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The proroguing of Parliament we understand. We also understand Stephen Harper's emasculation of independent institutions. And we even understand his firing/silencing/demonization of critics -- like labeling NDP leader Jack Layton "Taliban Jack" for saying in 2006 that NATO had messed up so badly in Afghanistan ... the only way out was political reconciliation -- which is what U.S. President Barack Obama has decided and Ottawa has signed on to.

All this is factually straightforward, leading to strong opinions for and against. But the Tory takeover of the Rights and Democracy agency has been complex. The Montreal centre, which promotes human rights worldwide, was set up by former PM Brian Mulroney to operate at arm's-length from the government. And it reports to Parliament -- not the Prime Minister's Office. So the PMO has had to take a slow, circuitous route to ambush it, by changing the centre's 13-member board. Such appointments are, of course, the Prime Minister's prerogative.

More enlightening, however, is how the PMO helped the chosen majority to engineer a hostile takeover; and how Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon has been sidelined. Similarly enlightening is how our foreign policy, in tune with the American one, has decided that the Taliban and the once-spurned Ba’athists in Iraq must be spoken to -- but not the Palestinians. Israel is still being fully supported in whichever way it deals with them, and those suggesting otherwise apparently must be pilloried.

In the Rights and Democracy affair, politics played out at the centre. The majority voted 7-6 to reject grants of $10,000 each to B'Tselem (an Israeli NGO critical of human rights violations), Al Haq (in the West Bank) and Al Mazen (in Gaza) - all three previously approved by Remy Beauregard, the centre's president, who died in January after a stormy board meeting.

Current board chair Aurel Braun and his allies have echoed the Israeli position that the head of Al Haq, Shawan Jabarin, has ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a banned terrorist organization in Canada, and that Jabarin is under a travel ban. But, as with most Mideast matters, there's a counter-narrative.

Al Haq is a partner agency of B'Tselem. Jabarin has not been arrested. He was denied an exit visa and could not go to Holland to receive a human rights award given jointly to Al Haq and B'Tselem.

The Dutch protested. So did 10 Israeli NGOs. William Schabas, a Canadian who heads the Centre for Human Rights in Ireland, called Jabarin "a distinguished international lawyer, highly regarded around the world by all those who cherish human rights."

As it turned out, Beauregard had run the three grants by Cannon's ministry, which approved them. In fact, Al Haq had also received funding from CIDA, in keeping with Canada’s policy of promoting civil society in the Palestinian territories and providing non-violent alternatives to terrorism. How ironic, that Al Haq was good enough for CIDA and for Canada’s Foreign Affairs ministry, but not for Braun and Co.

Given the objections raised, however, Beauregard had previously agreed not to give any more such controversial grants. That was at the same meeting where the board, not yet controlled by Braun, unanimously voted to boycott the Durban II conference because of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's widely publicized Holocaust denial.

Yet Braun and his allies "kept up the witch-hunt against Beauregard," according to an insider, even creating a negative evaluation to overturn a positive one which was kept secret. As well, they ignored the board's demand to cease and desist and had an October 2009 board meeting, where they likely would have been censured, cancelled. They waited, ready to ambush when they had a majority.

Braun and supporters followed up by arguing that there were other problems, concerning accountability and competency, cited in a 2007 foreign affairs audit. "That's just total misinformation," said Ed Broadbent, a former Rights and Democracy president. "Everything had been absolutely transparent." It was noted too that the cited 2007 audit preceded Beauregard’s brief tenure; in fact, he was implementing its recommendations well, which is why the previous board had given him a positive evaluation.

Meanwhile, on the night of Beauregard's funeral, there was a break-in at the centre and two laptops were stolen. And a gag order has been imposed on the staff, many of whom fear being fired.

(Retrieved from: http://www.thestar.com/opinion/article/757981--how-the-harperites -ambushed-the-rights-agency Haroon Siddiqui writes Thursday and Sunday. hsiddiqui@thestar.ca This article was edited for the Canadian Islamic Congress Friday Magazine.)

Olympic showcase can't mask Canada’s shameful record on Aboriginal rights.

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The opening ceremonies at the Vancouver Winter Olympiad were flush with aboriginal motifs: hundreds of costumed indigenous dancers, giant illuminated totem poles, and the broad smiles of representatives from the "Four Host First Nations." It was a perfectly choreographed display of Canada's multicultural grace for an international audience.

