[tadamon-l] [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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