Speakers at Muslim conference noted for disparaging gays and Jews

[King_David]

Daniel DaleUrban Affairs Reporter





Four of the six speakers scheduled to appear at an upcoming Muslim conference at a downtown hotel have made anti-gay or anti-Semitic remarks.

The “Calling the World Back to Allah” conference is part of the “Canada Launch Tour” of the Islamic Education and Research Academy (IERA), a British organization seeking to establish a presence in Toronto and Montreal.

The conference is scheduled for Oct. 23 at the Sheraton Centre. Gay activists in Britain denounced a hotel chain in January for hosting a London IERA event involving several of the same speakers.

One of the speakers expected in Toronto, Malaysian convert Hussain Yee, has said “the Jews” are “the most extremist nation in this world.” He also suggested that Jews perpetrated and celebrated the 9/11 attacks.

Hamza Andreas Tzortzis, a British convert, has argued that open displays of homosexuality should be made a crime.

British convert Abdur Raheem Green, who also appeared at a July conference in Toronto, has written that gays, like adulterers, should be stoned to death. At the July conference, Green criticized the media for labeling him hateful and challenged critics to “find a pattern” of homophobia in his hundreds of public statements. “All you can find is one comment I made on my blog where I talked about Islamic law and punishment for homosexuals,” he said.


http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1068726

[snagglepuss]

1. It's outraageous that the Sheraton is welcoming this hate filled bunch of fundie wacko asshats.

FYI the General Manager of Sheraton Toronto is Tony Dunn, the toll free number is 1-800-325-3535.

[vminfla]

3. Thanks

It is important to speak out against injustice and intolerance when you see it. This "call" is clearly an example of something that should be derided.

[King_David]

2. Concerns over heinous anti-Jewish and anti-gay remarks by speakers invited to conference

MONTREAL, Oct. 19, 2011 /CNW Telbec/ - Ga'ava ( "pride" in Hebrew), the Jewish Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Queer/Questioning organisation in Montreal, expressed today its grave concerns over the conference "Calling the World Back to Allah" which will feature speakers recognized for their heinous remarks.

Organized by iERA Canada, the new Canadian branch of the UK-based Islamic Education and Research Academy, this conference to be held in Montreal on Friday, October 23rd features British speakers Hamza Andreas Tzortzis and Abdur Raheem Green, both who have a history of inciting hate and contempt of Jews and homosexuals. Sections 318, 319 and 320 of the Canadian Criminal Code condemn anyone who, by communicating statements in any public place, incites hatred against any identifiable group where such incitement is likely to lead to a breach of the peace.

"Our organization believes in freedom of speech, all the while considering that some statements are unacceptable and hazardous. Last week, we voiced our concerns over this conference and its guest speakers to the Canadian Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism the Honourable Jason Kenney. We advised him to deny Mssrs. Tzortzis and Green entry to Canada by virtue of the statements they have made abroad and the statements we believe they are likely to make here. Our recommendation having been neglected by the Minister, we invite authorities to remain vigilant and attentive to the statements which will be made on our home soil during this conference. Canada is an international example of openness where hate speech has no place" declared Earl Pinchuk, President of Ga'ava.

http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/861363/concerns-over-heinous-anti-jewish-and-anti-gay-remarks-by-speakers-invited-to-conference

[King_David]

4. Islamic group's speech at Concordia University is cancelled

http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20111019/mtl_iera_111019/20111021/?hub=MontrealHome

Among those criticizing the iERA was Earl Pinchuk, president of a Jewish lesbian, gay and bisexual organization called Ga'ava.

"Our organization believes in freedom of speech, all the while considering that some statements are unacceptable and hazardous," said Pinchuk,