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NCCM deplores false media story targeting Quebec mosque
12-26-2017
Says TVA Network owes Quebec mosque and local Muslim community an 'unequivocal apology'
(Montreal - December 15, 2017) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent civil liberties & advocacy organization, deplores the broadcasting of a media story by French-language network TVA that falsely claimed that a Quebec mosque sought to exclude women from working at a contractor site near the mosque.
Earlier this week, a report by TVA Nouvelles wrongly asserted that the Ahl-Ill Bait mosque in Montreal asked a contractor at a construction site near the mosque to prevent its female workers from attending the site on Fridays.
Yesterday, following an investigation by the local construction commission and the Quebec government, it was confirmed that the mosque had not made any such request and that the TVA report was "baseless".
The false TVA report led to the mosque receiving several threats, including one to burn down the mosque, and to the far-right anti-Muslim extremist group La Meute threatening to protest outside the mosque.
"We condemn this false media story targeting the Ahl-Ill Bait mosque that has led to the vilification of the Quebec Muslim community and to serious threats against the safety of the mosque," says NCCM Public Affairs Coordinator Eve Torres.
"We are deeply concerned by the surge of hateful messages directed towards both Quebec Muslims and the mosque congregation in the aftermath of this false story. This is especially troubling in light of the upcoming first anniversary of the horrific attack on the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec on January 29th," says Torres.
The Ahl-Ill Bait mosque issued a statement denying the TVA report as false.
Mosque members feel unsafe because of the threats and the mosque has sought increased protection from Montreal police in light of this incident.
"We urge elected officials in Quebec to roundly condemn this false story and to stand with the Muslim community against these hateful threats," says NCCM Executive Director Ihsaan Gardee.
"The TVA Network should do the right thing and provide an unequivocal on-air apology to the mosque and to the Quebec Muslim community," adds Gardee.
For more information on keeping their communities safe, the NCCM urges Muslim communities across the country to review the NCCM's community safety guide.
The NCCM is an independent, non-partisan and non-profit organization that is a leading voice for Muslim civic engagement and the promotion of human rights.
CONTACT: Eve Torres, Public Affairs Coordinator, 514-371-2888, etorres@nccm.ca
Ihsaan Gardee, Executive Director, 613-254-9704, igardee@nccm.ca
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