[tadamon-l] [Montreal] Report: Resistance and Hezbollah.

[Tadamon!]

Tadamon! Montreal
Report: Resistance & Hezbollah.

http://tadamon.resist.ca/index.php/post/588

MONTREAL: Over 100 people gathered at the Mile End Cultural Center on 
Tuesday, March 20th for a film-screening and public discussion entitled 
"Lebanon: Resistance and Hezbollah" organized by Tadamon! Montreal.

In the shadow of the 2006 Israeli attack on Lebanon, widely opposed in 
Quebec and internationally, public discussion and debate on the Lebanese 
popular movement and political party Hezbollah has grown. The event 
featured a documentary film produced by Swiss Television, which focused on 
former Lebanese political prisoner Soha Bechara's return to Lebanon after 
the 2006 war. Hassan el-Hadi, a widely talented Oud player, also performed 
at the event.

Bechara herself is a symbol of the national resistance movement against 
Israel's previous occupation of south Lebanon until 2000. She spent 10 
years in the notorious Khiam detention camp in south Lebanon. In 1998 
Bechara was released and now lives in Geneva, Switzerland. The film 
documents Bechara's interactions and discussion in Lebanon in the wake of 
the summer 2006 war, providing insights into Hezbollah's role in Lebanon 
national politics, while examining the overall political complexities of 
the country.

After the screening, Tadamon! hosted the first openly announced public 
discussion on Hezbollah in Montreal in recent years. The lively 
discussion, that included many members of the Lebanese Diaspora, 
highlighted the importance of breaking the silence on Hezbollah.

In Lebanon and throughout the Middle East, Hezbollah is viewed as a 
legitimate political actor both by those who adhere and diverge from the 
organization's political program. In stark contrast, the Canadian 
government currently categorizes Hezbollah as a "terrorist" organization; 
the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peter MacKay, referred to the political 
movement as a "cancer" on Lebanese society, while Public Safety Minister 
Stockwell Day denounced it as "one of the most vicious murderous groups in 
the world today."

Tadamon!'s effort to create a public space in which to debate Hezbollah 
aimed to confront the fear of open discussion of these important issues in 
Canada, where current government policies undermine the political 
aspirations and autonomy of people throughout the entire region, from 
Lebanon, occupied Afghanistan, Iraq to Palestine.

Canada is one of only 3 countries world-wide to designate Hezbollah as a 
"terrorist" organization along with Israel and the U.S. Tadamon!'s 
campaign to contest this politically-motivated designation aims to:

* Create greater political space to freely discuss & 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 U.S. driven policies for a 
"new Middle East"; and

* Challenge the Canadian government's unconditional support for Israel

If you are interested in supporting the campaign to remove Hezbollah from 
the "terrorist" list in Canada, getting involved or simply have questions 
concerning our work please don't hesitate to get in touch!

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

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