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{{Short description|Islamic organization based in Canada and the United States}}The '''National Council of Canadian Muslims''' ('''NCCM''') is a Canadian [[Muslim]] civil liberties and [[advocacy group|advocacy organization]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/no-fly-list-mix-ups-1.3629200|title=Mom of boy on no-fly list 'really looking forward' to travelling after feds announce plan to end mix-ups|last=|first=|date=2016-06-10|website=CBC|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-11-05}}</ref> NCCM was formerly known as the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN), whose American counterpart, the CAIR-USA, has been listed by the FBI as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation case involving the funnelling of money to Hamas. One of the founding directors of CAIR-CAN was also listed as an unindicted co-conspirator in the same case.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nccm.ca/|title=NCCM - National Council of Canadian Muslims|website= National Council of Canadian Muslims|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=National Council of Canadian Muslims reveals anti-Islamophobia recommendations|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/national-muslim-council-policy-recommendations-1.6108161}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Danny |last2=Posted |first2=Tom Quiggin |date=2014-05-12 |title=May 2014: Opinion: Terrorists in our midst |url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2014/05/12/terrorists-in-our-midst |access-date=2024-04-17 |website=Winnipeg Free Press |language=en-US}}</ref>
{{Short description|Islamic organization based in Canada and the United States}}The '''National Council of Canadian Muslims''' ('''NCCM''') is a non-profit Canadian [[Muslim]] civil liberties and human rights [[advocacy group|advocacy organization]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=About Us |url=https://www.nccm.ca/about/ |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=April 30, 2021 |website=NCCM}}</ref> The organization was established in 2000 to focus on combatting Islamophobia, hate and racism through legal action, public advocacy, education, and media representation. NCCM's mission is "to protect Canadian human rights and civil liberties, challenge discrimination and Islamophobia, build mutual understanding, and advocate for the public concerns of Canadian Muslims."<ref>{{Cite web |title=NCCM - National Council of Canadian Muslims |url=http://www.nccm.ca/about/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=NCCM - National Council of Canadian Muslims |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Legal cases ==


