CSIS is Canada’s Security Intelligence Service; its mission can be likened to its counterpart, the CIA.
Canada’s spy agency is being sued for racial and religious discrimination by a longtime employee who alleges that his Muslim faith marked him as a target for harassment, emotional abuse and even physical assaults.
Next, note the reference to the Muslim complainant as a “second class spy.” Right out front, CBC has established in the minds of the reader that this complainant is being treated as “second class” as a Muslim, but CBC makes sure to include the “technical” reference that he only “alleges” this mistreatment. When one considers the sheer number of active discrimination cases in the workplace Canada-wide (i.e. in every city and town of every province), it is peculiar that the publicly funded CBC, with a billion dollar a year taxpayer budget, would choose this one case to give completely one-sided blank check coverage.
There is significance in the identities of both the complainant (Muslim) and the accused (CSIS, which is tasked with national security, including bringing jihadists to justice). We routinely see a kind of eagerness to cover any stories that can be spun as instances of the victimization of Muslims. Whether Sameer Abadi’s complaint is true or not, the CBC decided to try CSIS in the court of public opinion; it allowed this complainant remarkable press coverage, in which Abadi defames his employer prior to the presentation of hard evidence in court. CBC should be covering the case as it unfolds professionally, with equal coverage of both sides and impartial journalistic standards; it should not be acting as a mouthpiece for Sameer Abadi against CSIS.
The Financial Times had it right in its article: Unfund the CBC, Canada’s Pravda and national enforcer of truth.
Canadian taxpayers have no say in the indiscreet activist “journalism” practiced by the CBC, which enjoys almost limitless funds with little accountability. There are countless Canadians who would welcome CBC giving them carte blanche to present their side of a lawsuit prior to the legal proceedings. No such luck for most.
“A ‘second class’ spy: Muslim CSIS agent alleges discrimination, abuse,” by Jonathon Gatehouse, CBC News, January 21, 2020:
Canada’s spy agency is being sued for racial and religious discrimination by a longtime employee who alleges that his Muslim faith marked him as a target for harassment, emotional abuse and even physical assaults.
The suit, filed in Federal Court in Ottawa last week by an intelligence analyst using the pseudonym Sameer Ebadi, claims a pattern of bullying and prejudice stretching back almost two decades that saw the man treated as a “second class citizen” within the ranks of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
“You know, it took me a long time to realize this, to see that, to begin with, anybody with [an] ethnic origin other than a Canadian-born one was a suspect…. Then you add faith and religion to that one, you’re going one step down,” Ebadi told CBC News in an exclusive interview, his voice choked with emotion. “I don’t think there is anybody in terms of the class of employees lower than the [a] practicing Muslim at the service.”
The statement of claim alleges that the analyst — who was recruited by CSIS at the beginning of the 2000s because of his Middle Eastern background and fluency in several languages — was subject to “discrimination, bullying, physical assaults, religious persecution and the intentional infliction of emotional and physical harm” by his fellow spies, including attacks while he prayed in the privacy of his office. And it contends that agency managers “knowingly participated” in the misconduct or “stood idly by” while it happened.
As a result of what the suit called an “irretrievably hostile” workplace, the analyst claims he suffered extreme stress, which contributed to the breakdown of his marriage and left him with a host of psychological and medical ailments including severe anxiety, depression, hypertension and insomnia. He has been on sick leave since early 2018.
The suit seeks a total of $750,000 in damages, and further compensation for past and future loss of income. It names five CSIS employees, all also under pseudonyms, and David Vigneault, the director and public face of the spy agency. None of the allegations have been tested in court.
In an emailed statement, John Townsend, head of media relations for CSIS, declined to discuss the specifics of the claim. But he said in a statement that the agency takes any allegation of inappropriate behaviour, including harassment and discrimination, very seriously. He said the spy service has been working hard since Vigneault took over the reins in mid-2017 to make improvements to its “already robust” internal accountability measures, including a new code of conduct, town halls and a “respect campaign.”
