New Media

Canadian politicians look set to repeal Section 13, a law that effectively tramples on human rights — specifically, the right to freedom of expression — perversely, in the name of protecting human rights.

This is a win for freedom. Good riddance to the censorship law.

The saga of Amnesty International’s decision to stand by an extremist who characterizes the armed struggle type of jihad as “tourism” has gone from bad to worse. Gita Saghal, who was suspended from her position as head of Amnesty’s Gender Unit for criticizing this relationship in public, succinctly sums up the nefarious themes at work in a recent interview:

Amnesty has come out with a statement saying that Mozzam Begg defends something called defensive jihad. He believes in this concept and we do not believe, (that is Amnesty’s senior leadership) that it is antithetical to human rights. Now that is a most extraordinary statement which they have not made before they were forced to the media and to defend their position in the media…

Now it appears they feel his views are not antithetical to human rights and it seems that they do not understand anything about what defensive jihad means…

Is is extremely worrying if they think that ideologies that are promoting systematic violence and discrimination against women, against religious minorities…

This concept of jihad, according to Begg in an article he wrote, is an individual obligation on all Muslims. Now many Muslims would say that jihad is a spiritual obligation, it’s about an intellectual and spiritual struggle. Not everyone believes it’s about war. He specifically rejects that idea. He thinks that it is about war, and that it is an individual obligation and that people should go and fight.

What do you do when the leaders of an organization most associated with the protection of human rights decide to partner with someone whose agenda would lead to the systematic destruction of human rights? Revoking your membership with Amnesty International and canceling your monthly donations could be a start.

Gita Saghal on Amnesty and Mozzam Begg

H/T to Harry’s Place.

A whistleblower finally came forward (and was promptly sacked) for reporting on Amnesty International’s odd relationship with Cageprisoners, an organization that advocates on behalf of the “innocent victims” of the war on terror at Guantanamo — many of whom return to the battlefield to wage jihad as soon as they are released.

It may sound odd to use the word whistleblower to describe someone who merely comments on a public relationship. Though I think it fits in that here we have an insider who breaks with their organization’s formal talking points in comments to the Times of London story entitled “Amnesty International is ‘damaged’ by Taliban link” and is immediately punished for it.

H/T to Terry Glavin, Harry’s Place and Stroppyblog.

Amnesty International and Cageprisoners
Statement by Gita Sahgal

I have been a human rights campaigner for over three decades, defending the rights of women and ethnic minorities, defending religious freedom and the rights of victims of torture, and campaigning against illegal detention and state repression. I have raised the issue of the association of Amnesty International with groups such as Begg’s consistently within the organisation. I have now been suspended for trying to do my job and staying faithful to Amnesty’s mission to protect and defend human rights universally and impartially.

Interesting juxtaposition of the Palestinian flags at the protest on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery this weekend, below a giant poster promoting the art of the feminist revolution.

As the Palestine Monitor (most definitely NOT part of the CanWest media empire) will tell you, Palestinians have a serious issue to address in their own civil society irrespective of the current conflict with Israel:

The women of the West Bank and Gaza strip also face more a personal and hidden danger. This danger is far less documented than the ongoing Israeli human rights violations, and is a danger that Palestinian society is far less willing to challenge. It leaves Palestinian women humiliated, maimed, and sometimes dead. This danger is physical, sexual and psychological domestic abuse.

Violence against women in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) is widespread and chronic, yet it remains under the radar. Women find it difficult to report abuses because there is little or no legal framework in place to protect them – and because the “honor” of their families is considered more important than the crimes committed against them.

The challenge for both Israelis and the Palestinians is determining what kind of societies they want to have in a post-war environment. Particularly for Palestinian women, these questions can’t be left to wait for final-status talks on the future Palestinian state.

The Manley Panel has delivered its verdict on what Canada should do in Afghanistan, but reporters are already having trouble interpreting its main recommendations. Either that, or certain reporters are pushing their own opinions and cherry-picking clauses in the report to support their own agendas.

According to Reuters, Canada Should Consider End to Afghan Mission.

But the Associated Foreign Press says Canada Calls for Extending Mission in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Associated Press writes that Canadian Report Presses Afghan Mission.

Well, that’s two out of three, anyway. I’ll have to have a look at the actual text of the report, but the overall theme of reportage shows the Manley Report’s guiding ideas seem to largely follow along the lines of the Canada-Afghanistan Solidarity Committee’s own call to action:

The Committee’s position on Canada’s engagement in Afghanistan, in sum, is this: We must stay. Human rights are universal. The United Nations calls for and expects Canada to remain dedicated to Afghanistan’s reconstruction and to the battle against terrorism there. We recognize that a robust military engagement, with the UN’s sanction and the consent of the Government of Afghanistan, is vital and necessary.

Exactly.