ticatfan3
January 7th, 2008, 4:55:21 PM
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=1d6d256c-030b-4094-b452-574c9fb41d86
Publisher says he would rather go bankrupt than cede editorial control to Islamic congress
Randall Palmer, Reuters
Published: Monday, January 07, 2008
An Islamic group's demand that a Canadian magazine publish its response to an article that said Muslims were set to swamp the West has sparked warnings of government-imposed restrictions on freedom of expression.
The Canadian Islamic Congress, one of Canada's largest Muslim groups, says Maclean's subjected Muslims to hate speech with an article in October 2006 by bestselling author Mark Steyn that said a high Muslim birthrate, combined with Muslims "hot for jihad," could conquer a West that is unwilling to stand up for its civilization.
The Islamic group has asked a government body to step in to guarantee it the right to an equal-length rebuttal to the article, which was an excerpt from Mr. Steyn's September 2006 book America Alone.
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Font:****"This article completely misrepresents Canadian Muslims' values, their community, and their religion," said Canadian Islamic Congress lawyer Faisal Joseph.
Maclean's says it has already run 27 letters from readers, many opposed to Mr. Steyn's piece, and is ready to consider a further response. But it said the Islamic congress wanted to direct the artwork for the rebuttal and to run it on the cover.
Publisher Kenneth Whyte said he would rather go bankrupt than have the congress set the terms for what the magazine publishes. The Canadian and B.C. human rights commissions have agreed to investigate the complaints, and the Muslim group has the backing of the Ontario Federation of Labour.
"We need to make sure that folks are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of who it is, whether it's Maclean's or anybody," said federation executive vice-president Terry Downey, formerly a human rights investigator. "People have a right to freedom of expression, but that has some restrictions on it. You just can't offend people based on their religion or colour."
The rights commission could order the two sides to reconciliation, or forward the case to a tribunal that would have the power to order Maclean's to publish the group's response, or face legal sanctions.
Publisher says he would rather go bankrupt than cede editorial control to Islamic congress
Randall Palmer, Reuters
Published: Monday, January 07, 2008
An Islamic group's demand that a Canadian magazine publish its response to an article that said Muslims were set to swamp the West has sparked warnings of government-imposed restrictions on freedom of expression.
The Canadian Islamic Congress, one of Canada's largest Muslim groups, says Maclean's subjected Muslims to hate speech with an article in October 2006 by bestselling author Mark Steyn that said a high Muslim birthrate, combined with Muslims "hot for jihad," could conquer a West that is unwilling to stand up for its civilization.
The Islamic group has asked a government body to step in to guarantee it the right to an equal-length rebuttal to the article, which was an excerpt from Mr. Steyn's September 2006 book America Alone.
Email to a friend
Printer friendly
Font:****"This article completely misrepresents Canadian Muslims' values, their community, and their religion," said Canadian Islamic Congress lawyer Faisal Joseph.
Maclean's says it has already run 27 letters from readers, many opposed to Mr. Steyn's piece, and is ready to consider a further response. But it said the Islamic congress wanted to direct the artwork for the rebuttal and to run it on the cover.
Publisher Kenneth Whyte said he would rather go bankrupt than have the congress set the terms for what the magazine publishes. The Canadian and B.C. human rights commissions have agreed to investigate the complaints, and the Muslim group has the backing of the Ontario Federation of Labour.
"We need to make sure that folks are treated with dignity and respect, regardless of who it is, whether it's Maclean's or anybody," said federation executive vice-president Terry Downey, formerly a human rights investigator. "People have a right to freedom of expression, but that has some restrictions on it. You just can't offend people based on their religion or colour."
The rights commission could order the two sides to reconciliation, or forward the case to a tribunal that would have the power to order Maclean's to publish the group's response, or face legal sanctions.