The author of an editorial that proclaimed support for acts of violence as a sacred duty has been suspended from his position with the Windsor Multicultural Council.
The Windsor Multicultural Council is a body that receives funds from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and is intimately connected with the welcoming and resettlement of Syrian refugees.
Mohammed Khalifeh, who is on unpaid suspension as of Thursday, was the subject of a front-page piece in the Windsor Star Thursday and another story in the National Post after B’nai Brith condemned his editorial earlier in the week. The editorial ran in the Al Forqan newspaper. B’nai Brith suggested it was contributing to the radicalization of Canadian youth by glamorizing murder as a sacred religious duty, and sources said Thursday that B’nai Brith’s allegations are responsible for Khalifeh’s suspension.
“This is a positive first step by the Multicultural Council while it investigates Mr. Khalifeh’s writings,” said Michael Mostyn, CEO, B’nai Brith Canada. “However, it calls into question how he was originally vetted for his position. To ensure that Syrian refugees are not exposed to radical Islamist ideology in Windsor, it would be prudent for the Council to re-examine the backgrounds of all of their staff and volunteers.”
In the Windsor Star and National Post newspaper reports, Khalifeh is quoted as saying that he supports “all kinds of resistance.” This is doubly concerning as in Jihadist parlance, the current campaign of so-called ‘resistance’ against Israel explicitly means murder and violence against innocent civilians. In recent weeks, this ‘resistance’ has taken the form of car-ramming and stabbing attacks in Israel.
“We encourage all concerned Canadians to contact their local Member of Parliament and demand that the Government ensure that the resettlement of 25,000 refugees not be tainted by those who espouse support for terror,” added Mostyn. “Al Forqan is not the only Arabic language newspaper to publish content which praises violence and ‘resistance’. Syrians escaping the ongoing violence must not be subjected to hatred and radicalization as they attempt to start a new life in a free and multicultural Canada.”
For more information contact:
Sam Eskenasi
Director of Communications
B’nai Brith Canada
647-780-8490
[email protected]
