A dialogue with Imam Hindy....

I received today via e-mail an exchange of e-mail to and from Imam Hindy in Toronto.

First, here is the letter that was sent to him:

Mr. Aly Hindy,

I just finished reading some quotes in the Ottawa Citizen that have been attributed to you, regarding the foiled terrorist plot, re: “ Imam claims charges homegrown baloney”. You claim that this is an attack on the Muslim community. I would appreciate a response, please, clarifying this statement, as I do not understand what you mean.

Also, if you could help me to understand how we are abusing our boys for the sake of pleasing President George W. Bush, it would enlighten an obviously uninformed Canadian. Mr. Hindy, the federal employees of the Canadian forces of CSIS and the RCMP are by no means conjuring up falsehoods in fear of becoming unemployed. The Muslim community nation wide in all communities needs to understand and accept responsibility for the actions of their community and the most important, influential factor is for their leadership, Mr. Hindy, to encourage peace always. Part of the action to promote peaceful living is to acknowledge, without bitterness those who would choose violent behaviour against their fellow Canadians, and to ask that they be punished, if found guilty, of these most unacceptable crimes.

Please take note that Canadians are free loving and a kind-hearted people who wish to live in peace. We are not interested in having foreign grievances planted on our doorstep by ANYONE. I would hope that as a man in a leadership role of the Muslim community in Canada, you would consider a more thoughtful and considerate reply, when representing you, your mosque and your community in the future.

And, here is his response:

Dear Ms. xxx:

I thank you for your e-mail.

First of all when you talk about Canadians, you sound like you are from the Canadian people, but not myself or the those being accused of terrorism.

I have to tell you I love Canada and invested most of life in this country as much as you. I have contributed personally to many engineering projects in Ontario in the power generation Industry. I have also produced children and grand children that are Medical doctors, Engineers and Scientist that building this great Country of OURS. You have given me an unnecessary note.

Secondly, I have to tell you, that I receive and continue to receive e-mails and calls from many Canadians (Muslims and non-Muslims) that are very worried about the direction our country is taken. Mainly following the footsteps of the Neo-conservative government of USA. This policy of US, in case you do not know, is based on putting the population under constant fear of an imminent attack from an unknown enemy. The result is justifying military overseas adventures by attacking other nations to prevent possible attacks or "to go them before they come to us". This policy also resulted of suspension of many civil rights to American people including non-Muslims. In order to fully understand this it require from you some readings.

Thirdly, our government is pressured to help the American military operation overseas.

having said that, you can understand the intense pressure exerted on security agencies to produce some results in the war against terrorism..

Let us now examine the complete mess that the present government has made out of this case. By announcing these arrests in news conference and by comments made by the PM, Security Minster and other officials, the reputation of this government and our security apparatus is at stake in front of the whole world if those individual are found not guilty (which I believe so). What a judge (or Jury) would do if he (they) find those individuals are not guilty with the pressure from the government and media and Canada's reputation around the world.

If you look at the allegations, apart from criminal charges for 3 individuals of smuggling guns to be sold in Toronto lucrative market (Muslim community like any other community including yours have some criminals), the whole case of terrorism is hanging on one simple question. That is who & how those 3 tons of fertilizers.

If the government fails to prove the one of those individuals ordered the fertilizers, the whole case will fall apart.

Now I am asking you, why for the heaven sake the government did not wait until those guys bought the fuel oil and bring the wiring and the trucks and captured them red handed specially when the police already changed the fertilizers to an un-harmful material.

My friend the case is politically motivated specially the timing of the arrest.

The moment, I saw those individuals in the court, which I know nine of them, I realized that this case is made up. In no way by knowing the personality of some of those individuals, they can not be in this and they can not be together in a group.

I can assure you that we are peace loving people and one want to heart Canada what so ever.

Regards

Aly Hindy

N.B. You may find some disconnect in my writing because I wrote my reply in different times and still so busy to sit and response immediately.

I'm speechless.

What do you think about this exchange of ideas????