For immediate release

Dec. 15, 2022—The troubling allegations revealed in the Globe and Mail today regarding possible government targeting of the largest Muslim organization in Canada requires further investigation by an independent party, says the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group.

“Given the seriousness and deeply troubling nature of the documents received by the Muslim Association of Canada, it is imperative that there be independent verification of their veracity and the allegations they contain,” said Tim McSorley, national coordinator of the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group. “Whether this is a hoax or not, the unfortunate reality is that we know Muslim Canadians and Muslim organizations have been targets for surveillance and criminalization under the guise of counter-terrorism driven by systemic Islamophobia and racism. It is important that the government take this issue seriously and act on it quickly.”

To that end, the ICLMG believes that these allegations should be independently investigated, particularly given that they possibly implicate the RCMP and other federal agencies. The government should consider referring the matter to the appropriate complaints body, including the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission or the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency.

For more information:
Tim McSorley
National Coordinator, International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group
613-241-5298
national.coordination@iclmg.ca