[tadamon-l] Hezbollah in Canadian press. An interview with Ali Mallah of the Canadian Arab Federation.

[Tadamon!]

* Hezbollah in Canadian press
An interview with Ali Mallah of the Canadian Arab Federation.

http://tadamon.resist.ca/index.php/post/1579

In recent weeks, major media outlets in Canada have featured numerous news 
reports on Hezbollah, outlining that the armed Lebanese political party is 
planning military operations in North America. Media reports have been 
based on anonymous intelligence sources in the U.S. and Canada.

Major media coverage in Canada was ignited by a T.V. report from the 
U.S.-based ABC news network claiming that Hezbollah was planning 
operations in Canada in response to the assassination of Hezbollah's 
military commander, Imad Mughniyeh, in Syria this past winter.

Hezbollah formed in southern Lebanon in the mid 1980.s as an armed 
resistance group to Israel's military occupation. Given Hezbollah's 
consistent focus on engaging Israel as a foreign occupier or invading 
military force in Lebanon, possibilities outlined in recent media reports 
on Hezbollah activities in North America are highly unlikely.

In response to recent media reports on Hezbollah, the Arab community, 
specifically Lebanese in Canada, fear a wave of unwelcome visits from the 
Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), similar to numerous 
unwelcome visits in 2006 during Israel's bombardment of Lebanon.

Ali Mallah, an organizer with the Canadian Arab Federation, comments on 
the recent wave of media reports in Canada and provides an alternative 
context to mainstream media reports on Arabs and Muslims in Canada within 
the post 9/11 environment. Ali Mallah was interviewed for Tadamon! 
Montreal by Stefan Christoff.


Tadamon!: A number of media articles were published this last week in 
response to an ABC news report claiming that Hezbollah is activating cells 
in Canada. Wanted to first have your reaction to the claim put forward in 
this report arguing that Hezbollah was planning to strike in North 
America; can you comment on this possibility?

Ali Mallah: Based on mainstream information Hezbollah has never declared 
an intention to have military actions be undertaken in Europe or North 
America. In Lebanese terms Hezbollah is a political party and movement, 
with elected MPs operating within the Lebanese government, in coalition 
with numerous other political parties. After the resolution to the latest 
conflict in Lebanon, it is clear that Hezbollah as a political party will 
be playing a major role in the new Lebanese government.

Hezbollah as a political organization is part of the Lebanese social 
fabric.

Unfortunately in North America, in Canada, with a political shift to the 
right, also a shift towards Israel, there has been increased negative 
media coverage towards any groups or organizations both locally or 
internationally who take a position against Israel's illegal occupation in 
Palestine or aggression towards Lebanon.

Tadamon!: Mainstream media in recent weeks has reasserted the official 
position on Hezbollah from the Canadian government, which considers 
Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. In many countries, also within the 
European Union, Hezbollah is not considered a terrorist organization. 
Wondering your thoughts on the recent wave of media coverage in Canada on 
Hezbollah, wondering if you think that media reports have influenced 
popular understanding towards Hezbollah in Canada?

Ali Mallah: Understanding the media reports in recent weeks is important. 
Remember there was no debate within the Canadian Parliament on adding 
Hezbollah to Canada's terror list. Personally remember statements in a 
meeting with the former Liberal Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham, who 
explained that the government was coming under intense pressure to add 
Hezbollah to the terror list from pro-Israel organizations in the country.

Clearly it would be beneficial to have a debate on Hezbollah in the open. 
Today it's clear that the current government isn't interested in having a 
real debate on the issues. Canada's current government is simply feeding 
into stereotypes surrounding the Middle East and the Arab and Muslim 
world.

Canada's government is creating cases against Muslims in Canada that 
simply have no legal basis.

Let's refer to the case of the Toronto 18, a group of arrested, accused of 
planning to commit terrorism in Canada. Until now none one from the 
Toronto 18 has been found guilty of any charge, while seven have already 
been released on bail. Mentioning this to illustrate that there are 
serious holes in the Canadian government's current policies in this 
regard. Today it is hard to find truth in the government line.

