MPs who won’t support ceasefire in Gaza not welcome: local mosques

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This article was published 28/02/2024 (574 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba Muslim leaders say members of Parliament who haven’t called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza won’t be welcome to speak at local mosques during Ramadan.

The Manitoba Islamic Association, which operates the Winnipeg Grand Mosque on Waverley Street, the Winnipeg Central Mosque on Ellice Street and the Winnipeg Islamic Centre on Warnock Street are among the several hundred mosques, Islamic centres and Muslim organizations that have signed a letter from the National Council of Canadian Muslims to MPs. It asks them not to attend community gatherings during Ramadan unless they commit to solidarity with Palestinian people and condemn Israel’s war on Gaza.

The letter calls for MPs to demand Canada resume funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, oppose Canadian-made arms and military equipment being sent to the Israeli government, and support the right of Canadians to act in solidarity with Palestinian people without fear of punitive action.

“If you cannot publicly commit to all of the above, respectfully, we cannot provide you with a platform to address our congregations,” the letter reads. “Ramadan is about humanity. This Ramadan, more than ever, only those MPs who share in our commitment to humanity will be welcome to address us in our sacred spaces.”

The Manitoba mosques say they are not banning MPs from any party from entering mosques or engaging with the community, but their members feel ignored by politicians who normally give speeches and schedule photo-ops during Ramadan events, said Youcef Soufi, who is on the Islamic association’s committee on Islamophobia.

“The mosque has always been very open. The issue is (using) the mosque as a platform to reach out politically and gain political support, and to construct an image where politicians have the support of Muslim communities when they don’t,” he said Wednesday. “They don’t, they’ve lost them.”

This year, Ramadan begins March 11 and ends April 10. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset during the month as a tool for self-reflection, community togetherness and spiritual growth.

In Winnipeg, mosques have held charity drives, open houses and fundraising dinners during Ramadan, and Eid-al-Fitr, the day that marks the end of Ramadan, is a large celebration that has been held at the convention centre in recent years.

Soufi said it isn’t uncommon for politicians to visit Winnipeg mosques during those events — but this year, allowing leaders who have been silent, or spoken in support of Israel, feels “grim,” Soufi said.

“We don’t want to see you there, saying, ‘I support the community, I stand against Islamophobia,’ and then you go out and you, through your actions and your words, are supporting the killing of family members of our community. We have lost members in Palestine, we’ve lost family members in Palestine,” he said.

While the association plans to follow the letter’s guidelines for MPs, the appearance of municipal and provincial politicians at the mosque will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

“Ramadan is about humanity. This Ramadan, more than ever, only those MPs who share in our commitment to humanity will be welcome to address us in our sacred spaces.”

In December, Canada voted in favour of a non-binding resolution at the United Nations that calls for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire,” but has suspended funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Gaza.

Protesters in Winnipeg have called on all levels of government to support a ceasefire and an embargo of military exports to Israel. They’ve targeted riding offices of Liberal MPs Ben Carr (Winnipeg South Centre), Terry Duguid (Winnipeg South) and Dan Vandal (Saint Boniface-Saint Vital).

Carr, who is Jewish, declined to comment on the letter Wednesday. In December, he was critical of Canada’s backing of the UN ceasefire resolution, saying it “fell short” by not condemning Hamas.

Vandal said his office had not received the letter.

“Nonetheless, the National Council of Canadian Muslims is a valuable and trusted partner in the fight against Islamophobia,” he said in an email.

“The current conflict has been challenging for communities across Canada and we will continue to engage in open, constructive conversations with those impacted.”

Duguid’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

Soufi named NDP MP Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre) as an example of a politician who would be welcome to speak at congregations during Ramadan.

Gazan, who has called for a ceasefire, said the situation in Gaza is an “ongoing humanitarian crisis of ethnic cleansing.”

“The mosque has always been very open. The issue is (using) the mosque as a platform to reach out politically and gain political support, and to construct an image where politicians have the support of Muslim communities when they don’t.”–Youcef Soufi

She said she would be happy to speak at events hosted by Islamic centres over the next month if she is invited.

“Certainly, it’s clear that the Liberals haven’t taken a position on this, and that they’re struggling publicly within their own caucus,” she said. “I’ve been very clear in terms of of what my position has been.”

A joint statement from the Winnipeg Council of Rabbis, the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs issued recently in response to the letter, encouraged readers to visit synagogues.

“We do not place conditions on the political positions taken by elected officials, Jews, or non-Jews who wish to worship with us,” the statement said.

Gaza’s health ministry has reported Israel’s military operation in Gaza has killed an estimated 29,000 Palestinians since Hamas stormed southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca