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CAIR-CAN Denounces ‘Rights and Democracy’ Appointment
Thursday, March 04, 2010 1:59 pm
- For Immediate Release -
(Ottawa, Canada – March 04, 2010) The Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) denounced Tuesday’s decision by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lawrence Cannon, to unilaterally appoint Mr. Gérard Latulippe as President of the human rights organization Rights and Democracy.
The International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development (Rights and Democracy) is a tax-payer funded, non-partisan organization with an international mandate. It was created by Parliament in 1988 to encourage and support the universal values of human rights and to promote democratic institutions and practices around the world.
Late Tuesday, Minister Cannon announced the appointment of Mr. Latulippe to fill the vacant presidency despite the unanimous objection of all three opposition parties.
In 2007, Mr. Latulippe authored a submission to the Bouchard-Taylor Commission investigating reasonable accommodation in Quebec, in which he suggested that the increasing Muslim population in Montreal was a threat both to the cultural integrity of Quebec and to Canadian national security.
Click Here to View Submission
Latulippe's public statements "promote an unfounded fear of Muslims and of Muslim immigration to Canada," said CAIR-CAN Executive Director Ihsaan Gardee. "This is not consistent with the values of tolerance and acceptance enshrined in our Canadian Charter (of Rights and Freedoms). . . Mr. Latulippe has a right to his opinions, but it is a matter of concern when taxpayer dollars go to someone whose xenophobic views do not reflect Charter values" added Gardee.
Last week, CAIR-CAN issued an Action Alert, asking that Canadians write to Minister Cannon and protest Mr. Latulippe’s nomination.
CAIR-CAN is a national, non-profit, grassroots organization striving to be a leading voice that enriches Canadian society through Muslim civic engagement and the promotion of human rights.
CONTACT: Ihsaan Gardee, CAIR-CAN Executive Director, 613.254.9704; 613.853.4111
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