QUEBEC CITY – “We have to understand that terrorism is the natural product of fundamentalism,” said Zineb El Rhazoui, who lived through the Charlie Hebdo attacks. On Thursday, at the National Assembly, she urged Quebec to join the fight against fundamentalism.
“Fundamentalism is when one’s ideology is the strongest one and the one that must rule the state. And this ideology produces terrorism,” El Rhazoui said.
The fight, she said, starts with barring controversial imam Hamza Chaoui from opening a community centre in Montreal.
Chaoui urges Facebook followers to boycott democracy because he says “it allows non-believers such as homosexuals” to get elected.
“I am worried for our future,” said Ma vie à contre-Coran author Djemila Benhabib.
She said, in her view, radical Islam is gaining ground in Quebec.
Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre promised Thursday to get involved by first checking permit regulations.
“I’ll talk to (Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve Mayor) Réal Ménard,” said Coderre.
“I will always fight for your freedom and for democracy.”
“For me it’s important to make sure that if we are going too far, I want to know exactly what happens.”
The debate comes as Quebec struggles to come up with a coherent plan.
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Premier Philippe Couillard promised this week to fight radicalization, legislate on secularism and review the province’s immigration policy, without setting any deadlines. He also struggled to explain his ties with Saudi Arabia.
“By keeping them isolated we’re making the situation worse. This is why this type of contact is beneficial,” Couillard told reporters.
Couillard’s position that fundamentalism is a “personal choice” shocked El Rhazoui.
“Saudi Arabia is barbaric,” she said. “No democrat in his right mind can possibly be a friend of the regime.”
Still, the Liberals insisted they will take their time drafting legislation, to respect civil liberties. That said, condemnation for the Montreal imam came quickly.
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“It’s unacceptable that we could have on our territory people that would be teaching this to other people and the new generation,” said Kathleen Weil.
The immigration minister wasted no time denouncing Chaoui and his heinous teachings.
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