Typical Canadian reaction...

This is not surprising...

Civil rights activists are urging Canada's intelligence officials to not increase surveillance on Muslim communities, saying it will conflict with their Charter rights.

"I think it's absolutely ridiculous to even be considering greater surveillance of Muslim Canadians," Lawrence Greenspon, a lawyer and civil rights advocate, told CTV News.

Greenspon is the lawyer for Mohammad Momin Khawaja, the first person charged under Canada's Anti-Terrorism Act.

In March 2004, Khawaja was arrested in his Ottawa home, after British intelligence officers monitored his phone and internet activities during a trip to England.

A publication ban prevents Canadian media from reporting on the case.

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms ensures the freedom of religion, and the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure.

"We've had a history of abuse of individuals and their rights in the name of trying to improve our lust for security," Greenspon said.

Joe Bissett, a security analyst and former ambassador to Bosnia, believes such monitoring is necessary for the security of Canadians, but should also be done by Muslims themselves.

"The moderate Muslims must police their own communities," Bissett told CTV News.

"They must alert us to the imams who are preaching hate. They must tell us frankly about the madrasas in Canada that are preaching hate to the young children, and are producing these young fanatical Arabs and others who are prepared to blow themselves up."

I agree with Bissett...but is that happening at all? It certainly isn't happening in the UK...