Amira Elghawaby Has To Go

OpinionSpencerFernando

At a moment of surging anti-Semitism, Canada’s ‘Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia’ is making things worse.

Many people – myself included – criticized the appointment of Amira Elghawaby to the position of ‘Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia’.

Unfortunately, rather than surprising on the upside, Elghawaby has turned out to be far worse than even her most vehement critics could have predicted.

Only the most ignorant people could possibly deny that we are seeing a truly disturbing surge of anti-Semitism in Canada and across much of the world.

Given that much of this anti-Semitism – including rallies in Canada featuring horrific pro-terrorist statements – is being driven by some Muslim individuals, Amira Elghawaby could have played an important role as a Muslim leader denouncing anti-Semitism and seeking to bring people together.

But that’s not the path she chose.

Instead, Elghawaby has chosen to devote her time to promoting an appalling letter by some ‘legal professionals’ claiming it is ok to ‘contextualize’ Hamas’ brutal and barbaric October 7th terror attack:

“This chilling effect on freedom of expression and academic freedom has the hallmarks of a new McCarthyism. A failure of those of us in the legal profession to voice our opposition to this conduct will only accelerate the erosion of the very protections that make dissent – and therefore democracy – possible. It is vital that the space for scholarship, speech and activism in defence of basic human rights be preserved.”

Notably, Elghawaby avoided mentioning this part of the letter, which reads like straight up Hamas propaganda:

“A group of Canadian lawyers/law students/law professors have penned an open letter that states, in part:

“We reject the notion that it is antisemitic, hateful, or illegitimate to contextualize the October 7th, 2023 attack.””

In response, many have rightfully pointed out how wrong it is for Elghawaby to be doing this:

“So. Justin Trudeau’s handpicked interlocutor on Islamophobia endorses a leaflet accusing Israel of genocide and apartheid.

As an individual she’s free to endorse any crank leaflet she likes.

But she’s doing this on behalf of the federal government, on the public dime.”

“Anybody who thinks they can “contextualize” rape, murder and kidnapping is unfit for public office.”

“”We reject the notion that it is antisemitic, hateful, or illegitimate to contextualize the October 7th, 2023 attack.” How exactly does one ‘contextualize’ rape, kidnapping, burning people alive, gouging out eyes, amputation, and murder? There are no free passes for atrocities.”

Elghawaby has to go

Clearly, Amira Elghawaby has to go.

She is promoting a letter that falsely accuses Israel of genocide, and is all of a sudden some sort of free speech absolutist on the specific issue of protests that have featured some horrific calls for the destruction of Israel and which have fed into aggression and threats against Jewish Canadians.

Trudeau is also responsible for this, since he made the disgraceful decision to appoint Elghawaby in the first place:

“When Trudeau created the position of “Islamophobia Envoy” what was the mission? To ensure a strong advocate on behalf of those Canadian academics who wish to justify, through “contextualization”, the burning alive of Jewish babies, the sexual enslavement of Jewish women, the mass murder of Jewish civilians? If so, job well done!”

“The PM is, at least in part, responsible for the growing division in Canada and rise in open anti-semitism. His equivocation is unprincipled and designed solely not to alienate a particular voting block. It is morally repugnant.”

Amira Elghawaby has no business collecting a paycheque paid for by Canadian taxpayer dollars. We shouldn’t be forced to fund her divisive attitude. Further, the position of ‘Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia’ should be abolished, since it is clearly being used to try and expand the range of hateful rhetoric that is deemed acceptable, and is contributing – whether wittingly or unwittingly – to deepening anti-Semitism in this nation.

That is simply unacceptable. It cannot be allowed or normalized in Canada. And thus, Amira Elghawaby should not hold any position whatsoever within the federal government.

Spencer Fernando

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