Going back to the original point concerning Hezbollah, it should also be 
mentioned that in recent days the British government has placed 
Hezbollah's entire military wing on the terrorist list. This is an 
unfortunate development. In France the current government didn't comment 
on the change in British policy, while it should be mentioned that the 
French government has on a couple of occasions extended invitations to 
representatives of Hezbollah for talks.

Tadamon!: Can you describe you reaction the first time that you read the 
recent wave of media reports on Hezbollah in Canada?

Ali Mallah: Anxiety, worry and anger. These feelings came forward because 
many Lebanese people have been questioned and harassed by CSIS and other 
intelligence agencies in Canada, especially after the assassination of 
Hezbollah commander Imad Mughniyeh in Syria. Many visits happened after 
this event.

After seeing these recent media reports many now worry, as it's highly 
possible that CSIS will now conduct numerous unwelcome visits within the 
Lebanese community as a result of these media reports.

The Canadian Arab Federation has written a very strongly worded letter to 
the Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, who is responsible for CSIS, 
expressing our deep concern that these unfounded media reports on 
Hezbollah will result in the targeting of the Arab and Lebanese community.

Tadamon!: Could you explain the responses that you have received from 
within the Arab community, as the Canadian Arab Federation, in response to 
these media articles?

Ali Mallah: People feel frustrated, people feel singled out. People are 
wondering if these recent media reports are an attempt to create an 
opening for another round of questioning by government agencies within the 
Arab and Lebanese community, similar to 2006. It's well known within the 
Lebanese community that there are no Hezbollah operations in Canada and 
that it is highly, highly unlikely that any action from Hezbollah would 
ever take place in Canada.

Multiple times it was stated by leaders in Hezbollah in Lebanon that their 
conflict isn't with Jewish groups or organizations or people around the 
world, but that the conflict is with Israel as a colonial state and an 
occupying power.

These recent media reports aren't sitting well within the Arab or Lebanese 
community in Canada. People are anxious and awaiting a response to these 
reports through unwelcome visits by CSIS.

Tadamon!: For one week now reports that Hezbollah plans to open operations 
in Canada has been bouncing between major media networks in Canada. Many 
within the Lebanese community have expressed fear that in the shadow of 
media reports the government now views the entire Lebanese Shiite 
community as directly connected to Hezbollah, can you speak about this 
fear?

Ali Mallah: Hezbollah as a political party, as a political group enjoys 
wide popular support in Lebanon and the Middle East. Many view Hezbollah 
in the Middle East as a symbol of integrity and dignity after the war in 
2006 and after the failures of the Oslo Accords, which Hezbollah openly 
opposed.

It has to be made clear that although people are sympathetic to Hezbollah, 
you simply wont find people within the Lebanese community working as 
members of Hezbollah in Canada, it is critical to make this distinction. 
Although there is moral support there is no direct affiliation.

Tadamon!: Could you offer your thoughts on the way in which the media 
portrayed this particular story, the way that the Canadian media picked-up 
the ABC news report. Do you have any thoughts, reflections or critiques?

Ali Mallah: It's an ongoing struggle with the media in Canada, especially 
after 9/11. As the Canadian Arab Federation we have expressed concern with 
every major media outlet in the country concerning unfair portrayal of 
Arabs and Muslims in the press.

Often the media produces such reports, such as these recent stories on 
Hezbollah, without the community having an opportunity to present another 
point of view. Concerning the Arab community and the Middle East in 
general the media is often bias against us.

As the Canadian Arab Federation we have met with the Toronto Star, the 
Globe and Mail, the CBC and even the National Post to express these 
concerns. It is clear that the media often portrays Arabs and Muslims in 
Canada as outsiders, as removed from society, the media portrays us often 
in unwelcoming ways. Clearly the Canadian Arab Federation has a major 
issue with the way that the mainstream media portrays us, to understand 
more on this people should read Casting Out: The Eviction of Muslims from 
Western Law and Politics, by Sherene Razack.

Despite this reality we will not sit back, we will continue to fight for 
our rights, while insisting on the values we believe in.

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