning up on some facts; without educating himself. (“A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.”) And to my mind, that makes him a liability, not a valuable ally. He makes all of us, who want to protect our societies and cultures from the cunning destructive forces of Islam and Shariah, look bad, very bad.
gravenimage says
If Garvey mispronounces Shari’ah, that is less than ideal. But surely anyone has the right to ask if our elected officials support political Islam and Shari’ah, whether they are scholars of Islam or not? This affects us all.
And I very much doubt that he is being called a “racist’ here because he mispronounced Shari’ah.
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
You are correct. Everybody has the *right* ask questions and make constructive criticisms. Everybody. Prohibiting debate is enforcing blasphemy laws and no modern state should do so.
He was called a “racist” because name calling and ad hominem attacks are a useful tool for those that cannot debate or want to avoid answering tough question.
However, he was not some guy who came along and asked tough questions. He is a political player and made a video of the encounter. And he was going to use this video to make a point. Surely, if someone is going to do that they should at least prepare for the debate and know their topic, no?
Now he’s learned that if you show up for a joust with Islam and/or its water carriers then you had damn well better be prepared because those people are underhanded and can fight dirty.
gravenimage says
I do prefer it if everyone who asks questions about Islam are absolutely solid in their knowledge–but I think it is even more important that a *lot* of people ask these questions. If it is just a handful of scholars questioning support for Islam, then it likely will not be enough.
libertyORdeath says
I agree with you Flavius, this man is extremely ill informed starting with his agressive questioning of a Sikh about his implied support for shariah and political Islam.
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
“Swedish Right-Wing Leader Calls for Zero Immigration, Repatriation of Migrants”
https://www.newswars.com/swedish-right-wing-leader-calls-for-zero-immigration-repatriation-of-migrants/
gravenimage says
*Good*.
CogitoErgoSum says
A person who sees everything in terms of race is a racist. Furthermore, Islam and Shariah are not limited to any one particular race. According to the Quran they are to be applied to EVERYBODY.
gravenimage says
+1
libertyORdeath says
I wish that more people in the West would realize this fact. The same goes for supposed feminism…those who see issues only in terms of gender are sexist.
DHazard says
New-speak teams from Canada have scored a decisive win over the Free-speech player “random white guy”.
The trend is ominous for lovers of the truth.
E T says
In Canada, if you see something, say something, just DON’T say anything about a Muslim. The leader of the federal NDP party, Singh, is no doubt proud that every NDP member voted in favour of M-103, the motion , Iqra Khalid, the Muslim MP from Mississauga-Erin Mills introduced . Canadians should be aware that Omar Alghabra, MP For Mississauga Center is one of Justine Trudeau’s close advisors and he is also the man who when he was a member or Provincial Parliament tried to introduce Shari’ah law into Ontario. All the Federal Liberals voted in favour of M-103, except cya Justine who was probably out looking for unicorns or rainbows the day of the vote.
I recently had a man yell at me when I mentioned Shari’ah law. He told me there is too damn much hate in this world and he did not want to talk about it. There was to be no civil dialogue, he was right to yell at me with his distorted face, and I was being a RACIST. Canada is now a divided country, thanks to the left loons who have managed to do a good job whipping up hate. The Muslim Brotherhood hoods are most certainly very pleased with themselves and all the “I prefer to keep my head in the sand”, insecure people.
Qur’an 8:12. Allah will terrorize unbelievers; Muslims should behead them.
Qur’an 8:39. Fight the unbelievers until Islam reigns supreme.
Wellington says
Fine and informative post, E T. The Left ruins everything it touches—freedom, heritage, education, common sense, historical writing, late-night comedy, entire political parties, et al. Rather like Islam. No wonder they’re allies, at least until that day, should it come, when Islam, triumphant, goes after the Left as well.
gravenimage says
Yes–this about hate is projection.
StreetKillaz2019 says
Congratulations to that brave man, for having the conviction to stand up, and ask the hard questions.
Michael Copeland says
Dear Mr. Singh,
You said,
“I will always stand with my Muslim brothers and sisters and say hate is wrong.”
Muslims are instructed in their mosques that Sikhs are NOT their brothers and sisters, but are “the vilest of beasts” (Koran 8:22, part of Islamic law).
Islam does NOT instruct that “hate is wrong”, so it is not possible to “stand with” muslims on this subject.
Islam instructs muslims to hate non-muslims:
“As a muslim I must have hatred for everything non-Islam” – Anjem Choudary.
“You must love the muslims and hate the kuffaar” – http://www.muslimsagainstvoting
“Muslims in the West must have an attitude of enmity & hatred of the kaffirs” – http://www.islamqa.com
“…between us and you enmity and hatred forever” – Koran 60:4, part of Islamic law
One last question – do you support Sharia law?
