Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Canada's War on Islam: The Case of Mahboob and Momin Khawaja

Canada, like other Western countries and Israel, is partnered in America's War on Islam – a post-9/11 "war on terror" scheme to vilify Muslims as culturally inferior gun-toting terrorists for political advantage. As a result, thousands of innocent victims have been lawlessly persecuted, bogusly charged, imprisoned, tortured, and in some cases extrajudicially murdered in cold blood.

Two previous articles, among many others, explained what all Muslims face.

Mahboob Khawaja, his son Momin and family, are Pakistani Canadians, bogusly targeted for alleged involvement in terrorism.

Dr. Khawaja is an "academic specializing in Strategic Studies with special interests in Western-Islamic Civilizations, Change and Conflict Resolution." His books include "Muslims and the West: Quest for Change and Conflict Resolution," as well as many published articles, his latest titled "Fallacy of the 'War on Terrorism.' " Accurately described as a "self-defeating," inhumane, "cynical framework of greed and tyranny," it shamelessly perceives Muslims "as the culprits waging war against the Christian West."

In fact, the opposite is true. It's been longstanding, then intensified post-9/11 globally, claiming millions of innocent victims, thousands as political prisoners, Canada as culpable as America.

Mahboob explained how he and his family were persecuted, saying:

"It was a combined (American/Canadian/UK) project, my wife and children arrested at gunpoint in Ottawa while I was working in a university in Saudi Arabia. My family home was attacked by 50 – 60 armed (Royal Canadian Mounted Police – RCMP) without any formal search warrant, looking for a bomb," but found nothing.

In fact, Mahboob's door was blown open. Masked RCMP burst in, telling his family to get down on the floor, then asking "Is your house booby-trapped? Where are the explosives?" Of course, there were none nor any booby or other traps.

"Simultaneously, I was arrested in Arabia and jailed for two weeks. The Saudi Intelligence showed me the formal Canadian request, but (Security) Minister (Anne McClellan) and the Government in Ottawa denied" sending it. "The documentary evidence," however, refutes "this public lying." No matter. The damage was done. Canadian and global media reports destroyed his "professional career as a professor in global politics," as well as his son, Momin's, as a software developer.

Government-sponsored media ads and reports vilified him, his wife and children as "terrorists," the same fate as for hundreds of others bogusly portrayed, their lives grievously impaired as a result. A family friend and president of the regional Canada-Pakistan Association, Qamar Masood, believed at the time it was a case of mistaken identity. Importantly, "Just imagine how they're going to live through this ordeal," he said. "And after that, living in a neighborhood with so many eyes looking at them, it's very hard," because of the entire cross they'll forever have to bear.

Mahboob's son, Momin, was falsely accused of a UK bomb plot, a March 31, 2004 Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) report saying he "became the first person charged under Canada's (2001 Anti-Terrorism Act on March 30) when police accused him of terrorist activity in Canada and in England."

Though acquitted on that charge, he was held without trial for over four years, then convicted on October 29, 2008, and sentenced on March 12, 2009, after a bench trial, to ten and a half years (over and above time served) for donating $859 to an Afghan refugee charity, and two other changes, including:

* "making a device" that, in fact, "was to stop cell phone signals in mosques, academic institutions, hospitals," and other facilities from being identified; and
* "attending some (alleged) unknown camp during a visit to Pakistan," the same bogus charge against other innocent victims traveling abroad to Muslim countries, some to visit families, then linking their visits to terror plots or training for involvement in future ones.

Despite the gross injustice, the CBC reported on April 14, 2009 that Canada's federal government appealed the sentence for a longer one, possibly for life on least one of the charges. At trial, "The Crown had sought two life sentences plus an additional sentence of 44 – 58 years," while the defense argued for seven and a half years with "double credit for time already served."

However, Judge Douglas Rutherford called Momin "a willing and eager participant" in a terror plot, despite no evidence whatever for proof. Nonetheless, he accused him of "assist(ing alleged terror plotters) in many ways," adding that "It matters not whether any terrorist activity was actually carried out," stopping short of questioning if any were, in fact, planned.

Surprisingly, he said authorities hadn't proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Momin had any direct knowledge, let alone involvement, an admission that should have mandated acquittal, yet he cowardly refused to release him.
Mahboob said these issues are being appealed, but after six years, Momin is still imprisoned, victimized by Canadian state terrorism like thousands of others in America and globally. In earlier writing, he explained how Canadian Intelligence Agencies and their complicit media terrorize innocent civilians. More on that below.

