Statement on Anti-Terror Arrests
By the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War

The recent wave of "anti-terror" arrests in Toronto has sparked a national
debate about the threat of terrorism in Canada and the issue of security. In
response to this debate, the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War would like to
put forward the following points:

1) All those arrested must be treated as innocent until proven guilty. This
precept is the cornerstone of our justice system and, in order to guarantee
a fair and open trial, must be consistently applied to all those now facing
charges;

2) What has been reported in the press are alleged acts and not proven
facts. Only a trial by the public courts system - and not the media - can
determine the difference. All media has a responsibility to report on the
case fairly and accurately and without resorting to sensationalism;

3) Members of government and other public officials should not publicly
comment on the case in any way that undermines the precept of "innocent
until proven guilty" or that compromises the integrity of a fair and open
trial. So far both Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Minister of Public
Safety Stockwell Day have already suggested that those charged are guilty;

4) The Muslim community and the Islamic faith should not in any way be held
responsible for the alleged acts of individual suspects. Every effort should
be made to ensure the safety and security of Muslims and to prevent any kind
of backlash against the Muslim community. All acts motivated by Islamophobia
and hate should be opposed and condemned;

5) Canadians should bear in mind that this recent wave of arrests is not the
first. Two years ago, as many as twenty-six Muslim men were arrested in
Toronto in a sweep called "Project Thread" that received widespread
international attention and that, according to at least one government
official, had uncovered "an Al-Qaeda sleeper cell" in Canada. This statement
was (proven) to be false, not one of the men were ever formally charged (or
convicted) of committing a crime, and most were deported from Canada. No
effort was made to clear their names or restore their reputations.

Please circulate this statement in order to help defend civil liberties and
to stand in solidarity with the Muslim community against any kind of
backlash. It is critical that this recent wave of "anti-terror" arrests and
the media coverage about it not be exploited to perpetuate divisions between
Muslims and non-Muslims and that relationships of solidarity and support
between communities be expanded and deepened. The arrests should also not be
exploited in order to justify Canada's deeply unpopular participation in the
occupation of Afghanistan or the use of repressive measures that curtail
civil liberties in Canada such as secret trials and security certificates.

The anti-war movement in Canada has an important role to play in defending
civil liberties, opposing racism and Islamophobia and supporting the Muslim
community. We hope that you will join us in this effort.

Toronto Coalition to Stop the War

TCSW is Toronto's city-wide anti-war coalition,
comprised of more than fifty labour, faith and community organisations, and a member of the Canadian Peace Alliance.

http://www.nowar.ca

stopthewar@sympatico.ca

416-795-5863