Stop the speech restrictive "anti-blasphemy" Motion M-103!

Petition to: Members of Parliament

 

Stop the speech restrictive "anti-blasphemy" Motion M-103!

urgent

Stop the speech restrictive "anti-blasphemy" Motion M-103!

0100,000
  91,212
 
91,212 have signed. Let's get to 100,000!

UPDATE, 04 October 2017: M-103 is now before the House of Commons Heritage Committee. Four hearings have already place during the month of September. As you may recall, this motion sets the foundations to criminalize speech deemed "islamophobic" and lays the groundworkd for imposing a Sharia anti-blasphemy law on all of Canada.

The Toronto Sun has called M-103 "part of the Islamist agenda in Canada to include in their definition criticism of Islam and Islamic practice in the West." Lawmakers have deliberately failed to define the term "islamophobia" — despite repeated calls for them to do so — thus leaving the term vague and ill-defined, so that its scope of application can sweep broadly across all forms of criticism of Islam.

Will criticism of the Edmonton terrorist (who had an ISIS flag on the front seat of his vehicle) be deemed "islamophobic"? Will criticism of female genital mutilation be prevented, as Jay Cameron, a lawyer with the Justice Centre of Constitutional Freedoms, has claimed?

As an interfaith group said earlier this year:

"Like all religious groups, Muslims are already protected under our Charter of Rights and Freedoms and criminal law. They do not need a separate law which is supported by groups that have close ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and in essence are trying to put in place a form of sharia blasphemy law".

Sign the petition to STOP M-103 from going any further! All new signatures will be directed to Committee members currently considering the motion.

--- OUR PREVIOUS MESSAGE ---

YOUR URGENT HELP IS NEEDED! Motion M-103 is currently being considered by Parliament.

The motion will encourage legislation that would criminalize speech deemed "islamophobic" and lay the groundwork for imposing what is essentially a Sharia anti-blasphemy law on all of Canada.

If that happens, criticism of Islam would constitute a speech crime in Canada.

This motion uses the term "islamophobia" without defining it, and without substantiating that there is in fact any such widespread problem in Canada.

This will lead to ideologically-driven overreach and enforcement against alternative points of view—including mature, reasoned criticisms of Islam.

If this motion passes and legislation is enacted: 

  • Criticism of the treatment of women in Islamic-majority Middle Eastern countries could be criminalized;
  • It could be a punishable offense to speak out against the Mustlim Brotherhood, or to denounce radical Imams who want to enact Sharia law in Canada;
  • Criticism or depiction of Muhammad could be punishable by law;
  • Schools that teach the history of Islam's violent conquests could be fined—or worse.

That kind of content-based, viewpoint-discriminatory censorship is unacceptable in a Western liberal democracy.

Furthermore, Motion M-103 addresses a particular religion to the government's special consideration, while ignoring hostility toward other religions, such as Christianity or Judaism.

Although the Motion is titled “Systemic racism and religious discrimination,” it never once mentions anti-semitism, or discrimination against Christians and other religious groups. That's ironic, since data shows that the majority of Canada's hate crimes are anti-semitic, not anti-Islamic!

Passing this resolution would demonstrate a clear and impermissible governmental preference for Islam over other faiths.

So far, all parties have indicated unanimous support for the bill. We face an uphill battle, but it's imperative that our government understands that we oppose this motion.

Sign the petition immediately to send a message to MPs and party leaders, asking them to drop support for M-103!

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Past updates:

Update, 20 March 2017: Once the debate ends on Tuesday, it will move to an immediate voice vote. If Conservatives do not “stand five” MPs to force a formal recorded vote, then we will never know who voted for or against M-103. If five MPs don’t stand right after the voice vote, it will be just like the third reading of Bill C-16 on Gender Identity and Gender Expression. This bill passed its final reading in the House with only a voice vote, so Canadians will never know how their MPs actually voted on the Bill. But if five MPs stand and demand a recorded vote, then every MP will be required to stand up and take a public stand on this important issue. Sign the petition so that 5 MPs will stand to demand a recorded vote!

