Freedom of speech needs to be upheld, embattled Maclean's writer says
Last Updated: Friday, June 6, 2008 | 4:31 PM PT
The Canadian Press
Mark Steyn says the human rights complaint against him by members of the Canadian Islamic Congress should be settled in a "real court." (CBC)The writer whose work triggered a B.C. human rights complaint against Maclean's magazine said Friday he hopes he loses so the issue can be settled in a court of law that would restore Canadians' right to free speech.
Members of the Canadian Islamic Congress complained to the Canadian, Ontario and B.C. human rights authorities after the Toronto-based magazine published an article titled "The Future Belongs to Islam" in October 2006.
The article, excerpted from the book of the same name by Mark Steyn, talks about Islam being a threat to North American institutions and values. It used statistics to predict that higher birth rates plus immigration would lead to Muslims outnumbering followers of other faiths in Western Europe.
The complainants, Mohamed Elmasry and Naiyer Habib, claimed the article violated the B.C. Human Rights Code by subjecting them to discrimination based on their religion and exposing them to hatred.
Steyn said Friday a loss in the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal would allow the case to go to what he calls a "real court" and, if necessary, the Supreme Court of Canada, in order to uphold the right to freedom of speech.
He said such rights are being taken away by agencies like the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal.
Habib testified at the tribunal Thursday, saying that after the Sept. 11, 2001, airliner hijackings in the United States, discrimination against Muslims increased and Steyn's article only "adds fuel to that fire."
The tribunal heard that various internet blogs that espouse killing and deporting Muslims cite the Maclean's article and have a link to the piece.
"Maclean's has the audacity to say, 'Oh, we're not responsible and we didn't inflame hatred,' when it is a direct result of the inflammatory article by Mark Steyn," said Faisal Joseph, Habib's lawyer.
However, Julian Porter, the lawyer for Maclean's, said the magazine cannot be blamed for what others choose to post on the internet.
With files from CBC News