“Our employees are always encouraged to report incidents of harassment, discrimination or bullying without fear of reprisal, and all of our managers are required to act promptly on any issues brought to their attention and, if necessary, request a formal investigation,” the statement said. “We make every effort to ensure that all employees feel respected and valued.”
Under Canada’s Security of Information Act, revealing the identity of an intelligence operative is a criminal offence. CBC News knows the analyst only by his alias, although his lawyer has vouched for his client’s employment and position.
Ebadi said in his interview he was initially excited to work for CSIS and to be given the opportunity to use his knowledge and skills to help protect his adopted homeland. But in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the way he was viewed by his colleagues began to shift, and everyday interactions were tainted by hostility and fear. Eventually, he says the work culture became toxic, with his loyalties constantly under scrutiny from fellow employees and the bosses in his Western Canada office.
Under surveillance
Once while out driving with his then-infant child in the back seat, Ebadi noticed he was being closely followed by another vehicle. “After a couple of intersections … he is still coming. So I tried to evade. I increased my speed. I went to the highway. He did the same thing,” Ebadi said. “I wasn’t sure if this person who is following me is an adversary, somebody who wants to harm me … because we were told that you are at risk all the time.”
Ebadi provided details of the high-speed chase to CSIS security officers, including the make and licence number of the other vehicle. But when there was no followup, he suspected he’d been tailed by members of his own team rather than a foe. Later, after his own car began to experience electrical problems, Ebadi says his mechanic found a mysterious GPS tracking device that had been hidden in the engine compartment and was draining the batter….
gravenimage says
CBC gives Muslim carte blanche coverage in upcoming discrimination lawsuit against CSIS
……………………
In other words, more pro-Islam propaganda, with the absurd propaganda that Muslims are all persecuted by mean Canadian Islamophobe racists. What a load of crap.
Ray Jarman says
GravenImage,
You hit the nail on the head. It is certainly a load of crap.
keith says
Too true, however the other thing to look at is the CBC may have actually done everyone a huge favor. Making all of this matter public knowledge can be argued by any mildly competent lawyer as influencing a jury or a court and as such is grounds to have the whole matter tossed out.
I’m not defending the actions of the CBC! I think ANY news outlet that does this is no better than the bottom feeder tabloids.
Many a good man/woman has had their lives destroyed by these vermin who value ratings above the truth.
Max Brenner says
It is not about “ratings” .CBC is run by Globalists through a set of interlocking economic relationships. Those Globalist = Canadian Power Elite who wish to establish totalitarian control.
WAKE UP! A small group of elite are running Canada, The Canadian Media and the Liberal Party.
All the murder, rape, jihad, loss of freedom, encroaching enslavement, It is all Deliberate
Sarah says
Yes agreed … big stinking load of crappy lies .
And also ; you can’t put “professionalism “ and CBC in the same sentence .
Jenny says
With Trudeau and his ilk in charge, what else can we expect. Also, call me crazy but when Trudeau won this recent election, I’m positive I saw his air head wife Sophie make the isis sign with her index finger pointed upward. I wasnt able to find any photos of it later. Sigh…what is going on???
Thomas Richard says
The taxpayer funded CBC is simply echoing Trudeau’s Muslim mindset……the imposition of Shariah law on Canadians…..The purpose is to stifle law enforcement and the intel community from confronting The Third Jihad!
mortimer says
This scandal could reveal details that could blow the cover of many agents. It is totally irresponsible and traitorous.
The Muslim former agent has shown that he is not working for Canada but for himself and for Islam. He proves that he was not loyal.
The country comes before all interpersonal and intercollegial matters.
Terry Gain says
It concerns me that CSIS would hire a Muslim. It is a given that CBC is pro Muslim. CBC has been spinning everything left for 50 years.
mortimer says
The CBC has been so biased in the last few years, it has very little credibility. Not only biased, but it is imbued with a culture of wincing smugness.
