Beyond The Commons

 Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

The case of Imam Zijad Delic

by Aaron Wherry on Monday, October 4, 2010 9:00am - 0 Comments

Word came Friday night that Defence Minister Peter MacKay had revoked the invitation of Imam Zijad Delic to speak at forum hosted by the Department of National Defence. On Sunday, Jack Layton criticized MacKay’s decision.

Imam Delic, who spoke at a forum hosted by the Foreign Affairs department in 2008, is the executive director of the Canadian Islamic Congress, which Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has criticized on account of remarks made by its former president. (The Congress and this magazine have some history as well, a matter Imam Delic seems to have commented on.)

Imam Delic’s official biography is here. He has been cited variously in the pages of the Ottawa Citizen—see here, here, here, here and here. The Citizen also has video of an interview with him here. He has additionally penned letters calling for the return of Omar Khadr and lamenting the government’s lack of outreach to the Muslim community. More of his own writing is available here and here. You can also go through back issues of the CIC’s Friday Magazine if you so desire.

In 2007, he appeared at a news conference in Ottawa on the occasion of Islamic History Month, alongside Liberal Senator Mobina Jaffer and Conservative Senator Hugh Segal. That same year, he addressed the Catholic bishops of Canada. Last year, he appeared at a news conference with NDP MP Brian Masse, Liberal MP Rob Oliphant and Bloc MP Francine Lalonde.

Make of all that what you will.

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  • http://twitter.com/bobledrew @bobledrew

    The lede of the QMI story: "Imam Zijad Delic was vetoed from speaking at national defence headquarters Monday to avoid the exact kind of controversy his cancellation has caused, according to Defence Minister Peter MacKay." Mission accomplished, then. Or… Mission accomplished?

    Let me get this straight. The mission was to avoid controversy over something. So the speaker gets turfed, and this causes, according to the MinDef, the exact kind of controversy the goal was to avoid. And MacKay thinks somehow this is a … victory?

    • s_c_f

      For someone who has no idea what he is talking about when it comes to the Imam, you might come to that conclusion. Good for you.

      For someone who knows a little bit about the Imam, the decision is a necessary one.

      Why the heck you use the word "victory" is beyond me. It's not a victory when you realize you made a mistake and you corrected it.

      • Holly Stick

        Why don't you call him by name, to show that you realise he is a fellow human being?

        • s_c_f

          Bob knows I was talking to him. That's what the reply button is for. Holly Stick knows I am talking to Holly Stick right now.

          • Holly Stick

            I was referring to Zijad Delic, of course. The fellow human being you appeared to be trying to smear.

          • s_c_f

            If you are addressing a religious leader, then you address them by title. It's basic manners and protocol.
            If you want to be respectful to a religious leader, you call them the "reverend", "rabbi" or "imam". If he or she is a member of the police, use "officer". For a physician, use "dr". If you are addressing someone else, use "miss, "madam", "ms", "mr", or "sir".

            I don't know why I have to give you a lesson in protocol. Are you a child or something?

            No need to thank me.

          • s_c_f

            As for the Imam, he has some very disturbing views, and deserved to be uninvited. There is no smear. All you have to do is know a little bit about him.

            Just because some others (cited by Wherry) failed to do their basic homework, that doesn't mean Mackay should make the same mistake.

            Also, Wherry fails to realize the difference between citing someone in writing, interviewing someone, and/or inviting someone to an event.

          • Holly Stick

            You are not addressing him, you are talking about him. And I think your use of "the Imam" is a way of distancing him, making him into "the other" someone not quite human. And your intent is to dehumanize him and all Muslims.

            As for this "…All you have to do is know a little bit about him…" You are a lying vicious smear artist. Unlike you, I provide evidence, such as this: http://intensedebate.com/people/s_c_f

          • s_c_f

            I think your use of "the Imam" is a way of distancing him, making him into "the other" someone not quite human. And your intent is to dehumanize him and all Muslims.

            Well, you're wrong. I think you should apologize to me for such a statement. And another apology for your final statement. You owe me too. And you probably owe an apology to Muslims for your insinuation that some people dehumanize them, when it's simply not true. Why do you have such hatred for other people?