Ever-sensitive about their reputation as a land of the fair-minded, Canada's Olympic planners went to great lengths to showcase national respect for our aboriginals. They made an Inuit design the official logo; they ran the torch-relay through scores of reservations. And they bought the support and participation of local First Nations with a few million in bonds, business ventures and gleaming buildings. It was an absolute bargain -- if this aboriginal gilding can blind Canadians and the world to the country's secret shame over the true state of its Indigenous peoples.

The evidence is hard to dispute. Roads into most Indigenous reservations, some close to the celebrated Olympic slopes, are dirt. Nearly a hundred communities are on boil-water alerts -- this in the country with the world's most fresh water. There is no government strategy to deal with the toxic mold that makes half of reservation homes unlivable.

Aboriginals comprise 4 per cent of Canada’s population, but account for almost 20 per cent of inmates of the country's prisons. And one of the acknowledged suicide capitals of the world is a small northern Ontario reservation.

Canada's Minister of Indian Affairs, Chuck Strahl, regularly trumpets the amounts supposedly lavished on aboriginals, but the real scandal is that most of that money pays for a vast government bureaucracy, which only perpetuates the dependency and poverty that plague indigenous communities. For example, billions haven been spent -- not on paving roads and developing infrastructure and health-care in dilapidated communities -- but on a legal war opposing aboriginal rights.

In British Columbia, where most territory is legally unsurrendered, the government forces First Nations to sign away ninety-five percent of their lands as a precondition for discussions. But promising to not claim or "assert" land rights amounts to aboriginals abandoning them. And among the nations that originally opposed the 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, only Canada stands stubbornly by its position and our government has reigned in any communities that have dared to act on the basis of the UN Declaration. Since 2008, the leaders of communities in Big Trout Lake, Ardoch, and Barriere Lake have been imprisoned for several months. Their "crimes" were peacefully protesting clear-cut logging and mining that would have ravaged their lands. The government's undeclared agenda: one land grab after another, to satisfy Canadian companies and multinationals greedy for the resources on indigenous lands.

"The Olympic embrace of aboriginals is a cruel deception," says Indigenous activist Arthur Manuel, who marched in Vancouver under the "No Olympics on Stolen Native land" banner. "Canada wants us impoverished to justify seizing our lands."

The government feigns ignorance about the steps to eliminate such bleak conditions, but there have been no lack of commissions and inquests and scholarly reports - which have gathered dust on bureaucrats’ shelves. Instead, the government promotes only the indigenous voices saying what it wants to hear.

The Olympics may have brought Canada the world's adulation, but that will last for mere weeks. The plight of indigenous peoples will continue as a blemish on our supposedly enlightened and proud self-conception. Real self-respect will come when Canadians acknowledge indigenous peoples' contributions to the country, recognize their land rights, and give them a fair share of this abundant land’s resources -- not some business deals and bit parts to play during a short-lived sports party. Only when genuine justice is given will Canada deserve the respect it sought by such illusory means as were seen during the Olympics.

(Retrieved from: http://www.counterpunch.org/luckas02172010.html Martin Lukacs is a writer and activist in Montreal, Canada. He can be reached at: martonlukacs@gmail.com This article was edited and slightly abridged for the Canadian Islamic Congress Friday Magazine.)

Parents want case to highlight events that led to American activist's death under Israeli army bulldozer

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(JERUSALEM) -- The family of American activist Rachel Corrie, who was killed by an Israeli army bulldozer in Gaza seven years ago, is bringing a civil suit over her death against the Israeli defense ministry.

The case, which begins on March 10 in Haifa, is seen by her parents as an opportunity to publicly record the events that led to their daughter's death in March 2003. Four key witnesses - three Britons and an American - who witnessed the scene in Rafah when Corrie was killed will testify.

Along with Corrie, all four belonged to the International Solidarity Movement; they have since been denied entry to Israel, and ISM’s offices in Ramallah have been raided several times recently by the Israeli military.

Under apparent U.S. pressure, the Israeli government has agreed to allow them entry so they can testify; Corrie's parents will also fly to Israel for the hearing. However, Gazan physician, Dr. Ahmed Abu Nakira, who treated Corrie and later confirmed her death, has been denied permission to attend the trial.

Abu Hussein, a leading human rights lawyer representing the Corries, said there was evidence that Israeli soldiers saw Corrie at the scene well before the incident and could have arrested or removed her from the area before she was killed.

"After her death the military began an investigation but unfortunately, as in most of these cases, it found the activity of the army was legal," he said. "We would like the court to decide her killing was due to wrong-doing or was intentional." If the Israeli state is found responsible, the family will press for damages.