NCCM takes on cases of hate and discrimination such as Islamophobic assaults,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bernhardt |first=D |date=July 18, 2023 |title=Muslim community suggests Olive Garden attack on Black woman was motivated by hate |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/olive-garden-attack-winnipeg-muslim-community-1.6909638 |website=CBC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 21, 2022 |title=Edmonton man gets 16-month jail sentence for hate-motivated attack on Muslim women |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/southgate-mall-black-muslim-sentence-1.6625604 |website=CBC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Paramount Fine Foods v Johnston, 2021 ONSC 5530 |url=https://www.canlii.org/en/on/onsc/doc/2021/2021onsc5530/2021onsc5530.html?resultIndex=13&resultId=21d01cfdb19740669c0514ad0d7732b2&searchId=2024-04-30T23:21:56:865/14de924bf06d4df08460af7d41fa0c45&searchUrlHash=AAAAAQAmIm5hdGlvbmFsIGNvdW5jaWwgb2YgQ2FuYWRpYW4gbXVzbGltcyIAAAAAAQ |website=CanLii}}</ref> vandalism,<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 1, 2024 |title=Mississauga mosque's windows smashed in alleged hate crime, police say |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/mississauga-mosque-hate-crime-1.7101682 |website=CBC}}</ref> harassment,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-09 |title='We have been harassed': UBC student group, Muslim organization say they are taking legal action over pro-Hamas stickers on campus |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/we-have-been-harassed-ubc-student-group-muslim-organization-say-they-are-taking-legal-action-over-pro-hamas-stickers-on-campus-1.6762592 |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=British Columbia |language=en}}</ref> employment discrimination,<ref>{{Cite web |title='CSIS is broken,' lawyer says in support of spy service employee's claim |url=https://kitchener.citynews.ca/2022/05/18/csis-is-broken-lawyer-says-in-support-of-spy-service-employees-claim-5383164/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=kitchener.citynews.ca}}</ref> and racial profiling.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bahdi |first=Reem |date=2018-09-04 |title=Narrating Dignity: Islamophobia, Racial Profiling, and National Security Before the Supreme Court of Canada |url=https://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/ohlj/vol55/iss2/6 |journal=Osgoode Hall Law Journal |volume=55 |issue=2 |pages=557–591 |doi=10.60082/2817-5069.3293 |issn=2817-5069|doi-access=free }}</ref> NCCM also takes on major cases to challenge discriminatory laws and policies such as Quebec's Bill 21,<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 12, 2019 |title=Hak c. Procureure générale du Québec, 2019 QCCA 2145 |url=https://www.canlii.org/en/qc/qcca/doc/2019/2019qcca2145/2019qcca2145.html?resultIndex=6&resultId=87ca434931024d8fa4590d7e58d032c2&searchId=2024-04-30T23:21:56:865/14de924bf06d4df08460af7d41fa0c45&searchUrlHash=AAAAAQAmIm5hdGlvbmFsIGNvdW5jaWwgb2YgQ2FuYWRpYW4gbXVzbGltcyIAAAAAAQ |website=CanLii}}</ref> the No Fly List,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Factum of the intervener |url=https://www.scc-csc.ca/WebDocuments-DocumentsWeb/34884/FM080_Intervener_Canadian-Council-on-American-Islamic-Relations.pdf |website=SCC}}</ref> the Safe Third Country Act, and Bill 62.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-12-01 |title=National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) c. Attorney General of Quebec, 2017 QCCS 5459 |url=https://www.canlii.org/en/qc/qccs/doc/2017/2017qccs5459/2017qccs5459.html?resultIndex=1&resultId=ff369b59945345be94bd85c724e252d5&searchId=2024-04-30T23:21:56:865/14de924bf06d4df08460af7d41fa0c45&searchUrlHash=AAAAAQAmIm5hdGlvbmFsIGNvdW5jaWwgb2YgQ2FuYWRpYW4gbXVzbGltcyIAAAAAAQ |website=CanLii}}</ref> NCCM frequently collaborates with partners such as the [[Canadian Civil Liberties Association]] to combat encroachments on civil liberties.<ref>{{Cite web |last=CCLA |date=2023-07-17 |title=NCCM and CCLA Continue to Challenge Quebec's School Prayer Ban |url=https://ccla.org/press-release/nccm-and-ccla-continue-to-challenge-quebecs-school-prayer-ban/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=CCLA |language=en-CA}}</ref> NCCM lawyers have appeared in multiple courts including human rights tribunals and the Supreme Court of Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NCCM Appears at Supreme Court of Canada on Safe Third Country Agreement |url=https://www.nccm.ca/nccm-appears-in-front-of-supreme-court-to-make-submissions-about-safe-third-country-agreement/|website=NCCM}}</ref>
After Hamas launched an unprovoked assault against Israel murdering about 1200 people, the NCCM failed to condemn Hamas and instead put out a statement on X (formerly Twitter) criticizing Israel's response to Hamas' attacks. Shortly after, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), a Jewish advocacy organization in Canada, sharply criticized the NCCM on X. In response, the NCCM claimed to be speaking for justice and peace but failed to mention Hamas by name or even acknowledge the terror attacks perpetrated by Hamas against Israel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 October 2023 |title=CIJA criticizes the NCCM for failing to condemn Hamas |url=https://twitter.com/CIJAinfo/status/1711087341815656507 |access-date=15 April 2024 |website=twitter.com}}</ref>


== Public advocacy ==
The NCCM has continued to harshly criticize Israel, frequently making claims that Israel is committing genocide against Gazans while not once mentioning Hamas' attack on Israel and its continued rocket attacks against civilian targets in Israel. Even after UNWRA staff were found to have directly taken part in the October 7th atrocities against Israeli civilians, the NCCM successfully lobbied the Canadian Government into resuming funding of UNWRA while having not once commented on the links between UNWRA and Hamas within Gaza.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NCCM - National Council of Canadian Muslims |url=http://www.nccm.ca/palestine-single/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=NCCM - National Council of Canadian Muslims |language=en-US}}</ref>