            Also, you've posted a link to my intense debate page. Good for you. But anyone can get there by clicking on my name.

          • Holly Stick

            Why are you supporting Islamophobes?

          • http://myblahg.com Robert McClelland

            As for the Imam, he has some very disturbing views

            Such as?

          • s_c_f

            Like I said, it's easy to find, and I'm not in the mood to do the homework that Wherry failed to do, and that you don't want to do. Maybe if the information was difficult to find, I'd help you out.

          • http://myblahg.com Robert McClelland

            In other words, you're talking out your ass. Maybe you should be using my avatar.

          • s_c_f

            In other words, you're too lazy to type into the google text box. And Wherry is too partisan to present both sides of the story.

          • http://myblahg.com Robert McClelland

            Google doesn't return results that only exist in your imagination.

          • s_c_f

            I know how to use google.
            http://myblahg.blogspot.com/2004/05/f***-jews.htm…

            For someone who spray paints aint-semitic graffiti, and then argues that it's perfectly fine, your position is not surprising.

          • lenny

            This must be what scf is referring to:

            "I fully believe that our respective religious traditions – Islam and Catholicism – have the necessary resources to overcome past and present misunderstandings and to foster mutual friendship and understanding between our peoples. I am aware, as well, that collaboration does not imply giving up our distinct religious identities, but is rather a journey toward new discoveries, growth and self-respect."

            "People talk about how things were back home. I tell them, 'there is no 'back home.' This is home."

            “You can't bring Saudi Arabia into Canada.”

            "Happiness is a decision. I think we can make the right decision in Canada. You are living in the world's best country. Millions would like to be here."

            I think its the last statement that's the most outrageous. Everyone know that, far from being the world's best country, Canada is a northern European welfare state in the worst sense of the term.

          • s_c_f

            No, that's not it. You see, those are not reasons why someone would be disinvited.

          • LdKitchenersOwn

            No, they're not. So far, no one in this whole thread has pointed to a reason why he'd be disinvited.

          • LdKitchenersOwn

            What's one even supposed to Google?

            It's not just that you're refusing to post a link to something that backs up your allegations, you're not even really ALLEGING anything! Beyond "if you knew what I know, you'd agree with this decision", the closest you even come to explaining why it's correct to uninvite the Imam is to claim that he has "some very disturbing views"? So, he was asked not to come and speak because he's a Justin Beiber fan???

            If Wherry's not telling both sides of the story, perhaps it'd be more productive for you to provide some morsel of the other side of the story, rather than simply murkily suggesting that perhaps there is another side of the story, maybe.

          • s_c_f

            There is another side, and it's not murky. It's not my job to do Wherry's job.

            There's always another side to the story. But that's the difference between Wherry and writers like Coyne or Wells. Coyne or Wells will tell you the other side and tell you why they disagree with the other side. Wherry will not bother.

            And frankly, don't be complaining about that to me. If you want to know the other side, it's not hard to find. But it's not my job to become a Maclean's journalist.

            There's nothing wrong with telling people there's another side. There is no ridiculous obligation on my part (as you suggest) to turn myself into a journalist and proceed to write an article about the other side.

          • Holly Stick

            Much easier to smear if you don't have to prove your allegations. Until you find yourself facing lawuits for slander or libel, see also: Ezra Levant, Jason Kenney, etc.

          • s_c_f

            LOL the statement "has some disturbing views" is not slander or libel, no matter whom you are talking about, no matter what country you live in. You're funny.

          • LdKitchenersOwn

            I'm not looking for an article laying out the other side, just a sentence that gives me a ballpark in which to start my search for the other side. Just anything ever so slightly more specific than "he has 'disturbing views'" view do. Like, perhaps, just ONE of those views that you find disturbing.

          • s_c_f

            Just google his name.

          • madeyoulook

            It's not my job to do Wherry's job. Nobody's asking you to.

            As for the Imam, he has some very disturbing views, and deserved to be uninvited. This is where people are quite legitimately asking you to do YOUR JOB of defending a claim. Which of his views do you find particularly disturbing? Oh, and the blog post you link to? 404'd.

            I am prepared to believe you. If you might be so kind as to share some evidence.

