Arab-Canadians Concerned About Possible Backlash

Arab-Canadians living in Alberta hope they don't suffer any backlash from the violent reactions to recent Danish newspaper cartoons mocking the Prophet Muhammed. The cartoons have touched off violent protests around the world and at least four people were killed during demonstrations in Afghanistan. The protests over the cartoons were the main topic of conversation at a meeting on Canadian-Arab relations in Edmonton. Many at the meeting felt that since the Sept. 11 attacks, Arab-Canadians have had a tough time.Taleb Choucair said he was offended by the Danish cartoons, but agreed that the demonstrations have gone too far. "It just lands right in the laps of the extremists, it gives them the ammunition to go out and do these violent acts that give a black mark to the religion and to the society of Arabs and Muslims throughout the world," Choucair said. "No Muslim in his right mind will condone that action at all." Jim Haymour is appalled at the protests, but he said Canadians need to remember that some of the protests are in countries where freedom of speech is limited and that people have a different mentality compared to Europe. Nizar Ali said he wants people to realize the demonstrations involve a minority of Muslims and hopes the majority doesn't suffer from the actions of a few. "A cliché or a stereotype or a bad image of the community gets portrayed and we have found ourselves on the defensive," he said. Choucair and others at the meeting were pleased that Canadian newspapers had not published the cartoons.