First, on March 12, 2009, the BBC updated earlier Momin reports, headlining its account "Khawaja: The Canadian connection," saying:

He conspired with four other men "jailed for life in April 2007 for a UK bomb plot linked to al-Qaeda, receiv(ing) a sentence of 10 years and six months" for his alleged role.

A software developer, he "worked in the technical support department of the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and had a good knowledge of electronics. Of Pakistani origin, he became fascinated by radical Islamist politics, and its focus on conflicts in the Muslim world." He allegedly "traveled to Pakistan in 2003 and met members of a loose network of jihadi sympathizers – men who believed that violence was legitimate."

These and other charges were alleged at trial, the BBC, like Canadian and US media, accepting them on faith – no matter that they're entirely bogus and should have been thrown out because no credible evidence was presented, only the usual unsubstantiated government version of events, some based on secret evidence unavailable to counsel.

Yet BBC accused Momin of terrorism, saying he returned to Britain "intent on building a bomb," his role being "to help to build the detonator." In fact, a sting, a setup, targeted him at a claimed Heathrow Airport meeting with Omar Khyam, the accused "ringleader." MI5 and London police allegedly monitored it. UK authorities informed Canada's RCMP who arrested Momin on March 29, 2004, claiming they "found documents and papers sympathetic to violent jihadi courses of action" in his home, besides whatever information UK authorities provided, all of it contrived and bogus.

As a result, on October 29, 2008, an Judge Douglas Rutherford "ruled that (Momin) had knowingly participated in the (alleged) foiled plot against several British targets, including a shopping center, nightclub and the gas work." Though bogusly charged and convicted, he's now imprisoned and falsely branded a terrorist, an accusation that will haunt him forever.

An earlier article discussed the bogus London terror plot.

It explained the following, a technique used repeatedly in Britain, Canada, America, and elsewhere. A government cooperator was paid to entrap and testify against targeted Muslims. The so-called London plot (called the Fertilizer Case) used Juniad Babar, a dubious character nicknamed "Supergrass" by Britain's media.

In 2004, he agreed to cooperate with FBI agents after being indicted in June. He then pled guilty to four counts of conspiring to and providing and attempting to provide material support or resources to terrorists. A fifth count involved providing funds, goods, or services to benefit Al-Qaeda. In return for a reduced sentence, he copped a plea, requiring him to provide "substantial assistance," including entrapping and testifying against targeted Muslims, ones authorities want to frame and convict.

London's Fertilizer Case involved a half-ton of ammonium nitrate, allegedly to blow up a London shopping center, nightclub and other targets – bogus charges that nonetheless got targeted "bombers" convicted and imprisoned, including Momin, even though there was no plot and no crime. In his case, "two hired agents of the Canadian intelligence services (charged him) with two counts of 'bomb making' (involvement) in (Britain)," where the other alleged plotters were brought to trial, not him.

Writing earlier about media complicity with authorities, Mahboob quoted British author Adam Curtis saying, "international terrorism is a fantasy that has been exaggerated and distorted by politicians" for political advantage. It's "a dark illusion that has spread unquestioned through governments around the world, the security services and the international media."

To advance American, UK, Canadian, and Israeli imperialism, their "ruling elite(s) invested heavily to institutionalize animosity towards Muslims and the Arabs. The new 21st century colonial masters view humanity in numbers and digits, not as living moral beings with rights and dignity."

In America, extremist neo-cons "use racism and religious fanaticism to fuel hatred towards Muslims and Islam, and engulf the world with horror of military conquests (and occupations) to further the dictum of" global dominance.

In America, Britain, Canada, Israel, and other Western states, Muslims are treated like sub-humans, vilified as dangerous villains unfit to co-exist with superior Judeo-Christians, a subtle and overt government/media spread message. As a result, nominal democracies act tyrannically, serving privileged elites, not popular interests, and needing enemies to justify expansionist policies, including imperial wars and state-sponsored terrorism to further them.

In an earlier article, Mahboob asked:

"What did Canada achieve (by) destabiliz(ing) the Khawaja family, drain(ing)-out their human energies in arrest, torture and (persecuting them for years) as 'Muslim terrorists'…?" The "demonstrable record (shows) Canada had no incidents of extremism or terrorism at all," putting a lie to government accusations based on an alleged plot that never existed. Authorities even claimed they never raided the Khawaja home even though family members were terrorized and arrested. Possessions were seized, damage done, and hundreds of neighbors saw it.