Corrie, 23, was born in Olympia, WA and travelled to Gaza to act as a human shield during a time of intense conflict between the Israeli military and Palestinians. On the day she died, she wore a fluorescent orange vest while trying to stop the demolition of a Palestinian home. She was crushed under a military bulldozer and died shortly afterwards.

A month after her death the Israeli military investigation determined its troops were not to blame and said the driver of the bulldozer had not seen her and did not intentionally run her over. Instead, it accused her and the International Solidarity Movement of behaviour that was "illegal, irresponsible and dangerous."

The army report, obtained by the Guardian in April 2003, said she "was struck as she stood behind a mound of earth that was created by an engineering vehicle operating in the area and she was hidden from the view of the vehicle's operator who continued with his work. Corrie was struck by dirt and a slab of concrete resulting in her death."

Witnesses presented a strikingly different version of events. Tom Dale, a British activist who was only 10 metres away from Corrie when she was killed, described shortly afterwards how she first knelt in the path of an approaching bulldozer and then stood as it reached her. She climbed up on a mound of earth and the crowd nearby shouted for the bulldozer to stop; instead, the operator pushed her down and drove over her.

"They pushed Rachel, first beneath the scoop, then beneath the blade, then continued till her body was beneath the cockpit," Dale wrote. "They waited over her for a few seconds, before reversing. They reversed with the blade pressed down, so it scraped over her body a second time. Every second I believed they would stop but they never did."

While she was in the Palestinian territories, Corrie wrote vividly about her experiences. Her diaries were later turned into a play, My Name is Rachel Corrie, which has toured internationally, including to Israel and the West Bank.

(Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/23/corrie-death-law-case This article was edited and abridged for the Canadian Islamic Congress Friday Magazine.)

4-1. "AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE ..."

Saja Noor, a student at Tamanawis Secondary School was one of 12,000 Canadians chosen to carry the Olympic Torch. She writes in The Miracle (Feb. 26, 2010):

To be chosen as a torchbearer was such an honour. Little did I know that I would be part of one of the greatest events in Canada, the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. When I first heard the phone message, I exclaimed: "What! Me?" thinking it was some kind of joke. But when I called back I realized this was real -- it was the best news I’d received in my entire life.

A month before the big moment, when everything had been confirmed, I received my uniform and then the impact of it all really kicked in. Every day I read more and more the Torch relay, which made it a lot more exciting as I counted down the days until my turn on January 30, when I would receive the torch in a small BC town called Houston.

Since I live in Surrey, I flew first to Smithers (because Houston doesn't have an airport) on Friday January 29 accompanied by my sister, Maryam and my brother, Hassan. As Maryam and I walked around the downtown streets of Smithers that day, we noticed how united and happy people were. Because of the long day ahead of me I couldn't explore as much as I’d have liked because I needed to get a good night’s sleep. But how can you sleep amid so much anticipation and excitement? I was so restless, I felt as if I had drunk three cups of coffee, but eventually I did fall asleep.

Early the next morning I put on my uniform and stared in the mirror, still not quite believing that this was actually happening. But we first had to drive 90 minutes to reach Houston and the roads weren't looking that good so I felt a little scared. Our nerves weren’t helped by warnings from our hotel receptionist of the many hills on the route; one of the most dangerous is called Hungry Hill, because of so many past accidents there. I decided to pray to God to get us all there safely and we arrived unscathed at Houston's Visitor Information Centre.

We were the first, but later more people showed up in time for the 1:30 p.m. meeting for all the torchbearers. We were told how the run would work and were given our torches by the Olympic 2010 team that had come to assist us. After snapping some photographs, it was time to board the shuttle bus that dropped us off at all our designated spots along the route. During the ride, we all shared stories about the journey we had travelled to reach this moment, how we applied, why we applied, and why we thought we had been picked over all the thousands who had applied.

Listening to the journeys of other torchbearers often overwhelmed and touched me -- especially the story of a cancer victim who had no hope of survival, yet was here among us holding the torch and is now doing remarkable things to help raise money for cancer research. This really goes to show that you can never lose hope even when you may soon be taking your last breath. When it was my turn to share, I told a little bit of my family history, for my own grandfather - a discus thrower and shot put champion -- was part of the 1948 Olympics in London, England. He was also the first flag bearer for the new country of Pakistan.

So I felt very proud to be a part of these Olympic Games in any way I could and to know that he would be proud too if he was here with me. Finally, with all the other torch-bearers dropped off, there was only me and the other person who would pass the flame on to me and that would end the relay for Houston. As we got off the shuttle we could hear people screaming, shouting, cheering for us, and running towards us to get a picture with the torch. I definitely felt like a celebrity!