NCCM engages in lobbying all levels of government to strengthen or enact laws and policies that address Islamophobia in all its forms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lobbying Profile: National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) / Conseil national des Musulmans Canadiens (CNMC)|url=https://lobbycanada.gc.ca/app/secure/ocl/lrs/do/vwRg?cno=358918&regId=951940# |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada |language=en-US}}</ref> After the London Terror Attack in Ontario in 2021 when 4 members of a Muslim family perished in an Islamophobic attack, NCCM submitted 61 recommendations directed at municipal, provincial and federal governments to tackle Islamophobia in their jurisdictions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Recommendations: National Action Summit on Islamophobia |url=http://www.nccm.ca/islamophobiasummit/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=NCCM - National Council of Canadian Muslims |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=National Council of Canadian Muslims reveals anti-Islamophobia recommendations |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/national-muslim-council-policy-recommendations-1.6108161 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |work=CBC News}}</ref> NCCM has been named as a top lobbying organization in Canada by [[The Hill Times]] on multiple occasions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calls to combat Islamophobia prominent in record-setting June for federal advocacy |url=https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2022/07/25/calls-to-combat-islamophobia-prominent-in-record-setting-june-for-federal-advocacy/230992/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=The Hill Times |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Canola industry tops most-active voices in 2022 lobbying |url=https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2023/01/30/canola-industry-among-most-active-voices-in-2022-lobbying/362779/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=The Hill Times |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Environment advocacy dominates in record-breaking 2023 for lobbying |url=https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2024/01/22/environment-advocacy-dominates-in-record-breaking-2023-for-lobbying/408526/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=The Hill Times |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2023 |title=Hill Times Publishing: Lobby Monitor Top Lobbyists 2022-2023 Sitting |url=https://twitter.com/LobbyMonitor/status/1694099441685266619 |access-date=May 15, 2024}}</ref>
According to 2001 census, there were 579,640 [[Muslims]] in [[Canada]], just under 2% of the population.<ref>[http://www40.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/getcans/sorth.cgi?lan=eng&dtype=fina&filename=demo30a.htm&sortact=2&sortf=6 Population by religion, by province and territory (2001 Census)<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501073448/http://www40.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/getcans/sorth.cgi?lan=eng&dtype=fina&filename=demo30a.htm&sortact=2&sortf=6 |date=2008-05-01 }}</ref> In 2021, the Canadian Muslim population was estimated to be 1.8 million or 4.9% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/221026/dq221026b-eng.htm|title=The Daily — The Canadian census: A rich portrait of the country's religious and ethnocultural diversity|first=Statistics Canada|last=Government of Canada|date=October 26, 2022|website=www150.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>

NCCM has been active on several public policy files including systemic Islamophobia in national security agencies,<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 30, 2020 |title=Groups demand Ottawa take action over CSIS discrimination claims |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/csis-muslim-discrimination-letter-1.5444536 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |website=CBC News}}</ref> the CRA,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-07-20 |title=Opinion: If governments want to combat Islamophobia, they will need to take a hard look in the mirror |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-if-governments-want-to-combat-islamophobia-they-will-need-to-take-a/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Under Layered Suspicion {{!}} A Review of CRA Audits of Muslim-led Charities |url=https://www.layeredsuspicion.ca/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=www.layeredsuspicion.ca}}</ref> policing,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Advocates call for inquiry as Edmonton constable accused of excessive force returns to patrol |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-police-nathan-downing-excessive-force-inquiry-1.5203555 |access-date=2024-05-13}}</ref> and education.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ontario Combatting Islamophobia in Schools |url=https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1000436/ontario-combatting-islamophobia-in-schools |access-date=2024-05-13}}</ref> NCCM also advocates on Canadian foreign policy in relation to Islamophobia, including on Canadian positions on multiple issues related to Palestine,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Canada Must Support International Law |url=https://www.nccm.ca/canadainternationallaw/ |website=NCCM}}</ref> Afghanistan,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Canada’s two-tier approach to refugees says the quiet part aloud |url=https://www.ipolitics.ca/opinions/canadas-two-tier-approach-to-refugees-says-the-quiet-part-aloud |website=iPolitics}}</ref> the treatment of Uyghurs in China<ref>{{Cite web |title=NCCM Policy Brief: Uyghur Rights |url=https://www.nccm.ca/uyghur/ |website=NCCM}}</ref> and the treatment of Muslims and other minorities in India.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BJP Leadership and Ethnic Cleansing Measures in India |url=https://www.nccm.ca/bjpfiles/ |website=NCCM}}</ref>

