After New Zealand, Tory cancels event with anti-Muslim speaker; Scheer ripped by Harper aide for weak response - Globe and Mail
"Late Thursday, Mr. Scheer tweeted, “Freedom has come under attack in New Zealand as peaceful worshippers are targeted in a despicable act of evil. All people must be able to practice their faith freely and without fear. … There are no words strong enough to condemn this kind of vile hatred. I am praying for peace for the families of those lost and recovery for those injured."
That response was met by swift criticism online, including from Andrew MacDougall, a former spokesman for prime minister Stephen Harper, who tweeted, “Delete and try again. Name the place of worship. Name their religion. Put your arms around them. Condemn the specific pathology that drove their killer(s).â€
Ms. Elghawaby said some people wonder why Mr. Scheer didn’t call out the Islamophobia underlying the attack immediately. She said people are looking to the Conservative Party and wondering: “Is this party going to stand up for the rights of everyone?"
By Friday afternoon, Mr. Scheer issued a new statement, saying he wished to express “both my deep sadness at the tragic loss of innocent life and my profound condemnation of this cowardly and hateful attack on the Muslim community.
“Houses of worship, like the two mosques attacked last night, should be places where all people can meet freely and without fear. We stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters to ensure that they remain this way. We must condemn, in the strongest terms possible, the type of extreme and vile hatred that motivated this despicable act of evil.â€
"Late Thursday, Mr. Scheer tweeted, “Freedom has come under attack in New Zealand as peaceful worshippers are targeted in a despicable act of evil. All people must be able to practice their faith freely and without fear. … There are no words strong enough to condemn this kind of vile hatred. I am praying for peace for the families of those lost and recovery for those injured."
That response was met by swift criticism online, including from Andrew MacDougall, a former spokesman for prime minister Stephen Harper, who tweeted, “Delete and try again. Name the place of worship. Name their religion. Put your arms around them. Condemn the specific pathology that drove their killer(s).â€
Ms. Elghawaby said some people wonder why Mr. Scheer didn’t call out the Islamophobia underlying the attack immediately. She said people are looking to the Conservative Party and wondering: “Is this party going to stand up for the rights of everyone?"
By Friday afternoon, Mr. Scheer issued a new statement, saying he wished to express “both my deep sadness at the tragic loss of innocent life and my profound condemnation of this cowardly and hateful attack on the Muslim community.
“Houses of worship, like the two mosques attacked last night, should be places where all people can meet freely and without fear. We stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters to ensure that they remain this way. We must condemn, in the strongest terms possible, the type of extreme and vile hatred that motivated this despicable act of evil.â€
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