Think for Actions condemns the far-right shooting in Germany and alerts authorities in Canada of far-right
Calgary, AB, February 20, 2020
Subject: Think for Actions condemns the far-right shooting in Germany and alerts authorities in Canada of far-right.
On February 19, 2020 in Hanau, Germany, a gunman killed nine people in a suspected far-right terror attack. The racially motivated shootings occurred at two shisha bars located in an immigrant-rich community. German authorities have confirmed the suspect later killed himself that night, after taking his mother’s life at home. A note left behind from the suspect has justified the superiority of certain races and called for the extermination of non-white people from countries in the Middle East, South East Asia, and Africa (many of which have a Muslim majority population).
Amid the attack, Canada has also seen a rise in right-wing extremist groups: Canadian Combat Coalition (C3) Worldwide Coalition Against Islam (WCAI), Guardians of Alberta (GOA) who are a split of the anti-immigrant and Islamophobic group the Soldiers of Odin (SOO) and finally, the National Advancement Party of Canada (NAPC).Think for Actions is cautioning Canadian authorities of growing far-right groups and the threat this imposes on Canadians.
The Harper Era, lasting from 2006 to 2015, has said, “Islamism proposes the greatest threat to Canada’s National security”. Under the UCP government, post-secondaries across Alberta have adopted free speech policies, which has given a platform for extremist and white supremacy groups to grow in numbers and support. While Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland told the United Nations on Thursday, March 28, 2019 that white supremacism and Islamophobia are among “the gravest threats facing the world”, she further said “this is ultimately an international problem and we need to act collectively to address it.”
“Think for Actions is deeply disappointed by the tabling of Bill 21 by Coalition Avenir de Quebec (CAQ),” said Dr. Mukarram Zaidi, chairman of Think For Actions. “These kind of bills increase racism and discrimination by providing futile grounds to white nationalism, Neo-Nazis, and white supremacists.”
Hate crimes targeting Canadian Muslims increased 151% in 2017. The data released by Statistics Canada on November 18, 2018 indicated a significant increase in hate crimes against most racial, religious and other minority groups. Two years later, Canadians are still reeling from the terrorist attack in Quebec that claimed six lives and injured 19 others when Alexandre Bissonnette opened fire on worshipers in a Quebec City Mosque on January 29, 2017. Terror attacks by Muslims receive 357% more press. Terrorist attacks committed by non-Muslims (or where the religion was unknown) received an average of 15 headlines, while those committed by Muslim extremists received 105 headlines, research by the University of Alabama has stated. (The findings are based on all terrorist attacks in the US between 2006 and 2015).
For further comments and questions please contact:
Dr. Mukarram Zaidi
Chairman – Think for Actions,
Cell: 403-890-8321
Email: chairman@thinkforactions.com