As I was dropped off at my spot, people in cars went by waving and honking. It was great to see such spirit from such a small town. I felt honored, excited and just a bit nervous as the time neared for me to run with the Olympic flame. Moments later the flame was in view and a relay attendant arrived on his bike and prepared my torch to receive the flame. That’s when I thought to myself, "This is really happening. I'm part of this big event. I'm going to be part of history!" Then the flame was lit on my torch; I held it as high as I could and started to run. I had so much pent up energy and so much excitement that I completely forgot a fellow team member's advice to take it slow and enjoy the moment -- I just wanted to run! It was over quickly in the physical realm, but it will never be over in my spirit. Nothing in the world could possibly mean as much to me as the second felt the Olympic torch in my hands, knowing that I am part of the 2010 Olympic Games history.

It was the greatest moment of my life and I know I would not have traded it for the world.

(Original article from http://www.miraclenews.com/sports.htm For space considerations, this report was edited, abridged and paraphrased for the Canadian Islamic Congress Friday Magazine.)

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4-2. MOHAMMED JANIEF: PROUD MUSLIM OLYMPIC TORCH-BEARER IN BC

By Shahzad Mansoory, Al Ameen Magazine, Vancouver, BC, February 3, 2010

Mohammed Janief -- father, husband, soccer volunteer, community worker, proud Canadian and Muslim -- was also among the 12,000 Canadians honoured to carry the torch for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Mohammed Janief was contacted on December 17, 2009 by the Torch Relay Team with the good news that he had been chosen to be a torch-bearer in Dawson Creek, BC.

The torch relay team (sponsored by Coca-Cola and the Royal Bank of Canada) covered approximately 45,000 kilometres and passed through some 1030 communities, making it the longest-ever relay in Olympic history.

Janief was chosen for his active contribution to Canadian society, especially his dedication to community service, through volunteer work in coaching and refereeing soccer.

In Dawson Creek, a small town of about 10,000, he ran alongside former Vancouver mayor (and now Senator) Larry Campbell. Janief was the first torch-bearer to run through Dawson Creek, accompanied by his wife, Rukaiya and sons Zafar and Zacharias.

He said he’s thrilled about the entire experience and how events unfolded for him and his family, right from the moment of receiving the good news. "I would like to thank Allah Subhan Wa Tala for making this dream come true. At this age, I have no hope of making an Olympic team, and I know for a fact I can never make a FIFA referee as I am past the prime age and I can never make the fitness test, so this was the closest to being a part of the 2010 Olympics and a high-powered athlete."

Mohammed Janief’s accomplishment serves as an example for all of us in how we can be contributing and active members of society while maintaining our Islamic Identity.

(To read more about his experiences please see: http://alameenpost.com/articles.aspx?categoryname=lifestyle&newsId=1807 This article was edited for the Canadian Islamic Congress Friday Magazine.)

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4-3. PAKISTAN’S FIRST WINTER OLYMPICS SKI TEAM VISITS SURREY

The Miracle -- February 26, 2010

(VANCOUVER) -- On February 13, Pakistan's first Winter Olympic Team visited Pakistan House in Surrey for a reception organized by the Consulate General and the Pakistan-Canada Association.

This was by far one of the liveliest and most enthusiastic gatherings the local Pakistani community has ever enjoyed at Pakistan House and it is all due to the magnificent efforts of our young ski-hero, Mr. Muhammad Abbas and his team.

Many dignitaries and politicians of from the South Asian Community assembled at Pakistan House to be part of the jubilant moment marking the arrival of Mr. Abbas in Pakistan House.

Speeches were delivered and gifts exchanged to wish Abbas and his colleagues well prior to his competing in the Men's Giant Slalom race on February 21s, followed by further training in Whistler for competitions in Italy during March.

(Retrieved from: http://www.miraclenews.com/local.htm#3 This report was edited and abridged for the Canadian Islamic Congress Friday Magazine.)

This week CIC presents the following link to our readership:

U.S. President Barack Obama is asked: "Why Haven’t You Condemned Israel & Egypt’s Human Rights Violations Against Palestine?"

See and hear this discussion on YouTube at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZVO_LmsV3I

********************************************************************* IMPORTANT NOTE from the Editor-in Chief of the CIC Friday Magazine, Imam Dr. Zijad Delic - National Executive Director of the Canadian Islamic Congress: If you, dear readers and supporters, have suggestions, comments, or questions, please feel free to address them to me. I welcome your responses at: imamdrdelic@canadianislamiccongress.com