TORONTO – In the wake of two terrorist attacks within one week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has reassured the Muslim community that the government will not take away their rights as they have done to Canada’s indigenous community.
“Let me be clear,” Harper stated at a press conference in Toronto, “These were acts committed by individuals that do not represent Islam and therefore we should not punish the entire community like we do with Aboriginals.”
He elaborated that those of the Islamic faith will not be subject to exploitation, forced assimilation, have their children moved into residential schools, live in squalid housing or be required to hold identity cards verifying that they are Muslims. They will not have sports teams named after them in a derogatory way such as ‘Redskins’, ‘Eskimos’ or ‘Chiefs’.
“There will be no mass overrepresentation of Muslims in Canadian prisons, nor arbitrary confiscation of property. Canadian Muslims, like almost all Canadians, will continue to have access to clean water and live where they choose. Those who practice the faith of Islam will not be ignored in a hospital emergency waiting rooms or be subject to additional financial scrutiny from the federal government.”
At press time, Harper stated that he will redouble his efforts to combat calls for an inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women.
