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Annual week-long campus demonstrations condemning Israeli activities have come to be known as IAW (Israeli Apartheid Week). Activism and free speech have always been the right of Canadians, but recently, MPPs from all three political parties passed a motion by a Progressive Conservative Party MPP.

This is a cause of worry and frustration because the right of expression is a fundamental right of all Canadians, and it seems that the Canadian government is being biased towards Israel in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

NDP party leader Andrea Howarth was one of the few who openly denounced this motion introduced by the Tories. The Tories are arguing that IAW can be offensive and likened to hate speech, but in reality it is just voicing the discontent with Israel’s oppressive methods towards Palestinians.
As university students, we should have the right to analyze, evaluate and criticize any actions or policies…whether they are domestic or international. If universities cannot be a platform for students who are encouraged to analyze and criticize, where shall we take our thoughts?
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Comments

ned
03/14/2010 11:58am

Free speech is extremely important as is free and constructive dialogue. Unfortunately, IAW has not served a constructive purpose - many of the speakers engage in hate speech and there is no room for opposing opinions. Would the IAW organizers be open to creating an event that encouraged dialogue rather than encouraging anger?

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Aisha
03/16/2010 11:15am

I cannot speak on behalf of IAW or its organizers. I am writing because I strongly believe that it is unjust to close off a group because they hold opinions that are in opposition to the 'majority', whatever that might be. You may feel that they are not constructive - but they have spread awareness, and they have voiced their discontent. As far as hate speech goes, I do not approve of inciting hatred for any group. I feel that their anger is justified but their 'incitement of hatred' is not...but because some views are not in accordance with the majority belief, it does not mean that their views are unacceptable. I think this issue stems from something deeper than an un-'constructive person'...something along the lines of pro-Israeli support. Constructive dialogue should definitely be encouraged but tolerance of differing views must also be encouraged.

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Ammar
04/14/2010 4:10pm

I'm grow tired of reading articles that go on and on about the situation in Palestine. there are other Muslims around the world that suffer a more horrible fate than the Palestinians and whats worse it that there is no one to take up their cause, because all of our attentions focuses on Palestine. another thorn is the fact that many Muslims are being oppressed by Muslim nations, an example are the Rohingya's.

a suggestion i leave with you guys is at least have one article dedicated to the plight of muslims around the world other than the Palestinians, its all i ask, be the voice for the voiceless

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anas
04/14/2010 4:24pm

Ammar write us an article and guest blog with us! I agreed with your sentiments that there are many other instances of oppression that are not as well publicized in the Muslim community. Let's do something to change that, inshAllah.

But, I also believe this wasn't a typical Palestine article. (Not that those are bad.) This is about an introduction to a law that wants to muzzle one voice and boost the PR image of another external state. It's more about the Canada/Provincial government than Israel & Palestine.

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