          • s_c_f

            The blog post is 404'ed because I could not print the word f***. If you can figure out what word that is, then you have the correct link.

            Anyway, that is a link to Mclelland's blog, and there's no need to follow that if you're not interested.

          • madeyoulook

            Uh, ok. What I am interested in is any evidence in support of your claim. I am disappointed that the onelink you offer had nothing to do with supporting your claim. So, I reiterate:

            I am prepared to believe you. If you might be so kind as to share some evidence.

          • s_c_f

            The organization that he is representing has disturbing views for one thing. Among these views include advocating on behalf of hamas and hezbollah, advocating that Israeli civilians are legitimate targets of terror, relations with the the Muslim Brotherhood.

            Support for banned terrorist groups: http://www.canadianislamiccongress.com/mc/media_c…

            Promotion of anti-semitism: http://www.antisemitism.org.il/eng/events/21095/C…

            Delic's colleague selected to the Islamic History Month Advisory board, Jamal Badawi, outlined how its permissible for a Muslim man to partake in wife-beating, as long as its not on the face: http://islamic-world.net/sister/wife_beating.htm

            He himself has some disturbing views contrary to Canadian practices of freedom and secularism.

            He believes that criticism of religion should be outlawed globally. <a href="http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:3Bu7MM9FjqwJ :www.mail-archive.com/opini-publik%40yahoogroups.com/msg00214.html+wahida+valiante+defamation+of+religion&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca” target=”_blank”>http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=ca…” target=”_blank”>:www.mail-archive.com/opini-publik%40yahoogroups.com/msg00214.html+wahida+valiante+defamation+of+religion&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca

            There is lots of stuff like this from the CIC and Imam Delic.

          • Holly Stick

            So you're saying you are in favour of Islamophobia?

          • s_c_f

            Your idiocy shines.

            Criticism of religion should not be a crime.

            For instance, this article should not be illegal: http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/04/06/how-much-did-t…

            It's a basic tenet of Western civilization that prosecution for blasphemy has been ended. The entire Western world voted against it. Get with the program. I know you're not too bright, but I didn't expect you to be this dense.

            Wife-beating should be illegal.

            Terrorism should be banned.

          • madeyoulook

            You're right. Criticism of religion, and in particular condemnation of evil committed in the name of religion, must be a protected right.

            So…

            Why do you suppose the Harper government folk are totally botching their defense of this decision with the pathetic reasons they have come up with so far? Maybe because even the rhetoric you have found so far is too mild to justify the dis-invite?

          • s_c_f

            No, it's not mild at all. Read my responses to LKO. This is not rocket science, but at the same time I shouldn't have to tell you the reason Delic was invited in the first place.

          • s_c_f

            The reason that the govt has not published a defense of the position is that when they do, there will be knee-jerk accusations of Islamophobia, which of course will be absolutely false, but there will be such accusations regardless!
            We all know that no matter what the gov't says about muslim groups or representatives, no matter how justified their actions may be, they will be accused of Islamophobia, by the likes of Wherry and Holly Stick.
            There are moderate muslim groups in Canada, but it's the CIC that created Islamic Heritage Month, which was the reason for the invite.

          • madeyoulook

            Seems to me those accusations are out there now, anyways, so I offer to Minister Mackay the novel philosophy of using the TRUTH in defense of one's ministerial decisions.

            You say you shouldn't be doing Wherry's job. Whatever. You most certainly shouldn't be doing Mackay's.

          • Holly Stick

            Ooh, evul Islamic Heritage Month! Right up there with Black History Month & Women's History Month! Ooh, scarey! And the Us also has LGBT History Month! What an evul country it must be, infiltrated with all those LGBT people!

            Honestly, go back to la-la land and let us normal decent people get on with real life.

          • LdKitchenersOwn

            That can't POSSIBLY be the best you can do! THOSE are his "disturbing views"??? That third one isn't even by him, or any organization he's related to.

            At least now I know why you insisted for so long in referring to his "disturbing views" without articulating what you meant by that or linking to examples.

          • s_c_f

            That third one isn't even by him, or any organization he's related to.

            You're wrong.