The plain truth is that Western nations face no Islamic threat. Claiming one is a US-concocted lie. Authorities and media reports viciously spread it to justify state-sponsored terrorism against innocent victims like Mahboob and his family, including son Momin, now imprisoned for being Muslim at the wrong time in Canada.

* Stephen Lendman
http://sabbah.biz/mt/archives/2010/10/08/canadas-war-islam-mahboob-momin-khawaja/

Friday, August 20, 2010

Canada's Postal Workers are on Board: Send your Gaza mail on the Canadian Boat to Gaza!

Canada's Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) got the message across last week that cutting off mail delivery to Gaza is another abusive measure intended to heighten the suffering and hardship of the besieged residents of the occupied strip.

The Canadaian Boat to Gaza Campaign salutes the union and its workers for their solidarity with our campaign and with the Palestinian people in their struggle for freedom. We look forward to working with Canada Post and CUPW to facilitate in the best way possible the delivery of mail to Gaza.

"The Canadian Boat to Gaza is eager to carry mail to Gaza if the ban is not lifted soon" said Sandra Ruch, spokesperson for the Canadian Boat to Gaza. "We will make every effort to deliver any mail we get to the postal authorities in Gaza. We ask senders to limit mail they send us to unsealed postcards of greeting and support to loved ones keeping in mind that it, as well as the rest of our cargo, may end up in Israeli hands if our boat is pirated."

CUPW called on Canadians to back efforts to break the siege by sending their Gaza-bound mail via the Canadian Boat to Gaza. The Canadian Boat to Gaza is urging those who wish to break this ban to send with us postcards with messages of support to the besieged strip. Article 25 of the fourth Geneva Convention guarantees the right to personal correspondence with family members under occupation.

"As postal workers, we know very well that cutting off mail creates suffering and hardship for people, who are isolated from their loved ones," said Denis Lemelin, National President of CUPW. "How many more abuses will the people of Gaza have to endure?"

Get the message through. Send your mail with us,
Send your postcards (only) for people in Gaza to
Canadian Boat to Gaza
C.P. 92087, Portobello
Brossard, Quebec
J4W 3K8

Media Contact
Ehab Lotayef
514.941.9792

Stéphan Corriveau
514 586-6810

http://canadaboatgaza.org
http://sabbah.biz/

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Canadian postal workers protest against “common values” stamp with the Zionist entity AND YOU CAN TOO!

Canadian Postal workers are protesting against the “common values stamp” that celebrates the relationship of Canada with the Zionist entity, in a letter addressed to the chairman of the board of Canada Post, Moya Green. It expressed its disapproval of the issuing of a postal stamp to commemorate the, “strong relation between Canada and Israel on the bases of common values between the two parties,” reminding everybody of the crimes that have been committed and those still being committed by the Jewish state against Palestinian Arabs. (This article by Elias Ahkleh should be read – http://sabbah.biz/mt/archives/2010/04/26/canadianisraeli-stamp-of-shame/ editor's note).

The chairman of the union, Danes Liming wrote, in a letter addressed to Green and dated April 9th 2010: “The decision concerning a stamp that Canada shall issue that shall celebrate ‘the strong bilateral relations between Canada and Israel that goes back to six decades of common values and political, economical, cultural and social interests.’ We are worried because the board shall issue this stamp with ‘Israel’ on the bases of our common values, while there are in “Israel” more than 20 racist laws against the Palestinian minority citizens regarding matters of education, work, confiscation of land and accessing public resources”. He added that the Jewish state is still refusing to put into effect the rule of the International Court of Justice concerning the dismantling of the apartheid separation wall surrounding the Occupied Palestinian West Bank, and still proceeding with building Jewish colonies in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

He explained that: “Israel is still refusing to effectuate Resolution 242 calling for its withdrawal from the territories it occupied in 1967.” Pointing out that there are reports about the increasing number of infant deaths and miscarriages resulting from the strangling siege over Gaza, he stressed as well that the Jewish state is “carrying out works that result in deaths of infants and pregnant women, which cannot be considered as acceptable values.” He ended: “With such occurrences, The Union of Postal Laborers of Canada is worried because Canada Post is celebrating ‘The strong common values and political, economical, cultural and social interests’ with a state whose government has continuously failed to do works that are characterized with civility and human feelings towards Palestinians.”
http://palestinethinktank.com/

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Anti-democratic Zionist Jews in Canada, the U.S. and U.K.