James Lincoln says
mortimer,
Pretty much like the wretched BBC…
E T says
I quit watching CBC 15 years ago, they are not a news organization. The Canadian Liberal Broadcasting Corporation should NOT receive any money from the taxpayers and the Liberals shoud be made to claim them as an election advertising expense.
Jenny says
Yes and it’s hard to be patient with anyone who has respect for that propaganda tool.
Martin says
CBC – Muslim CSIS agent claims workplace harassment
A Muslim employee of Canada’s spy agency, CSIS, is suing his employer, alleging he suffered constant bullying and abuse from colleagues because of his religion.
He says he and his family were put under surveillance and that he was physically harassed when he would pray in his office and he now suffers from PTSD and depression.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGtaH61oS_Y
Jayme says
The main thing here the CBC is down playing the Feds have a policy you can’t pray in your office most buildings have rooms where you can pray.
James Lincoln says
“The suit seeks a total of $750,000 in damages, and further compensation for past and future loss of income.”
“Lawfare” jihad…
gravenimage says
So true, James.
Westman says
Hey, it’s government money; in one pocket and out the other. CBC doesn’t care as long as the settlement won’t come out of the CBC’s government budget. Government money is inexhaustible, right? Lawsuits are a means to financial independence on the government money; dole on steroids! Get yours at the first opportunity – a greedy (or desperate) law firm awaits you. We even have advisors to help you set up a “victim” opportunity. Call now, (888) 414-7752.
John says
>> Ebadi says his mechanic found a mysterious GPS tracking device that had been hidden in the engine compartment and was draining the batter….<< So an internally active secret service agency is not capable of using GPS tracker that does not have an own long life power source?
Giacomo Latta says
This all sounds like a preliminary to something else. Being in the terrible mental state that he says he is (let me call him ”Slasher” in order to not reveal his true identity), Slasher is probably on the verge of a rampage of slashing, killing and bombing. Not only will he want the monetary damages stipulated but he will also want to be recompensed for the knives, bonds and other materiel used in the murderous rampage that is beyond his ability to prevent.
Giacomo Latta says
So he tried to evade some individual or group of individuals in another car but he never thought to install a bodycam or dashcam to record it all nor make a complaint to the local police since it might have been a case of road rage. What a second-class spy.
Permit me to bore you all with a personal incident. Refereeing and coaching soccer often put me in contact with a certain Muslim where I used to live. The occasion did not go by without him insulting and cursing me to the max. One day I read in the local newspaper I read about an incident where a US Marine had gotten involved in a case of road rage with this Muslim who was identified by name. Yep, same guy. Apparently this Muslim had been up to his usual welcoming manner and the Marine had beaten the living crap out of him. The Marine was repatriated.
The next time the Muslim saw me he greeted me warmly for the first time in his life. I had to look around to see if the four horsemen of the apocalypse were passing by. If no one else reading this knows how to deal with Muslims (I’m thinking of you, mortimer), US Marines do.
gravenimage says
Churchill wrote: “The Hun: either at your feet or at your neck”. This applies to Muslims even more so.
E T says
I am waiting to see how the CBC covers the outrages beating death of Sara Anne Widholm, 75 of Windsor,Ontario by Habibullah Ahmadi, 21. She was walking the Ganatchio Trail, picking up litter, like she did every Sunday after church, when she was beaten severely and died 14 months later after never regaining consciousness. The trial has been moved to Chatham, Ontario for some reason, it starts March 16th. She was beaten on Sunday, October 8, 2017.
E T says
The police said it was an act of random violence. She did not know him.
E T says
Dr. Balraj Jhawar described the assault as the worst he had ever seen.
E T says
Sara’s husband died suddenly four weeks after the attack.
gravenimage says
All horrific stuff. This was not entirely random; the murderer knew the victim was an Infidel.