Michael Copeland says
Two of the Sikh gurus – Guru Arjan (1563–1605) and Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621–1675) – were tortured and executed by the Mughal rulers after they refused to convert to Islam.[28][29] The persecution of Sikhs triggered the founding of the Khalsa as an order to protect the freedom of conscience and religion,[28][30] with qualities of a “Sant-Sipāhī” – a saint-soldier.[31][32] The Khalsa was founded by the last Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.
wikipedia
FYI says
It is quite surprising and it always amazes me that some Sikhs align themselves with muslims{and extremely naive and quite foolish}
As far as islam is concerned Sikhs{like Hindus and Buddhists}are classified as “kuffar” or infidels and thus can be subject to being forcibly converted,Jizya taxed or killed.
He says he stands with his muslim brothers and sisters:in fact they won’t see him as anything other than an infidel and certainly not as a brother.
Sikhs would be extremely foolish to align themselves with muslims:you can gain respect for your religion but not by consorting with those who seek to destroy us in west,what muslims call the Dar al Harb
Michael Copeland says
One small refinement: jizya tax is only available to “People of the Book” (Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, and a few others).
Sikhs and Hindus do not qualify. For them it is “Convert or be killed”.
gravenimage says
Good posts, Michael and FYI.
E T says
Now is probably the time Canadians should ask candidates in the up coming election, What do you think of M-103, why do we have this motion, and if the candidate is standing for re-election and if they are NDP or Liberal, why did they vote for such a motion? The Conservatives voted against M-103
Americans should ask their representatives Why did Hillary support the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Implementation of the UN Resolution 16/18.
I do not agree at all with Flavius, we need to start calling out the Political Correct politicians, all the apologists, and the press NOW. Who has all the control in the UN, surely not the 57 OIC countries—
Muslim countries.
The revered, Islamic scholar, Sayyid Qutb said: “No political system or material power should put hindrances in the way of preaching Islam. It should leave every individual free to accept or reject it, and if someone wants to accept it, it should not prevent him or fight against him. If someone does this, then it is the DUTY of ISLAM to FIGHT him until either he is KILLED OR UNTIL HE DECLARES HIS SUBMISSION.”
He also said “We will be EXTREMELY outspoken with them.”
Well now it is our turn to tell it like it really is. Stand up and fight back before it is too late for all of us.
Shari’ah law does not supersede our laws.
Lydia Church says
It’s not ‘hate.’
It’s not ‘racism.’
It’s a QUESTION!
One which he obviously could not answer.
Exposing the truth has become ‘hate’ and ‘racism,’ even if it has nothing to do with race.
I saw in one video how they talked about this, which I knew, but how they now strategically shut down all dialogue and debate and critique by calling the opposition ‘racism.’ It’s a plot. Then it’s open season on whatever they want to do, because to oppose or question it would, after all, be ‘racist.’ So it shuts down all dissent. Unless you have a backbone like me.
Drag queen story hours at public libraries for toddlers by convicted pedophile sex offenders?
Sharia law in Europe?
Persecuting Christians for not denying their faith regarding lgbt agendas?
Criminalizing the protecting of unborn babies?
Legalizing infanticide in the US?
Indoctrinating students in public schools with islam?
etc…..
No problem! Just call the opposition ‘racism’, and you have all green lights!
If you’re a wicked and perverse person who hates the Lord of course.
Well, they’ve done it, and most were stupid enough to not question it.
James Lincoln says
Lydia Church,
In the not too distant past, inaccurately being called a racist was extremely offensive. The visceral response become hardwired.
But the rules have changed. Be prepared to be called racist if you criticize Islam. But do not get triggered by it…
I have read Jihad Watch for about four years now and have seen very few blatantly racist remarks by readers who comment. The ones that do are appropriately called out.
That being said, essentially all Jihad Watch feature writers and commenters would be charged with racism by Muslims and the left.
The word racism is losing its original meaning, which is unfortunate because actual racism is disgusting.
gravenimage says
Agreed, James.
E T says
Thank you Wellington and all the patriots on this imformative site who stand up for our freedom.
gravenimage says
Hear, hear!
GreekEmpress says
+1
Ren says
Islam is not a race. Islam is just stupidity.
mortimer says
Canada’s Liberal Party was alerted about Gullett in JUNE 2019 and they DID NOTHING FOR 3 WHOLE MONTHS.
They obviously don’t think it’s genocidal solicitation WHEN MUSLIMS DO IT.
The Liberals are the LIB-JIHAD Party of Canada, since they are in bed with Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood.
mortimer says
Stephen Garvey denounced the NDP support for Sharia law, because Shari is 1) DISCRIMINATORY 2) MEDIEVAL and 3) MISOGYNISTIC.
How is Sharia law ‘A RACE’. It is a LAW CODE. If I dislike a LAW CODE, it doesn’t make me a racist.