== Education ==
NCCM engages in anti-Islamophobia educational work with public schools,<ref>{{Cite web |title=TDSB trustees vote to develop strategy to combat Islamophobia |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-school-board-islamophobia-1.6824112 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |website=CBC News}}</ref> educators,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Staff, students in this school board are learning about Islamophobia, but true test comes in real world |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/anti-islamophobia-education-strategy-1.6208024 |access-date=May 15, 2024 |website=CBC News}}</ref> corporations,<ref>{{Cite web |title=VIA RAIL CANADA TO WORK WITH THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CANADIAN MUSLIMS ON DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION {{!}} VIA Rail |url=https://media.viarail.ca/en/press-releases/2023/rail-canada-work-national-council-canadian-muslims-diversity-and-inclusion |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=media.viarail.ca}}</ref> unions<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-21 |title=Islamophobia at work requires immediate action, say Canada’s unions |url=https://canadianlabour.ca/islamophobia-at-work-requires-immediate-action-say-canadas-unions/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=Canadian Labour Congress |language=en-US}}</ref> and others. In addition, NCCM provides advocacy services to students who face Islamophobic discrimination or hate at school.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 2, 2023 |title=With anti-Muslim occurrences on the rise, schools in Canada urged to address Islamophobia |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/education-islamophobia-muslim-schools-1.7041144 |website=CBC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Waberi |first=Osobe |date=2018-10-11 |title=This is what Islamophobia looks like in high school |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/gyekgy/toronto-area-high-school-students-open-up-about-islamophobia |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=Vice |language=en}}</ref>

NCCM has been involved in advocating for anti-Islamophobia strategies at multiple school boards, with the first being passed in the Peel District School Board in Ontario<ref>{{Cite web |title=NCCM WELCOMES PDSB'S HISTORIC ADOPTION OF ANTI-ISLAMOPHOBIA STRATEGY |url=http://www.nccm.ca/nccm-welcomes-pdsbs-historic-adoption-of-anti-islamophobia-strategy/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=NCCM - National Council of Canadian Muslims |language=en-US}}</ref> as well as a province-wide strategy in British Columbia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=General |first=Attorney |date=2021-07-22 |title=Joint statement on National Summit on Islamophobia {{!}} BC Gov News |url=https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021AG0047-001422 |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=news.gov.bc.ca |language=en}}</ref>

== Media representation ==

NCCM frequently comments in the media on issues related to Islamophobia and racism, and the organization publishes op-eds in Canadian newspapers on various policy issues.<ref>{{Cite web |title=I have never seen it this bad |url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/islamophobia-i-have-never-seen-it-this-bad/article_f04acb19-53ef-5fd7-86be-ad4220094b81.html |website=Toronto Star}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=With hate on the rise, it’s a tough time to be a young Muslim in school |url=https://www.nationalobserver.com/2022/09/20/opinion/hate-rising-tough-time-be-young-muslim-school |website=National Observer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Major banks have been cutting ties with some Muslim organizations. This is why the process should be more transparent |url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/major-banks-have-been-cutting-ties-with-some-muslim-organizations-this-is-why-the-process/article_55df996a-0b84-577f-8830-fd5dce26e126.html |website=Toronto Star}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=This Ramadan, the wave of Islamophobic incidents has gotten out of hand |url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/this-ramadan-the-wave-of-islamophobic-incidents-has-gotten-out-of-hand/article_b41c5517-6b77-587e-ad24-7edc0be398a5.html |website=Toronto Star}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Anti-semitism and Islamophobia are two sides of the same coin |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-anti-semitism-and-islamophobia-are-two-sides-of-the-same-coin |website=Edmonton Journal}}</ref>

