The Ben Mulroney Show - Ben asks why are we so behind in labeling terrorist organizations?

Episode Date: January 9, 2025

Ben asks why are we so behind in labeling terrorist organizations? With Guest: Noah Shack, Interim President of The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs If you enjoyed the podcast, tell a friend! For more of the Ben Mulroney Show, subscribe to the podcast! https://globalnews.ca/national/program/the-ben-mulroney-show Follow Ben on Twitter/X at https://x.com/BenMulroney Enjoy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Maybe, but definitely 100% closer to getting 1% cash back with TD Direct Investing. Conditions apply, offer ends January 31st, 2025. Visit td.com slash dioffer to learn more. Welcome back to the Ben Mulroney Show. There are fewer things that get my goat faster than hearing politicians just say words and not back them up with action.

One of my least favorite, one of the ones that really gets me these days is hate has no place in Canada. Hate has no place. This is not who we are. Except it is. Because the people with the power to outlaw certain types of hate do nothing in furtherance of those words. There is a new, I don't know if it's a new group, actually I know it's not a new group. There's a group holding a conference in Ontario that is not listed as a terrorist organization that should be listed as a terrorist organization. There's something called the Kilafa conference promoting Sharia law. It's going to be hosted in Mississauga. And it's apparently it's been removed from Eventbrite. So the organizers have shifted the ticket registrations to another group. The group is called His But Terrier. And

And it's legal in Canada, but in countries around the world that do not have our views on the importance of social justice and human rights, places like Pakistan, it's too extreme for Pakistan. It's illegal. It's banned in Pakistan across Central Asia, Indonesia, and all Arab countries except Lebanon, Yemen and the UAE. But for some reason in Canada, this organization is allowed to organize and spread hate. We're joined now by Noah Shaq, the interim president of the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs. Noah, welcome to the show. Thanks so much for having me. This is banana. It's not, you know, it would be bananas if we hadn't seen this repeated time and time again. Well, this organization's anti-Semitic and hateful extremist character are well documented. This is a group that celebrated the October 7th Hamas attacks, praising Hamas as heroes.

And it's no, no, no wonder that it's already been designated as a banned terrorist group in the United Kingdom, in Germany, in addition to all of those countries and regions that you've already mentioned. This reflects its dangerous agenda and support for violence. And it needs to be addressed. We need to make sure that this is threat is taken seriously here. But why don't I days from now they're coming to Mississauga. A city like Copenhagen banned them from using any public spaces when they tried to run a conference there.

We really need to be making sure that our elected officials and people in positions of authority, as you mentioned, are taking this seriously and taking action. But listen, we saw this happen for years and years with the conservatives trying to get the the the liberal government in Ottawa to to to name the the IRGC out of out of Iran, a terrorist organization, they only recently did that. Why Why is it so hard to get certain types of politicians to take this sort of thing seriously? Listen, I think that's a question you'd have to ask them

because it baffles me about why something so clear, something that has been already undertaken in a country like the United Kingdom, which is not so different from our own when it comes to these kinds of issues. I've taken this action. They listed Hizb-i-Tahrir as a terrorist organization a year ago. So there's really no excuse for why this hasn't been considered here in Canada. But the fact that they're coming to Mississauga nine days from now means that there's a sense of urgency that I hope will focus some attention and drive action on this important file. I mean, this is a group that their news reports detailing its leaders, expressing regret that Hitler didn't succeed in

eliminating all Jews and referring to Jews as defective people. And of course, a national post article recently here, raising concerns about their views on suicide bombing. So this is obviously a threat that our community takes very seriously. But of course, as we've seen in New Orleans and elsewhere in Canada with terror plots that were thankfully disrupted by authorities, seen in New Orleans and elsewhere in Canada with terror plots that were thankfully disrupted by authorities. This isn't not just a threat for the Jewish community. This is a clear and present danger for all of us in Canada, for national security and our democratic values. Yeah, no, no. And in anticipation of this conversation, my producer was having me listen to a news story about this very organization that was that had rented out a

