CAIR-CAN settles lawsuits against CFRA Radio, David Harris

For immediate release

CAIR-CAN recently settled a defamation lawsuit against David Harris and CFRA Radio.

In an April 1, 2004, broadcast on CFRA Radio, David Harris, president of Insignis Strategic Research and former Chief of Strategic Planning for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), implied that CAIR-CAN was a terrorist organization.

CFRA Radio settled immediately with CAIR-CAN and offered Sheema Khan, former Chair of CAIR-CAN, an opportunity to rebut Harris' comments on radio in September 2004. CFRA also had former executive director Riad Saloojee as a guest with Steve Madely on the Lunch Bunch, a noon-hour roundtable news discussion. Following the launch of the lawsuit, it appears that CFRA has not used Harris as a guest commentator since.

Last year, CAIR-CAN also sued David Frum, a former White House speechwriter who helped coin George Bush's "axis of evil" phrase, and the National Post.
In a column in the National Post, David Frum suggested that CAIR-CAN had terrorist affiliations.

In the settlement against David Frum, the following Editor's Note was published prominently in the National Post:

"Two columns written by David Frum prompted a complaint from Sheema Khan as well as from the Council on American-Islamic Relations Canada. Mr. Frum was responding to a Globe and Mail column written by Ms. Khan.

"Although at times there are differences of opinion, David Frum and the National Post acknowledge that Sheema Khan honestly holds her expressed opinions and through her work seeks to foster a fuller appreciation of Islam in Canadian society.

"David Frum and the National Post acknowledge that the Council on American- Islamic Relations Canada is a national grassroots organization with the stated purpose of empowering Canadian Muslims through community education, media relations, anti-discrimination and public advocacy.

"David Frum and the National Post acknowledge that neither Sheema Khan nor the Council on American-Islamic Relations Canada advocates or promotes terrorism.

"It is acknowledged that Sheema Khan and the Council on American-Islamic Relations Canada have repeatedly affirmed the importance of an understanding and appreciation of Islam in Canadian society."