“In Pakistan, Ahmadiyya Muslims, Shia Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and Hindus face persecution and violence. In China, Christians who worship outside government boundaries are driven underground; Shia Muslims in Iraq, Coptic Christians in Egypt, the list, appallingly, goes on and on."
Source/Credit: York Region
By Vaughan Citizen | February 19, 2013
Prime Minister Stephen Harper chose the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at headquarters in Maple today to announce the creation of the Canadian Office of Religious Freedom and appoint its first ambassador, public servant Dr. Andrew Bennett.
However, the move was promptly criticized by the federal Liberals, referring to the move as “domestic politicking”.
Paying tribute to his hosts, Mr. Harper said he is grateful for that community’s generous hospitality.
“Even more, I’m grateful for the outstanding example you set. This community has faced terrible persecution and cruelty. In spite of that, you make an inspiring contribution to our values. You strengthen Canada’s commitment to diversity and pluralism, reminding your fellow Canadians that freedom must never be taken for granted,” Mr. Harper said to a crowd of about 500, many of whom were members of a variety of faiths that Canada has long stood up for.
“Under our government, Canada has spoken out consistently and emphatically, without fear or favour, against human rights abuses around the world,” the prime minister continued.
Mr. Harper talked about religious minorities who have been persecuted around the world and said it was the duty of G8, Commonwealth and Francophonie nations to make it clear they don’t accept what has happened.
“In Pakistan, Ahmadiyya Muslims, Shia Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and Hindus face persecution and violence. In China, Christians who worship outside government boundaries are driven underground; Shia Muslims in Iraq, Coptic Christians in Egypt, the list, appallingly, goes on and on. In the face of these injustices and atrocities, Canada will not be silent,” Mr. Harper said to rousing applause.
He then referred to a former prime minister to make the point that freedom and tolerance must be paramount and that Canada will not be silent in the wake of persecution of religious minorities.
“Former prime minister John Diefenbaker, who was one of the greatest human rights champions in our history, noted these realities when he introduced his original Canadian Bill of Rights: ‘I am a Canadian, a free Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship God in my own way, free to stand for what I believe right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind’.”
Liberal Foreign Affairs critic Dominic LeBlanc criticized the creation of the office, saying that “rather than pursuing substantive results in the area of religious freedoms, they (Conservatives) are opting for symbolism, posturing, self-righteous sermonizing and domestic politicking”.
“In some regions where this office is likely to be active, religion often conflicts with our understanding of other important human rights — including the (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community) and women’s rights. This government must explain how it will guarantee that it does not feed a perception that religious rights are supreme,” Mr. LeBlanc said.
The Office of Religious Freedom will be headed up by Dr. Andrew Bennett, formerly an Ottawa civil servant with a background in the Privy Council Office, Export Development Canada and Natural Resources Canada.
Dr. Bennett has a doctorate in political science from Dalhousie University and has been involved with the Shepherds of Good Hope mission in Ottawa and as subdeacon and cantor with the Holy Cross Eastern Catholic Chaplaincy and St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine, in Ottawa.
The office will have a full-time staff of five and an annual budget of $5 million. It will work out of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Part of its mandate is to monitor religious freedoms around the world.
Read original post here: Harper announces new Office of Religious Freedom
This content-post is archived for backup and to keep archived records of any news Islam Ahmadiyya. The views expressed by the author and source of this news archive do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of Ahmadiyya Times.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for your comments. Any comments irrelevant to the post's subject matter, containing abuses, and/or vulgar language will not be approved.