room at a hotel, I believe a Hilton and the whole local news story was about how it was too late at that point to cancel the contract because these people who were running the Hilton didn't know anything about the organization but the news organization highlighted the toxicity and the evil of this organization. And then he pointed out to me that it was a story from the United States for 15 years ago. Like they've been on everyone's radar for over a decade. I just it is so disappointing that we have leaders in Ottawa who are who are put up their hands. They'll tweet out. This is not who we are hate has no place in Canada,

and then do nothing to back it up. We are facing a significant threat of extremism in the streets, in institutions across Canada. And if we don't push back against it, now it continues to grow and grow and grow. And it becomes more difficult to deal with the consequences. And God forbid we wait until an attack is successful in Canada to finally take this seriously enough to put our foot down. Let's take the warnings of the

our foot down. Let's take the warnings of the six or so terrorist attacks that have been foiled in the last year here in Canada and say, you know what, we don't want there to be any more, we need to get at the root causes. And gatherings like this, where these kinds of glorifications of terrorism and support for terrorism are taking place, are a key component of that. And I think there are really two things that the federal government can do to address this. One, of course, list his career as a terrorist entity just like has been done in the United Kingdom and in Germany. That doesn't seem so complicated or far-fetched or needing that much consideration given all the work that's already been done in those other countries. And two, make sure that we're coming from abroad to speak at these conferences

and spread their dangerous and hateful agenda here in Canada or stopped at the border. We can't be letting this extremism come into our country. Noah, have you been in touch with the leadership of Mississauga, the mayor's office or the city council? We've reached out to elected officials at all levels of government, both of municipal, provincial and at the federal level, to share our concerns, to share what we know about this organization, to make sure that everybody is aware of what they represent and and and the imperative of doing something about this. And I know that there have been statements from Mississauga, from other municipalities and from others saying

that we don't want this here. And I think, you know, they can look to the city of Copenhagen that took action to block the use of any public spaces by this group. And I think it's important, as you mentioned, private venues understand who these people are, what they represent, and the fact that, not so far away in the United Kingdom,

they are rightfully recognized as a terrorist organization. Noah Shack, interim president for the Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs, thank you very much, Godspeed, and let's hope that we end up on the right side of history with this one. Let's hope I appreciate it. Thank you. All right, the phone number here at the Ben Mulroney show is 416-870-6400 or one triple eight two to five talk. The text

line is 416-870-6400. I want to hear from you on this. Why are we so behind to label these terrorist organizations? What is the impetus in allowing them to operate free of scrutiny? Why is a country like Pakistan? Why do they see this this group for for the the rot that they bring with them the evil the hatred? Why? Why are we so averse to naming things what they are? Naming and shaming organizations like this that call for the death of Jews and for Sharia law.

Why don't we want to stand up for those principles? I would love to hear from you at 416-870-6400 or 1-888-225-TALK. Let's start with Ibrahim. Ibrahim, welcome to the show. Thank you so much for calling in. Thank you, Bill. Thank you for having me on the show. Absolutely. So I just wanted to say, I mean, I was listening to your previous caller and your guest, and it's not only about Jews. I'm a Muslim. Yes. And what is considered or at least I consider myself a moderate Muslim These are extremists and for us even for Muslims that are moderate. They consider us as infidels

They consider us as people that Again, we're all in the same bucket if they want the Jews to die or it's the same for us They want the same for us So I think it's a bigger problem and maybe a lot of Muslims should start speaking up we have groups like the Muslim Brotherhood like has but the idea where we don't agree with what they're saying we don't want yeah Islam is an religion it's a religion of peace but they the way they translated and the way they translate Sharia law even for us moderate Muslims it's not something we want to live by. Ibrahim, first of all, thank you for being our first call

on this. And, you know, unfortunately, and tell me what you think. It feels to me like we are living in a world where certain people are dictating how we can have these conversations. So I support everything that you just said. But because I come out and I attack a group like this and I'm against anti-Semitism in all its forms, I must automatically be anti-Muslim and that is not the case. I do not play by those rules. I will not have conversations with people who believe that. Life is far more complex than that. And do you feel that we've been boxed in? And if you are Muslim, you must agree with x, y and z. And if you are, you know, to me, it's a far more complex conversation.

