For immediate release
AFT urges our politicians to adopt a real, effective policy to fight Islamist terrorism

Montreal, 28^th March 2018 — Atheist Freethinkers (LPA-AFT), an association which promotes secularism and supports the rights of atheists, denounces the confused and spineless language used by some of our politicians in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Islamists in Brussels on March 22nd and urges these leaders to take real, effective measures to counter the Islamist threat.

We, of the organization Atheist Freethinkers, denounce of course these horrible and barbarous acts of terrorism and express our solidarity with the victims and their loved ones, as well as with the Belgian people in this extremely difficult period. But sentiments are not enough. Action is required.

Indeed, the prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, notorious for visiting several mosques associated with some very conservative Islamists, declared that he is “outraged and deeply saddened” ^[1] but failed to mention political Islam. The premier of Quebec Philippe Couillard made a similar statement, speaking of “incomprehension and pain” ^[2], as if referring to a natural disaster, and using the euphemism “radicalization.” As for Françoise David of Québec Solidaire, her statement denounced murderous insanity, violence and hatred ^[3] but made no attempt whatsoever to identify the perpetrators. Fortunately, two opposition leaders, Pierre-Karl Péladeau and François Legault, were more forthcoming and explicitly mentioned the necessity of combating Islamist terrorism.

Several sets of measures must be taken in order to counter the threat from the ideology of political Islam:

• Instead of hiding behind cowardly and euphemistic language so as not to offend coreligionists of the perpetrators of the attacks, the source of the threat must be honestly and frankly identified. Draft Bill 59 must be cancelled. This proposed legislation has met with the approval of only Islamists, while practically everyone else rejects it as a serious danger for freedom of expression. In addition, the Quebec National Assembly must formally repudiate the resolution against so-called “Islamophobia” which it adopted in October 2015 in response to a proposal from Ms. David. Both of these provisions—Draft Bill 59 and the resolution—must be categorically rejected because both stigmatize legitimate criticism of religion.
• All commercial exchanges with Saudi Arabia must be terminated. This country, with its barbaric theocratic regime which promotes radical fundamentalist Islam throughout the world, must be isolated on the international stage. Any foreign funding of Canadian religious institutions, including mosques, must be formally forbidden.
• Legislation which gives privileges to religions, and which thus enables religious fundamentalists in their efforts to have their ideologies accepted as normal and respectable, must be repealed. In particular, at the federal level, section 296 of the Criminal Code which forbids so-called “Blasphemous Libel” must be repealed, as must line 319(3)(b) of the “Hate Propaganda” provisions of the Code because it grants a dangerous exemption for religious discourse. Furthermore, line 17.1.b of the Citizenship Regulations must be removed because it grants priority to freedom of religion, to the detriment of freedom of conscience in general.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Reach us by email ^[4]
David Rand, bulletin at atheology.ca
Pierre Thibault, secretariat at atheology.ca

www.atheology.ca

This press release is also available as a PDF document ^[5].