Muslim community appalled by controversial appointment of new rights group president

March 5, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Montreal, Quebec, March 5th, 2010- The Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM) denounces in the strongest terms the recent decision of Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon to appoint Gerald Latulippe as president of The International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development (Rights and Democracy). 

“Mr. Latulippe’s public record shows his very xenophobic and discriminatory feelings against the Canadian Muslim community and against immigrants in general,” stated Salam Elmenyawi, president of MCM. “It is preposterous to have a man who openly spreads unfounded racist and inflammatory notions appointed to a position where he is supposed to be a champion of human rights, freedom and democracy.”

In the 2007 Bouchard-Taylor Commission over reasonable accommodation, Mr. Latulippe stated that the concentration of immigrants from Muslim countries in Montreal “undermined the proper functioning of Quebec society” and that they posed a threat to the national security of Canada. All three federal opposition leaders have unanimously objected to Mr. Cannon’s controversial appointment of Mr. Latulippe.

 

“It is clear that the Harper administration does not care to listen to the concerns of anyone except themselves,” Elmenyawi said. “Instead of building a stronger and healthier future for our country, the Conservative government’s dubious operating principles are destabilizing the very fabric of our nation and leading us down a very bleak and disturbing path.”

 

The International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development is a non-partisan human rights organization that is funded by Canadian taxpayers. Its mandate is to encourage and support the universal values of human rights and promote democracy around the world.

 

 

CONTACT:

Salam Elmenyawi

Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM)

Ph.: (514) 748-8427

Fax: (514) 747-9139

E-mail: info@muslimcouncil.org

Website: http://www.muslimcouncil.org

 

 

The Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM) is an umbrella organization representing a number of Islamic institutions in the Montreal region. There are over 200,000 Muslims in Montreal, about 900,000 in Canada and 1.7 billion worldwide.

 

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