== Controversy ==

NCCM was formerly known as the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) prior to 2013 and was independent of the U.S. organization of a similar name, CAIR.<ref>{{cite news|title=CAIR-CAN rebrands, changes name|url=https://muslimlink.ca/news/cair-can-rebrands-changes-name}}</ref> In 2014, the NCCM sued former Canadian Prime Minister [[Stephen Harper]] and his spokesman Jason MacDonald for defamation<ref>{{cite news|title=Harper spokesperson forced to retract smear against Muslim organization|url=https://ricochet.media/politics/harper-spokesperson-forced-to-retract-smear-against-muslim-organization/}}</ref> for alleging that the organization had connections with a terrorist organization because of similar accusations directed at CAIR; however, these accusations were settled in court when Harper's spokesperson admitted that his statements regarding NCCM were wrong.<ref name="auto1">{{cite news|title=Stephen Harper's ex-spokesman admits he wrongly suggested Muslim group had terrorist ties|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harper-settlement-macdonald-mulsim-1.4033585}}</ref> The Government of Canada also issued a statement disavowing MacDonald's inaccurate statement about NCCM.<ref name="auto1"/>

After the eruption of the events of October 7, 2023 in Israel and Palestine where Hamas attacked and killed Israelis and took hostages and Israel escalated attacks on Palestinian civilians in retaliation, NCCM was accused by pro-Israel lobby groups in Canada of failing to condemn Hamas' attacks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 October 2023 |title=CIJA criticizes the NCCM for failing to condemn Hamas |url=https://twitter.com/CIJAinfo/status/1711087341815656507 |access-date=15 April 2024 |website=twitter.com}}</ref> While NCCM condemned Hamas and its actions on October 9, 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 October 2023 |title=NCCM statement condemning Hamas attacks |url=https://twitter.com/nccm/status/1711459194597970419 |access-date=30 April 2024 |website=twitter.com}}</ref> it has also continued to harshly condemn Israel for its ongoing attacks on Gaza.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 April 2024 |title=NCCM calls Canada to take action on Gaza |url=https://twitter.com/nccm/status/1775290096134025363 |access-date=30 April 2024 |website=twitter.com}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Islamophobia]]
* [[Canadian Islamic Congress]]
* [[Islamophobia in Canada]]
* [[Canadian Civil Liberties Association]]
* [https://bridge.georgetown.edu Bridge Initiative]
* [[Council on American-Islamic Relations]]
* [[Council on American-Islamic Relations]]
* [[Islam in Canada]]
* [[Islamic Society of North America]]
* [[Islamic Supreme Council of Canada]]


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 03:19, 24 June 2024

The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) is a non-profit Canadian Muslim civil liberties and human rights advocacy organization.[1] The organization was established in 2000 to focus on combatting Islamophobia, hate and racism through legal action, public advocacy, education, and media representation. NCCM's mission is "to protect Canadian human rights and civil liberties, challenge discrimination and Islamophobia, build mutual understanding, and advocate for the public concerns of Canadian Muslims."[2]

[edit]

NCCM takes on cases of hate and discrimination such as Islamophobic assaults,[3][4][5] vandalism,[6] harassment,[7] employment discrimination,[8] and racial profiling.[9] NCCM also takes on major cases to challenge discriminatory laws and policies such as Quebec's Bill 21,[10] the No Fly List,[11] the Safe Third Country Act, and Bill 62.[12] NCCM frequently collaborates with partners such as the Canadian Civil Liberties Association to combat encroachments on civil liberties.[13] NCCM lawyers have appeared in multiple courts including human rights tribunals and the Supreme Court of Canada.[14]

Public advocacy

[edit]

NCCM engages in lobbying all levels of government to strengthen or enact laws and policies that address Islamophobia in all its forms.[15] After the London Terror Attack in Ontario in 2021 when 4 members of a Muslim family perished in an Islamophobic attack, NCCM submitted 61 recommendations directed at municipal, provincial and federal governments to tackle Islamophobia in their jurisdictions.[16][17] NCCM has been named as a top lobbying organization in Canada by The Hill Times on multiple occasions.[18][19][20][21]

