CMLA Statement on Police Brutality in Alberta Against Student Protestors

University of Calgary Divest for Palestine has created an email template to be sent to the Mayor of Calgary Jyoti Gondek and Calgary Police leadership in response to police brutality at the student encampment for Palestine.

Calgary, 2024-05-10 The Muslim Council of Calgary stands united in condemning the recent actions of the Calgary Police Service, which employed excessive force against peaceful protesters advocating for an end to Israel’s aggression in Palestine. As advocates for justice and human rights, we express our deep concern over this violation of fundamental rights.

May 10, 2024 Calgary, Alberta — As a representative of many Muslims, peace loving people, and a proud University of Calgary graduate, City Councillor Raj Dhaliwal feels compelled to speak out about the recent incidents that unfolded at the University of Calgary campus.

Yesterday, Calgary Police descended on the University of Calgary to break the encampments, in scenes reminiscent of attacks on students protestors many years ago at Kent State.

May 9 2024 Justice For Palestinians Calgary Solidarity with Student Encampments Statement

For some Muslims in Canada, the events of September 11th cling to their collective memory like a dark stain, penetrating so deep into the fabric of the community that its presence is still felt 13 years later.

“The vast majority of Muslims opposed that barbarism and today remain horrified with what happened,” states Abdul Souraya, immigration lawyer and co-chair of the Calgary Police Middle East advisory Committee.

“Sometimes the community is painted with a very large brush. And there’s a collective punishment and anguish that goes with that.”

That sentiment is particularly fresh in Calgary, the hometown of five young men who reportedly joined an Islamic extremist group and were subsequently killed in action overseas in the last year.

Souraya was one of the presenters at this year’s OWN IT 2014 – a four-day conference organized by Calgary Muslim groups. Government officials, community leaders, academics, and police convened at a southwest Calgary mosque to discuss how to prevent criminal radicalization.