[Bloquez l'empire!] [Montreal] Report: Who is the Terrorist? October 2007.

[Tadamon!]

Tadamon! Montreal. Report: Who is the Terrorist?
Montreal, October 2007.

http://tadamon.resist.ca/index.php/post/926

In the context of the campaign to challenge the listing of Hezbollah as a 
"terrorist" organization in Canada, on Wednesday, October 17th, Tadamon! 
Montreal hosted a major lecture at McGill University as part of Culture Shock 
2007.

Upwards of 200 people gathered to hear presentations from Bilal Elamine, the 
former editor of Left Turn Magazine, currently living in Beirut, Lebanon and 
Brian Aboud, a sociologist and historian active within Tadamon!. In addition a 
documentary film on the 2006 Israeli attack on Lebanon, "A Summer Not to 
Forget", by the Lebanese filmmaker Carol Mansour, was screened for the first 
time in Canada.

Presentations attempted to contextualize the history of Hezbollah as a social & 
political force in Lebanon, through providing important examples and 
alternative perspectives to those often found in mainstream political 
depictions of the Lebanese movement in North America.

Bilal Elamine outlined the history of Hezbollah within the context of the 
Lebanese national liberation movement to combat Israel's illegal occupation of 
Lebanese territory, specifically southern Lebanon, that lasted for upwards of 
20 years. Elamine also offered perspectives on the common perception of 
Hezbollah as a political force within the Middle East, addressing the major 
popular support that the armed wing of the movement received within the context 
of Israel's 2006 military attack on Lebanon.

Brian Aboud, outlined Tadamon!'s campaign to challenge the listing of Hezbollah 
as a terrorist organization in Canada, outlining the disputable evidence 
presented by the Canadian government in 2002, which lead to Hezbollah inclusion 
in the post-9/11 list of 'terrorist' organizations in Canada.

A special report produced by the CBC in 2002 uncovered that the central piece 
of evidence presented by the Canadian state, as the justification for 
Hezbollah's inclusion within the list of "terrorist" organization, was 
fabricated. Aboud also outlined the political importance of the campaign to 
challenge the listing of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization within Canada, 
in the context of confronting the laws and regulations utilized by Canadian 
authorities to repress migrant communities, in this case the major Lebanese 
Diaspora in Montreal.

Tadamon!'s campaign to challenge the listing of Hezbollah as a terrorist 
organization in Canada will be taking a higher public profile within the 
upcoming weeks & months. To support Tadamon!'s efforts you can get involved, 
donate to the collective, spread the word concerning the campaign, or contact 
Tadamon! with further ideas & suggestions.

Canada is one of only three countries world-wide to designate Hezbollah as a 
'terrorist' organization. The other two are Israel and the United States. 
Tadamon! will be working to contest the politically-motivated designation of 
Hezbollah as a 'terrorist organization' in order to:

* Create greater space to freely discuss and engage in struggles for justice in 
the Middle East without fear of persecution or labeling;

* Reduce the vulnerability of migrants subjected to racial profiling and unjust 
immigration 'security' measures;

* Confront the demonization of all who resist US-driven policies for a 'new 
Middle East';

* Challenge the Canadian government's unconditional support for Israeli 
aggression.

Tadamon! Montreal.
http://tadamon.resist.ca / 514 664 1036 / tadamon[at]resist.ca

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