The terrorist attacks in Canada are reasonable reaction to its foreign policy; Canada should espouse a neutral policy towards ISIS: Canadian Imam Sheharyar Shaikh
Sheharyar Shaikh is the former President of North American Muslim Foundation and currently serves as the Imam of
Masjid Qurtabah (4140 Finch Avenue East, Scarborough, ON).
Sheharyar Shaikh, Youtube In an article bearing the title “
Why Canada Attacks Are Not Surprising” (October 24, 2014), Imam Sheharyar argues that the terrorist attacks south of Montreal (October 20, 2014) and in Ottawa (October 22, 2014) are reasonable reaction of Muslims to Canada's foreign policy since 2001, its military mission in Afghanistan and its support of the US war in Iraq.
Implicitly dismissing the argument made by Canadian Muslim leaders who described the terrorists as “mentally ill,” Imam Sheharyar suggested that the war Canada declared on ISIS (or ISIL) is one of the understandable factors that motivated Martin Ahmad Couture-Rouleau and Michael Zehaf-Bibeau to kill Canadian soldiers. In this regard he called the Canadian government to espouse neutral position towards ISIS.
Imam Sheharyar also mocked Canadian Muslim 'leaders' who try hard to prove their patriotism by “offering condolences” and “presenting colorful wreaths” following the killing of the Canadian soldiers challenging them to make the right and bold move and urge the government to review it foreign policy in order to save Canada from future attacks.
The following are excerpts of Imam Sheharyar's article:
“Both Martin and Michael were Quebecers, Caucasians and converts to Islam who allegedly identified with ISIS.
“I am highly saddened, but not highly shocked. Let’s face it, folks. Canada has hardly been a neutral country in the world in the last thirteen years.
"Despite its peaceful and innocent self-image, it has poodled right into a US-led war that has cost millions of innocent lives and turned tens of millions into permanent refugees in the another part of the world.
“For the last thirteen years, we Canadians have participated in the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan – a military fiasco costing Canadians blood and treasure...
“The question is: What did we achieve fighting a US war except lose precious lives, waste taxpayer wealth and incur humiliation for over a decade?
“We are making the same blunder fighting ISIS today. What do we gain by consciously handing innocent people to proxy torture countries while knowing that they would be bound and inhumanely tortured?
“Now by declaring war on ISIS by sending special forces and CF-18 fighter jets for a six-month bombing campaign we are blindly being led to another fiasco. Should there be surprise if there was a blowback, however amateurish, against two soldiers by ‘Lone Wolves’ using a speeding car and shotgun?...
“I am sure the mainstream propaganda machinery will go on a full swing, feeding the ‘terrorist ideology’ and ‘hatred towards our freedoms’ spiel for the violence, without giving the slightest cause for real introspection. I am also sure that I (and anyone) who wants to see Canada as a global moral leader, which refrains from all US wars with a ten-foot pole, will instead be labelled a terrorist-sympathizer. Its sick...
“If a country bordering ISIS such as Turkey, a NATO member and ally, can remain neutral toward ISIS, why can’t we?...
“While the Muslim ‘leaders’ race each other in holding memorial services, offering condolences, presenting colorful wreaths, and making sympathetic gestures for the tragic death of Cpl Nathan Cirillo and obsequiously reassuring the Harper government of their undying patriotism, we expect that a few will have the gall to suggest a review of Canada’s 13-year old war policy under a US mandate.
“If we are truly patriotic, let us protect our country from harm’s way. And if we are a true friend of the US, we would prevent the Americans from harm as well.”
I BET HE IS VOTING LIBERAL.