OTTAWA - A video glorifying Taliban attacks in Afghanistan and the slaughter of Canadian soldiers disappeared from YouTube and other sites Friday, mere hours after QMI Agency began questioning taxpayer subsidies for the francophone rapper who made it.
"The enemy approaches," rapper Manu Militari declared in the video. "I recognize Canada's colours."
Later he says, "In a few seconds they'll understand how much I hate them."
The rapper has said he tried to "humanize" Islamists by presenting a sympathetic view of Taliban fighters detonating a roadside bomb and killing Canadians.
Manu Militari says a "disproportionate" response to the video convinced him to remove it from the Internet, though on Friday afternoon his website continued to promote its official September 11 release.
Meanwhile, questions persist about taxpayer subsidies for the rapper.
"Why are we funding this garbage that gives comfort to Canada's enemies?" National Citizens Coalition director Stephen Taylor asked.
Between 2008 and 2013, Manu Militari will have received $110,000 in grants for various projects from MusicAction - a francophone arts-promoting body that gets 75% of its $8 million annual budget from taxpayers through Heritage Canada.
Private media companies like Cogeco and Astral Media cover the rest of its budget.
MusicAction refused interview requests, but Heritage Minister James Moore took to Twitter to slam its funding decision.
"MusicAction's contribution to this group does not meet the conditions (of) funding," he tweeted. "We expect measures will be taken in response."
The Prime Minister's Office condemns the video as a "slap in the face to our military and veterans."
Tory MP Chris Alexander, a former diplomat in Afghanistan, noted, "80% of civilian victims in Afghanistan the past year were victims of Taliban attacks, and to romanticise these acts is irresponsible."
Leaked Conservative talking points indicate the government is "looking at options" to ensure taxpayers never subsidize pro-Taliban art again.
Pro-Taliban rapper gets taxpayer subsidies | Canada | News | Toronto Sun
"The enemy approaches," rapper Manu Militari declared in the video. "I recognize Canada's colours."
Later he says, "In a few seconds they'll understand how much I hate them."
The rapper has said he tried to "humanize" Islamists by presenting a sympathetic view of Taliban fighters detonating a roadside bomb and killing Canadians.
Manu Militari says a "disproportionate" response to the video convinced him to remove it from the Internet, though on Friday afternoon his website continued to promote its official September 11 release.
Meanwhile, questions persist about taxpayer subsidies for the rapper.
"Why are we funding this garbage that gives comfort to Canada's enemies?" National Citizens Coalition director Stephen Taylor asked.
Between 2008 and 2013, Manu Militari will have received $110,000 in grants for various projects from MusicAction - a francophone arts-promoting body that gets 75% of its $8 million annual budget from taxpayers through Heritage Canada.
Private media companies like Cogeco and Astral Media cover the rest of its budget.
MusicAction refused interview requests, but Heritage Minister James Moore took to Twitter to slam its funding decision.
"MusicAction's contribution to this group does not meet the conditions (of) funding," he tweeted. "We expect measures will be taken in response."
The Prime Minister's Office condemns the video as a "slap in the face to our military and veterans."
Tory MP Chris Alexander, a former diplomat in Afghanistan, noted, "80% of civilian victims in Afghanistan the past year were victims of Taliban attacks, and to romanticise these acts is irresponsible."
Leaked Conservative talking points indicate the government is "looking at options" to ensure taxpayers never subsidize pro-Taliban art again.
Pro-Taliban rapper gets taxpayer subsidies | Canada | News | Toronto Sun
