Reasonable Accommodation...! by: Mohamed S. Kamel

Reasonable Accommodation...!

Mohamed S. Kamel*;

November 15, 2007

We have been facing a really tough time.  But what is new since 9-11 is that we are facing unjust and unfair accusations and we are being treated badly. And now, here in Quebec, we are under real and direct attack, from Hérouville, through “Cabane à sucre” fabricated crises, the Soccer bizarre stand, the Taekwondo discrimination ...etc.

Politicians do not have the ability to stand for rightness, so they come out with the Bouchard-Taylor commission to allow every single person to discriminate freely against Immigrants and Muslims.  It is particularly the escape goat for all problems.      

     

What a coincident in Quebec:

·         Where 250,000 individuals went to the streets in temperature below -25° C refusing to attack Iraqi people.

·         Where more than 60,000 individuals on the hottest summer day in August 2006 went to the streets condemning the Israeli aggression against Lebanon and in Solidarity with Palestinian people.

·         Where more than 66% of its population refuse the Canadian Participation in occupying Afghanistan.

The same Quebec, which by nature is friendly, worm, tolerant and pacifist has been targeted by the promotion of religions hatred, so the society would break and injustice would become accepted. 

A discussion about how Islam discriminates against women.  Does Islam discriminate against women? What ignorance...!

A discussion about how Islam allows killing women by stoning them.  Does Islam order the stoning of women? What ignorance....!

Yes, in many Muslim societies especially in the Middle and Far East there are discrimination and un-Islamic practices.  But do any one of those, so called experts in Islam, ever try to know the reason behind this, or do any of them ever read the Quran, the Muslim book, to know the reality...!      

Unfortunately since the occupation of the Muslim land, in the early 20^th century, the nature of the occupation mislead Muslims and guided them to some false cultural practices, that is now seen by some as “Islamic teaching”.

Back to Quebec, we are still facing the same unreasonable hatred, with the arrival of the stupidest question even heard; why does the election law allow women with Niqab to vote while covering their face?  

The reality is: no Muslim woman, individual or organization, ever ask for special treatment for vote with a covered face, so this issue is part of the Islamophobic environment, especially in Quebec. The law really never forced face verification.  Seniors do not have to present photo ID.  People voting by mail do not go through any ID verification (more than 30,000 person last year only).  Wounded people who have a bandage on the face can vote without face verification.  Person without ID could be identified by a friend or a neighbour.

Then politicians claim that they should act to calm the society.

So we have to accommodate politicians’ lack of leadership, journalists’ ambition, misguided self appointed specialists in Islam, Ignorant people...etc. 

Who accommodates who...? It looks like that, we Muslims accommodate every single person or group in the society and are blamed for the unreasonable accommodation we demand.  Did we demand any? 

So we have arrived to a period where mixing rights with accommodation is acceptable.  But let us be clear.  We do not discriminate against any person or religion, and we will not accept any discrimination.  Prayer is a right.  Hijab is a right.  And could not and should not be dragged under this unnecessary hearing about Reasonable Accommodation.

  

All this unjust and unfair accusations and treatment carry a positive indication.  It solidifies us, strengths our believes, deepens our roots and helps our children in seeing their destiny and living in solidarity among themselves and with the entire Quebec community.

We, Muslims, have the same right neither more nor less and will not compromise in our rights and the entire society’s right to live in harmony

* Mohamed S. Kamel, is a Freelance writer, editor of the International News and President of Alternative Perspective Media (APM-RAM), could be reached at info@apm-ram.org