Dr. Mohamed Bakr

This week witnessed three different scenes in three different democracies. These scenes may look from the outset to be not related but all three point to the same problem in Western "Democracies". So, what are these scenes?Scene1, Canada:

Last week, the sixth Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) took place. In this week, in many Universities over the world, events are held to inform people of the suffering of the Palestinian people under the Israeli occupation.

The IAW this year is more important than in any other year because it is held after the Goldstone committee report was released. This committee, which was headed by a Zionist Jewish judge, found ample evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel during its attack on Gaza, also known as operation Cast Lead.

This year’s IAW was faced though with a tough organized campaign from different levels of government and media.

The Ontario Legislature issued a statement condemning the IAW.

The government of Mr. Harper, who has been consistent in its loyalty to Israel, has issued also a statement condemning the event.

Mr. Ignatieff, who in 2003 condemned the Israeli illegal settlements and equated them to the apartheid regime in South Africa, also flipped and condemned the IAW!

The IAW was turned into an auction in which each politician is trying to show that he is more loyal to Israel and to its Jewish Zionist lobby in Canada than the others.

Not a single one of them dared to attend the events of the IAW and see that there was no hate directed against anyone. No one of them dared to mention the Goldstone report.

No one of them dared to mention the so many reports by Israeli and international rights groups condemning gruesome Israeli crimes. No one of them even dared to remember the freedom of the Canadian people who elected them to criticize any rogue foreign state!

Scene 2, England:

The government of the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown moved this week to change the law so that Israeli war criminals are not prosecuted during their visits to the UK.

Several months ago, the ex. Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni was about to be arrested in London based on a judge order for her role in the war crimes in Gaza.

It is widely believed that the British government helped smuggle Livni out of the country even though they were fully aware of the judge order!

Since then the Israeli government demanded that the British law be changed so that human rights groups cannot annoy the Israeli war criminals when they travel abroad.

A group of over 70 British intellectuals, many of whom are Jews, published a letter over a month ago condemning any attempt to change the British law based on orders from a foreign state accused of war crimes.

Despite the public resistance, the changes are implemented with complete disregard to the country’s sovereignty or reputation.

Almost a year ago, Spain also changed its law based on Israeli requests so that Israeli war criminals are not prosecuted when visiting this country!

Scene 3, US:

The US Congress issued a resolution this week recognizing what is referred to as the Armenian Genocide during the fall of the Ottoman Empire.

For many years, the Congress refused to issue such a resolution because the pro-Israel lobby was against it.

At the time, Turkey was a close ally of Israel outside the Arab world.

However, since the operation Cast Lead, the Turkish criticism of the Israeli crimes against the Palestinian population was increasing. This resulted in several verbal exchanges between the officials in both countries.

Turkey also canceled joint military training with the IDF. Many Turkish TV programs now show scenes of brutality against the Palestinian population.

Since this started to happen, many predicted that the US congress will issue this resolution based on directions from the pro-Israel lobby.

Of course, this resolution will cause serious damage for the relationship between the US and one of its main allies. It is definitely harmful to US interests in the Middle East.

This, however, did not seem to stop the congress from acting in this way. Turkey and Armenia are starting steps towards a historical reconciliation between them and such a resolution will only complicate matters.

The problem with these three stories is the same.

Representatives who are supposed to defend freedom of speech, national sovereignty, and national interests, seem to work against all three!

They are more interested in showing unconditional submission to the Zionist Jewish lobby that is linked to a foreign state. So, how come a democratic system ends up failing its people so miserably?

The reality is that there is no true democracy in all three countries.

The people who invented the idea of democracy believed that representatives elected by the people will work for the people’s interests.

What they missed is that in order to reach the people you need media. Also, in order to have election campaigns you need money.

This meant that lobbies that have strong media influence and have access to strong financial resources are able to manipulate and even threaten politicians.

These lobbies effectively make politicians work for their interests rather than the interests of the people who elected them.

So, what is the way out of this trap that literally voids the concept of democracy in the West?

Any hope for having a truly democratic system that defends the global human values of human rights and freedom depends on stopping mighty lobbies from corrupting the political game.

All politicians should have access to free unbiased media and to the same financial resources regardless of any political positions that may take.

This separation between capital and politics is our only hope in having a true democracy in the West.

Only then, Canadian politicians will not be afraid to do the right thing and side with the oppressed Palestinian people in their struggle against oppression and apartheid. Will we ever see this day?
http://windowintopalestine.blogspot.com/2010/03/anti-democratic-zionist-jews-in-canada.html