The muslim community of Quebec calls for a revision of the anti-terrorism Act

Photo from the archives, Stevens LeBlanc
Boufeldja Benabdallah, vice-president of the islamic cultural Centre of Quebec

Sophie Side

Thursday, 12 October 2017 00:00

UPDATE
Thursday, 12 October, 2017 06:28

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The muslim community of Quebec, deeply disappointed that the Crown has not laid a charge of terrorism against the alleged perpetrator of the slaughter of the mosque, claiming that the anti-terrorism Act be reviewed.

Last week, the Crown confirmed that the accusations were complete for the trial of Alexander Bissonnette, who is facing 12 counts, including six of premeditated murder. “The charges are the result of the available evidence and the current state of the law in Canada”, had raised the public prosecutor, dismissing at the same time the possibility of an accusation of terrorism.

“They have not been able to stick to the evidence exactly on the definition of terrorism, according to what was explained to us,” said Boufeldja Benabdallah, vice-president of the islamic cultural Centre of Québec (CCIQ).

“It seems to us that the act does not have locks sufficient. We don’t want to let anyone pass between its meshes, so we asked the legislature to revise the law,” he said, speaking on behalf of the CCIQ and four other organizations of the muslim community, who make a joint release.

Two weights, two measures

The latter deplores the fact that there are two weights and two measures in terms of condemnation for terrorism in the country, that it is more easy to accuse of terrorism an individual – often muslim – linked jihadism as a lone wolf like Bissonnette, who target a community.

According to Stéphane Leman-Langlois, professor of criminology at the Université Laval, she is not wrong, quite the contrary.

“It is thought according to the islamic terrorism [anti-terrorism Act],” emphasizes the one who is also the director of the Observatory on radicalization and violent extremism.

This last reminds us that the Crown must be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the intent of “terrorist” of the accused to lead to a conviction, a task that is far from easy, he says, especially when it comes to an individual as a Bissonnette, who was not under the radar of the authorities.

According to Mr. Leman-Langlois, the solution would be to remove altogether the charge of terrorism in the criminal Code.

“It really adds nothing, the penalties are already at the maximum when it is a murder. Whatever it is, it is yet to make a distinction that will apply in a manner much easier to the terrorists who are connected to islam as the other, so it sends a message to every eighth-note in the company,” explains he.

The canadian department of Justice declined to comment, the cause being before the courts.