Update, 16 March 2017: The date for the vote on Motion M-103 has been moved up to March 21. Please SIGN and SHARE this petition to keep up the pressure so that we can stop this awful resolution! We need to take URGENT action if we want to prevent this from passing!

Update, 21 February 2017: Unfortunately, the Tory motion was defeated today as Liberals voted AGAINST a Motion that would've condemned systemic racism and faith-based discrimination against ANY religion. This exposes the fact that M-103 isn't actually about condemning religious discrimination or systemic racism, it's about prioritizing Islam and providing it a preferential place in Parliament.

M-103 is still scheduled for April, so please continue to sign and share the petition! We've nearly surpassed 70,000 signatures, which is more signatures than those collected by the pro-M103 side, so keep up the good work!

Update, 16 February 2017: Good news! Your voices have been heard and the coalition that formed to pass M-103 is beginning to crumble. The Parliament DID NOT VOTE on M-103 today; instead the vote has been deferred until April.

The Conservatives (Tories) introduced their own motion in response to M-103, which omitted the problematic term "Islamophobia" and included a broad cross-section of religious communities. The vote on the Tory motion will be held next week.

Meanwhile, aspiring Conservative Party leaders (including Kelli Leitch, Kevin O'Leary, Maxime Bernier, Steven Blaney, and Andrew Scheer) have come out in opposition to M-103 and even a fomer Liberal minister is now saying the motion is a mistake.

We need to keep up the pressure until April. Please continue signing and sharing this petition to stop M-103! Every signature sends an email to Parliament, so make your voice heard!

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91,212 have signed. Let's get to 100,000!

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M-103 is an affront to free speech

To the Honourable Hedy Fry, Honourable Peter Van Loan, and Pierre Nantel of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage,

I am writing you to express my deep misgivings and opposition to Motion M-103, titled "Systemic racism and religious discrimination."

This motion will encourage legislation that would criminalize speech deemed "islamophobic" and lay the groundwork for imposing what is essentially a Sharia anti-blasphemy law on all of Canada.

This motion uses the term "islamophobia" without defining it, and without substantiating that there is in fact any such widespread problem in Canada.

This will lead to ideologically-driven overreach and enforcement against alternative points of view—including mature, reasoned criticisms of Islam.

That kind of content-based, viewpoint-discriminatory censorship is unacceptable in a Western liberal democracy.

Furthermore, Motion M-103 addresses a particular religion to the government's special consideration, while ignoring hostility toward other faiths, such as Christianity or Judaism.

Passing this resolution would demonstrate a clear and impermissible governmental preference for Islam over other faiths.

For all these reasons, I strongly urge that you retract and oppose Motion M-103.

[Your Name]

M-103 is an affront to free speech

To the Honourable Hedy Fry, Honourable Peter Van Loan, and Pierre Nantel of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage,

I am writing you to express my deep misgivings and opposition to Motion M-103, titled "Systemic racism and religious discrimination."

This motion will encourage legislation that would criminalize speech deemed "islamophobic" and lay the groundwork for imposing what is essentially a Sharia anti-blasphemy law on all of Canada.

This motion uses the term "islamophobia" without defining it, and without substantiating that there is in fact any such widespread problem in Canada.

This will lead to ideologically-driven overreach and enforcement against alternative points of view—including mature, reasoned criticisms of Islam.

That kind of content-based, viewpoint-discriminatory censorship is unacceptable in a Western liberal democracy.

Furthermore, Motion M-103 addresses a particular religion to the government's special consideration, while ignoring hostility toward other faiths, such as Christianity or Judaism.

Passing this resolution would demonstrate a clear and impermissible governmental preference for Islam over other faiths.

For all these reasons, I strongly urge that you retract and oppose Motion M-103.

[Your Name]