            The reason Delic was invited to speak to the dept of defense is for a commemoration of Islamic Heritage Month.

            Islamic Heritage Month was created by the Canadian Islamic Congress (along with American Muslim groups), the institution represented by Delic, for which Delic is on the board of directors. That is the reason he was chosen.

            Delic selected Dr. Jamal Badawi to be on the advisory board for Islamic Heritage Month.

            Dr. Jamal Badawi publishes on the internet that wife-beatings are encouraged by the Koran/Allah when "a wife persists in deliberate mistreatment and expresses contempt of her husband and disregard for her marital obligations".

            Have you got it yet? Delic selected for his advisory board a wife beater (not only that, this wife beater publishes on the internet that others can beat their wives). Delic's organization created the event being commemorated by the Dept of Defense, and Delic selected a wife-beater for the advisory board of the event.

            Geez, you people are dense.

          • Holly Stick

            I believe it is libel to write that someone is a wife beater, especially when you have no evidence.

            Better fix that, liar.

          • Holly Stick

            Didn't read your own link, did you, s_c_f? Too many big words?

    • Shirley Hess

      I am glad Peter MacKay had the courage to cancel Delic"s speaking – there is enough hate in the world without spreading more, especially against Jewish people of the world. Let's keep muslim opinions in the muslim world – we don't need them in Canada.

  • DBM

    The CIC got blacklisted after ill advised comments by their former president Dr. Mohamed Elmasry on the Michael Coren Show.

    Before that, Elmasry had been a regular at Hill events and he was regularly invited to talk with MPs and bureaucrats and the group was seen as a moderate voice for muslims in Canada. The group tried to restore its reputation since, but it's been an uphill battle. They're no longer thought of as moderate the way they once were, and groups like CAIR-CAN have filled the space.

    Bringing on Delic was undoubtedly part of the CIC's effort to rebuild its reputation, but it's the group people react to – not the individual.

    • Dallan Invictus

      "Bringing on Delic was undoubtedly part of the CIC's effort to rebuild its reputation, but it's the group people react to – not the individual. "

      And this is precisely the problem that needs to be addressed. It's absurd to tar Zelic with the opinions of a predecessor that he disagrees with and was apparently brought on specifically to refute, just like it's more broadly absurd to tar any group based on the actions of its loudest and most extreme elements. Zelic is not responsible for Elmasry, moderate Christians or Muslims aren't responsible for abortion-clinic bombers/antisemites/Al-Qaeda terrorists, liberal posters on this blog aren't responsible for Emily, conservative ones aren't responsible for Cats.

      If Muslims in Canada constantly have to make up and apologise for crimes they had no part in, what do you expect this to do? Are we actually _trying_ to justify an us-against-the-world mindset on their part?

      • Holly Stick

        Yes, that is what the Harper Conservatives are trying to do; they prefer to be divisive. It's easier for them than actually trying to get along with other people.

        • mendelbot

          Isn't there a difference between getting along and pretending you're getting along? That's a salient issue, particularly when you see what's going on in Europe. You don't make religious and deep rooted hostility go away by politely ignoring it.

    • mendelbot

      Ill advised comments indeed. Expressing his views are offensive, and probably a lot of them are technically illegal, although he gets a de facto pass from hate speech laws by being a muslim.

  • Holly Stick

    Note which country he comes from. Note that our military fought in that country:

    "…Zijad Delic shares an intimate and haunted history with members of the institution he would have addressed if Peter Mackay hadn't prevented him from doing so. With these members, he is also a living witness to the ultimate outcome of the politics of division. Mr. Delic's country vanished in blood.

    The mollycoddled little monstrosities we call Peter Mackay, Stephen Harper and Charles McVety could not level a greater insult to both Mr Delic and those members of the Canadian Forces who tried to save his country…"
    http://thegallopingbeaver.blogspot.com/2010/10/ou…

  • Emily

    Only govt approved speech is allowed in this country now?

    Wasn't the Con crowd the one that used to be big on free speech, and even fought against the social convention of 'politically correct'?

    • Holly Stick

      They pretend to catre about free speech when it's convenient for them, as in when they are facing criticism for spreading hatred.