NCCM has been active on several public policy files including systemic Islamophobia in national security agencies,[22] the CRA,[23][24] policing,[25] and education.[26] NCCM also advocates on Canadian foreign policy in relation to Islamophobia, including on Canadian positions on multiple issues related to Palestine,[27] Afghanistan,[28] the treatment of Uyghurs in China[29] and the treatment of Muslims and other minorities in India.[30]

Education

[edit]

NCCM engages in anti-Islamophobia educational work with public schools,[31] educators,[32] corporations,[33] unions[34] and others. In addition, NCCM provides advocacy services to students who face Islamophobic discrimination or hate at school.[35][36]

NCCM has been involved in advocating for anti-Islamophobia strategies at multiple school boards, with the first being passed in the Peel District School Board in Ontario[37] as well as a province-wide strategy in British Columbia.[38]

Media representation

[edit]

NCCM frequently comments in the media on issues related to Islamophobia and racism, and the organization publishes op-eds in Canadian newspapers on various policy issues.[39][40][41][42][43]

Controversy

[edit]

NCCM was formerly known as the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) prior to 2013 and was independent of the U.S. organization of a similar name, CAIR.[44] In 2014, the NCCM sued former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his spokesman Jason MacDonald for defamation[45] for alleging that the organization had connections with a terrorist organization because of similar accusations directed at CAIR; however, these accusations were settled in court when Harper's spokesperson admitted that his statements regarding NCCM were wrong.[46] The Government of Canada also issued a statement disavowing MacDonald's inaccurate statement about NCCM.[46]

After the eruption of the events of October 7, 2023 in Israel and Palestine where Hamas attacked and killed Israelis and took hostages and Israel escalated attacks on Palestinian civilians in retaliation, NCCM was accused by pro-Israel lobby groups in Canada of failing to condemn Hamas' attacks.[47] While NCCM condemned Hamas and its actions on October 9, 2023,[48] it has also continued to harshly condemn Israel for its ongoing attacks on Gaza.[49]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "About Us". NCCM. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  2. ^ "NCCM - National Council of Canadian Muslims". NCCM - National Council of Canadian Muslims. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  3. ^ Bernhardt, D (July 18, 2023). "Muslim community suggests Olive Garden attack on Black woman was motivated by hate". CBC.
  4. ^ "Edmonton man gets 16-month jail sentence for hate-motivated attack on Muslim women". CBC. October 21, 2022.
  5. ^ "Paramount Fine Foods v Johnston, 2021 ONSC 5530". CanLii.
  6. ^ "Mississauga mosque's windows smashed in alleged hate crime, police say". CBC. February 1, 2024.
  7. ^ "'We have been harassed': UBC student group, Muslim organization say they are taking legal action over pro-Hamas stickers on campus". British Columbia. 2024-02-09. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  8. ^ "'CSIS is broken,' lawyer says in support of spy service employee's claim". kitchener.citynews.ca. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  9. ^ Bahdi, Reem (2018-09-04). "Narrating Dignity: Islamophobia, Racial Profiling, and National Security Before the Supreme Court of Canada". Osgoode Hall Law Journal. 55 (2): 557–591. doi:10.60082/2817-5069.3293. ISSN 2817-5069.
  10. ^ "Hak c. Procureure générale du Québec, 2019 QCCA 2145". CanLii. December 12, 2019.
  11. ^ "Factum of the intervener" (PDF). SCC.
  12. ^ "National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) c. Attorney General of Quebec, 2017 QCCS 5459". CanLii. 2017-12-01.
  13. ^ CCLA (2023-07-17). "NCCM and CCLA Continue to Challenge Quebec's School Prayer Ban". CCLA. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  14. ^ "NCCM Appears at Supreme Court of Canada on Safe Third Country Agreement". NCCM.
  15. ^ "Lobbying Profile: National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) / Conseil national des Musulmans Canadiens (CNMC)". Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
  16. ^ "Recommendations: National Action Summit on Islamophobia". NCCM - National Council of Canadian Muslims. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
  17. ^ "National Council of Canadian Muslims reveals anti-Islamophobia recommendations". CBC News. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  18. ^ "Calls to combat Islamophobia prominent in record-setting June for federal advocacy". The Hill Times. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
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