Leftists have the DEFAULT CRITICISM of ‘racist’ whenever anyone criticizes their policies, even when no racism is involved whatsoever.
Pat Childs says
He is a rattle snake at an infant’s birthday party.
Robir Datta says
Sadly, some folks have a rather short collective memory.
Robir Datta says
And don’t know the difference between race & religion. Racist vs. religionist?
ToBeFrank says
I wonder if the Singh brothers are going to confront former premier of Ontario, Dalton McGuinty, on his racism and Islamophobia, when he said no to Sharia law back in 2005.
ToBeFrank says
The brothers Singh are also supporters of the World Sikh Organization… terror supporters.
ToBeFrank says
Maybe, a CBC reporter can ask the Singh brothers about WSO and the terror reports…
Kerry Wade says
This Sikh’s misplaced solidarity will get more people killed. He’s I’ll informed, a daft appeaser and a mealy minded politician. Not what I’d come to expect from Sikh’s.
Angemon says
And he is, seemingly, a Sikh – either an ignorant fool or twice the fool…
Giacomo Latta says
The opinion expressed by the witless G. Singh that Islam is a race and that it is of such high value that he will support everything Islam stands for is why J. Singh’s electioneering is not finding any traction. It started when his predecessor, Thomas Mulcair, casually stated that hijabs and burqas were just fine by him then saw his New Democratic Party sink from opposition party status to blip on the horizon.
E T says
The Canadian PM, Justine Trudeau says “Christians are the worst part of Canadian society”.
Toronto Imam Zqfar Bangash, York Islamic Society says “ It is time for us to pick up stones and stone these people to death for this abomination……Allah imposes this responsibility upon us.”
The Canadian government gives a Muslim, MP, Iqra Khalid, the woman from Pakistan, who introduced M-103, 23 million dollars to The National Council of Muslims and Islamic Relief for?????
Khalid who gave a certificate of appreciation to Amim El-Maoued, Public Relations Cheif of Palestine House.
Khalid who publicly stated: “Israel and Hitler are the same”.
A Canadian man is a racist for asking a politician a question about Shari’ah law and Canadians do not defend this man.
Islam considers all jahiliyyah societies Unislamic and illegal. Why not add brain dead, complacent, appeasers?
thestormafterthecalm says
Islam is the fourth and final beast, with iron teeth, devouring the world, and trampling under foot all who oppose it. It gets its strength entirely from from non-Muslim, pro-Islamic, xenocentric minions that the globalists have successfully indoctrinated through the use of behavioral science. The globalists purposely cause violence and bloodshed in Islamic nations, with the contractual consent of such nations, so that it would cause Westerners to develop a deep sympathy and empathy toward the victims of Islamic nations. In addition, pro-Islamic college professors have taught the the Western governments are wicked and their duped students, like the duped citizens, buy into it.
toomanyhobbies says
“Islamophobia” is an fallacy as a phobia is a rational fear of a real thing. Fear of TERRORIST that belong to a CULT that has been murdering people for over 1500 years is not irrational but only common sense.
Rose Keeling says
More democratic name calling tactics when asked any questions they don’t like,,,, WAKE THE HELL UP PEOPLE, WAKE UP… U ARE KILLING AND DISTROYING OUR OWN COUNTRIES WHEN U LET THESE OTHERS WHO REFUSE TO ASSIMUATE TO US TAKE OVER OUR COUNTRIES AND WHO WE ARE AS PEOPLE…. GOD HELP US…
UNCLE VLADDI says
Re: “Garvey, like many others, has now experienced being tried and convicted of “hate,” “racism” and “Islamophobia” in the court of public opinion by the media, the Singh brothers, and other Canadians who have surrendered to political correctness and identity politics. Such capitulation comes at a high cost for those who value the rule of law and freedom, and especially for the significant number of immigrants who have escaped countries where political strife based on religion is mainstream, disruptive, and even abusive and violent.” …. and: “If Canadian citizens and media alike continue to be unwilling to address the elephant in the room, Canada’s prized freedoms of expression and of the press will be lost.” INDEED. Because that wasn’t “capitulation to politically correct identity politics, at a cost to the rule of law and freedom” it was the powerful committing illegal criminal FRAUD (slander is fraud against the person) and getting away with it. Since the so-called criminal “justice” system obviously doesn’t exist in Canada, and it has become apparent they won’t be charged for their crimes, Garvey should sue Singh and the enemedia for defaming him with their public slanders.
gravenimage says
This politician’s brother–another politician–is just as big a dhimmi:
“Canada: Sikh leader of far-left party unveils plan to combat ‘Islamophobia’”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2019/09/canada-sikh-leader-of-far-left-party-unveils-plan-to-combat-islamophobia