      • Blacktop

        You two ought to form a corporation, you bkleat the same tripe quoting some unknown left-wing rag. Anybody can put out a zine nowadays.

        • Emily

          Yeah, there are no Cons on here who all stick together I notice.

          In any case, this is in the MSM….so 'rags' aren't involved.

          • Holly Stick

            What "zines" or "rags" are being quoted? They must be unreported ones, just like Stockwell Day's unreported crimes.

    • sourstud

      His right to free speech is not being impeded at all. He was uninvited from a private event. Nobody is saying he can't air his views, he just can't air them at this one particular event. The right to free speech doesn't allow you to speak at any event you so please. Give your head a shake.

      • Emily

        Govt ministers have no business telling people what they can and can't say in this country. Period.

        • Holly Stick

          Our politicians are not supposed to be dividing Canadians according to their religion or ethnic background. Mackay is treating Delic like a secondclass citizen, and we know well where such treatment leads.

          • Paul

            Really? Then why is there no "Christianity Week", "Hetero Appreciation Day", or "Anglo-Saxon Pride Parades"? Sheesh, some animals have been WAY more equal for some time now in Canada. First day here?

        • sourstud

          Agreed. And that is not what's happening here at all. Nobody is going to stop Delic from giving his speech on the curb outside the event. But the government isn't required to promote his views by giving him a stage either.

          • Emily

            He was invited….then uninvited….by a minister of the crown because of something he said in the past.

            That is not the free speech a Con govt is supposed to be promoting and protecting.

          • Holly Stick

            It wasn't even something he said, it was something someone else in the same organization said years ago and then apologized for.

          • Holly Stick

            The government should damned well be listening to the man; his views are more decent and more mainstream Canadian than those expressed by the Harperite bigots.

      • TJCook

        I agree with sourstud – uninviting Delic doesn't restrict his freedom of speech, just like firing Dr. Laura Schlessinger from her radio show for gross racism doesn't restrict her freedom of speech. Or like criticizing Sarah Palin's gusher of idiocy doesn't restrict her free speech.

  • Holly Stick

    The truth is that Mackay uninvited Delic because Charles McVety and other rightwing religious bigots made a fuss about him.

    The Harper minority government is taking orders from the religious right.
    http://www.religiousrightalert.ca/2010/10/02/char…
    http://thegallopingbeaver.blogspot.com/2010/10/ca…

    • Holly Stick
      • http://blazingcatfur.blogspot.com/ Blazingcatfur

        The CIC is unfit to address DND staff, they have a long history espousing radical Islamist doctrine and anti-semitism.

        Noteworthy Canadian Islamic Congress Facts:

        The CIC advocates on behalf of Hamas and Hizbollah, banned terrorist groups
        The CIC has honoured Islamist hatemonger Zafar Bangash as a "Community Leader" a relationship they maintain to this day.
        The CIC publishes work by notorious jew baiter "Greg Felton" author of the vile "The Host and the Parasite" , CIC representatives also happily shared a stage with Felton at a CIC event.
        The CIC has been linked to the distrbution of Anti-Semitic election flyers
        The CIC has promoted anti-semitic essay contests
        The CIC was responsible for the infamous Maclean's Human Right Commission Free Speech Witch Hunt, which Imam Delic endorsed.
        http://blazingcatfur.blogspot.com/2010/09/what-he…

        • http://blazingcatfur.blogspot.com/ Blazingcatfur

          More on your beloved CIC Sweety.

          The CIC advocates for the notorius Islamist sponsored anti-free speech UN resolution promoting the "Prohibition of the public defamation of religion" which is a soft-jihad lawfare effort by the Organisation of Islamic States to make criticism of Islam illegal. Showing much fortitude Canada voted against this effort to subvert our fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression, causing CIC President Wahida Valiante to reveal the true nature of the CIC's Islamist agenda against free speech and Canadian values in her denunciation of our government. The "defamation of religion" resolution is considered so dangerous a threat that even normally soft-headed members of the lib-left, such as John Ralston Saul, have denounced it.

