Francis Chartrand for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles

The largest mosque in the country was inaugurated Saturday in Calgary in the presence of several politicians. The Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, Leader of the Official Opposition, Stéphane Dion, and the town's mayor, Dave Bronconnier, were there.

The temple of the Ahmadi community spans nearly 14 600 square metres. In addition to the place of prayers, a community center, a gymnasium, a shelter for Imam, classrooms and a library.

"Whatever the country where they take up residence, we know that the Ahmadis contribute to society as a whole and they coexist in harmony with citizens of all religious, linguistic or cultural," said Prime Minister Harper in a statement.

The mosque Baitun Nur has claimed some 15 million dollars. The Ahmadi community in Calgary has raised funds for 14 years to finance the work.

But that's not all.

Go to Peace Village, where all the streets leading to the mosque [1] Located in Vaughan, a suburb of Toronto, the Muslim enclave is booming. There are 260 houses belonging mainly to immigrants from Pakistan, the Ahmadi sect. The opulent houses are built according to their cultural preferences, with sliding partitions to separate men and women in need. The public school is adapting. During Ramadan, weakened children suffering from headaches and dizziness may lie at the infirmary.

Although the sponsor said that this development is open to all, one can assume that few non-Muslims are inclined to settle in an environment where the call to prayer echoes 5 times a day in Arabic. And where the "Canadian mosaic" has a tone somewhat monochrome.

At a time when you ask Quebecers to calm their xenophobic instincts and make greater efforts to integrate immigrants, is that Muslims exalt self-segregation. They want some sort of reservations, Bantustans, enclaves where they can live according to the precepts of religion and freedom of Canadian culture. Who are xenophobes here?

If we are not offended by a Chinatown, "Little Italy" or "gay village", one can fear the idea of Muslim enclaves. Because the stakes, when it comes to followers of Islam, are quite different. Islam advocates a political system which does not recognise the principles of liberal democracy and freedoms enshrined in the Charter of Rights, like freedom of conscience.

The community of Vaughan is perhaps beyond the point of view of respect for Canadian values and fundamental rights of its residents (can be problematic, however, find the phenomenon of hungry children lying in the infirmary during school hours during Ramadan) . That is not the issue.

We must worry about the evolution of Muslim enclaves across the country if this model was to spread: intrusion of the mosque in local politics, segregation of men and women in utilities, strict dress codes for girls and women, prohibition of music, forced marriages, ostracism of homosexuals, and so on. And the application of Sharia. We risk ending up with nations in the nation, governed by laws and a parallel vision of the world poles of Canadian values. The idea of apartheid cultural communities is a drift of multiculturalism. Failing to be prohibited, these initiatives should be strongly discouraged.

It would be useful to look at what is happening there. Many theologians Muslims see Islam as not only a religion but as a system of governance. This system does not recognize the separation of church and state.

Many Muslims are happy to integrate into Canadian society and live in a democracy founded on the rule of law and respect fundamental freedoms [2] Others, not. They are at war against democracy, which they see as a form of polytheism or heresy. They give primacy to the divine law on laws passed by elected representatives. One can assume that these are rather the proponents of this vision that will tend to be locked in enclaves. These environments are conducive to the spread of radical Islam, intolerant, violent and hateful.

The aversion of Islamists for democracy does not prevent them from using the instruments of democracy to achieve their ends. It will require our leaders to be vigilant and monitor these enclaves.

And don't go looking for votes during a visit to Calgary during the weekend of green on a green tax explained to Albertans. Weird, my Jack Layton of the rainbow diversitywas not in Calgary. Ah, of course, it is always difficult for the NDP to make gains in this province. But Stephen and Stéphane, continue to pray 19 different religions, it brings votes.

Labels: Canada, Francis Chartrand, Islam, Religion and fanaticism

# posted by Francis Chartrand @ 12:34 AM