CRA Persecution of Muslim Charities Counterproductive to Anti-Radicalization

This was an editorial I wrote regarding Muslim charities in Canada and how they are being treated by the Canada Revenue Agency. It was published by the National Post and can be read over here.

The CRA’s approach to countering radicalization jeopardizes the effectiveness of the government’s overall efforts and is at odds with Canada’s national strategy on countering radicalization to violence, which recognizes the significance of empowering faith communities as a vital component of countering radicalization.

As an imam with over a decade of experience in this area, I have assisted my community to directly work with CSIS and the RCMP. I have dedicated countless hours to guiding young people in celebrating Canada as their own and stress to them that they are just like everyone else, and are thus deserving of the same rights and opportunities. I have witnessed thousands of young individuals become proud, contributing members of Canadian society. Yet I have also seen a few lose their way and struggle to fully connect with their identity as Canadians.

The CRA’s actions are causing profound harm to Muslims in Canada by treating the community as the “other.” The reality is that the revocation of the charitable status of Muslim charities only serves to alienate Canadian youth, which undermines the government’s efforts to advance integration and prevent radicalization to violence.