          The CIC's current president, Wahida Valiante espouses a particularly vile strain of 911 Trutherism " "By associating the words "Islamic terrorism" with the unknown attackers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon…. http://blazingcatfur.blogspot.com/2010/09/what-he…

    • http://blazingcatfur.blogspot.com/ Blazingcatfur

      More on your beloved CIC Holly dearest.

      If indeed Imam Delic of the Canadian Islamic Congress is the moderate he claims he may wish to moderate his acquaintances. Do note that Islamic History Month is the Frankenstein Creation of the CIC.

      The Islamic History Month Board of Advisors of which Delic and and The CIC's 911 Truther President Wahida Valiante are both members includes such luminaries as:

      Mohamed Elmasry – Who needs no introduction.

      Jamal Badawi CAIR-CAN board member, Muslim Brotherhood Member and "unindicted co-conspirator" in the "Holy Land Terrorist Funding Trial"

      Dr. Munir El-Kassem who has publicly praised Louis Farrakhan and wrote this apologia for the Taliban's destruction of the Hindu Statues in Afghanistan

      Dr. Anthony Hall 911 Truther, gee he and Wahida Valiante will have something in common…

      http://blazingcatfur.blogspot.com/2010/10/shocka-…

    • http://blazingcatfur.blogspot.com/ Blazingcatfur

      Still more on your beloved CIC and Imam Zijad Delic.

      Islamic History Month is sponsored by the anti-semitic Islamist Front Organization known as the Canadian Arab Federation as well as by the Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) – which openly supports and adheres to the doctrines of Hassan Albanna, the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood.

      Boy that Imam Delic sure is a moderate!
      http://blazingcatfur.blogspot.com/2010/10/shocka-…

  • Holly Stick

    Perceptive of you. Why do you support Islamophobia?

    • s_c_f

      That's not an apology.

  • Anon

    I also wonder if that is why George Galloway was allowed in this time – so as to avoid making it two examples of crushing free speech instead of just one.

    • mendelbot

      Since when was giving funds to terrorist organizations a form of free press?

  • Diane

    Comments from the Minister's Office made it sound like it was Delic who made the remark about Israelis being legitimate targets for suicide bombers. The Sun article says that Delic apologized for those remarks by the previous leader. I can't find anything objectionable that he said, so far. He criticized the Conservative government on Khadr. Even those remarks were mild compared to what I think of them.

    See the Wikipedia article. Going by that, he sounds great. I think I like him a lot better than I like the Conservative government.

  • http://blazingcatfur.blogspot.com/ Blazingcatfur

    Wahida Valiante, President of the CIC, in her own words
    http://backseatblogger.com/?p=4819

    • Diane

      What are you talking about? He stated clearly he supports the Canadian position on these organizations and condemns every terrorist organization. Come on!

      He was also attacked for taking Steyn to the Human Rights Commission. So what. Steyns writings about Muslims are disgusting and stupid.

      He's right about hate speech and I've heard members of the Jewish Congress take the same stand against it.

      • Paul

        You are known by the company you keep. Isn't this loony-tunes (Valiante) president of the CIC? Sheesh, the dots aren't hard to connect.

    • Holly Stick
  • s_c_f

    Sometimes it takes time to learn about someone's background.

    There was nothing hamfisted. The only thing hamfisted is your comments, which are the usual partisan tripe that the absence of perfection is a serious flaw.

  • JamesP

    It's unfortunate that this speech was never given. It pushes all Canadians to consider and strive for a more peaceable and productive society.

  • http://blazingcatfur.blogspot.com/ Blazingcatfur

    Imam Zijad Delic Refuses To Denounce Hamas & Hizbollah On John Oakley Show. This segment should be named "Taqiyya Talk" with Imam Zijad Delic of the Canadian Islamic Congress.

    Listen to this clip in it's entirety He dances around but refuses to denounce Hamas & Hizbollah as terrorist groups. It get's wild toward the end.
    http://www.640toronto.com/Insider/Audio.aspx

  • Holly Stick

    Go back to your own hateful little blog.

  • http://blazingcatfur.blogspot.com/ Blazingcatfur

    Ah poor Sweety are you angry your hate filled Imam was caught speaking Taqiyya?

  • Holly Stick

    Racist .

  • Holly Stick

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