I agree with you. I mean, me just coming up on your show now and saying what I'm saying, that again, is frowned upon. Yeah, how am I as them say that these people are wrong? No, but they're talking in the name of Islam. No, they're not. They're talking in the name of Islam, how they see Islam in its extreme. It's normal.

It's not what the normal Muslims live by. Yeah, and they must be, and groups like this make life harder for you and for people who believe in the version of Islam that you believe in. Of course, exactly. We wanna live, I mean, we're a peaceful religion. We've lived with different religions,

with Jews, with Christians, in peace for thousands, centuries in our countries. And Canada is a country where there's a lot of integration and a lot of people are proud of that. I'm not a Canadian, I'm actually Egyptian, yet when I see people live together in Canada and the way it is, I want to keep that. I don't want people from outside that have done so many bad things where I'm from to ruin what Canada has. And that's what I don't understand and I agree with your previous callers, like I'm baffled why you guys

aren't taking any decisions to ban these people looking at all the things they've done in other countries. Yeah. Abraham, we're gonna leave it there. But I really thank you for for for participating in this conversation. It's yours is a voice I'm very glad to have on the show. I appreciate it. Let's welcome Mike to the show. Mike, thanks so much for calling in. Let's welcome Mike to the show. Mike, thanks so much for calling in. Yeah, I just want to also congratulate your previous guests here that that's absolutely fantastic to hear someone with that background give those opinions. Yeah. We know like the last 10 years, the atmosphere created in Canada by the federal government nurtures situations like this.

It's very clear. What I would like you to do or someone in the media to do is go to parish in Mississauga, go to the provincial member of parliament for Mississauga, go to the federal member for Mississauga and say, here's the situation, what are you going to do? To quote Sean Connery.

What are you prepared to do? It's Connery? What are you prepared to do? Not what do you think or do you believe or blah blah blah. Tell me right now, what are you going to do and make them answer? Yeah, yeah, that's a very listen, I would love to see that as well. Unfortunately, fighting the traffic in the Mississauga can be quite difficult for me from down here. But thank you so much for your call. Let's, let's welcome Frank to the show.

Frank, thanks so much for calling in. Good morning, Ben. I think we got to put a lot of blame on prominent politicians, the stances that they've taken for some time right now. And I'll just give one example. We previously discussed this, it was discussed on on the talk show some time ago. But when Trudeau took the position and communicated that he was prepared to and agreed to facilitate the arrest of President Netanyahu of Israel, on the basis of the charges that are pending before the international court, the implication with that is such that, you know, it's food for fodder and it actually allowed to these militant groups to kind of rationalize their actions and their behaviors,

that there is a justification for them taking the stand that they have taken, given that the prime minister has agreed and by way of implication, he's suggesting that Netanyahu did commit crimes against humanity. And this is, I think in the minds and heads of these militants, it just justifies in their heads and their hearts that they're sane and doing the right thing. Yeah, listen, you're right.

And you can think whatever you want of our Prime Minister and his government, you may feel that they are bereft of vision. But as the leaders of this country, as the government of this country, when they speak, there is impact, there are consequences to that speech. And so you may say to yourself, oh, he doesn't know what he's talking about. Netanyahu is not a war criminal. But people become empowered when words like that are spoken. I think the wrong people are empowered.

The number is 416-870-6400, or 1-888-225-TALK. The text line is open as well at 416-870-6400. The group is Hisbut Tahrir, and as I said before, it is banned by places that do not feel that human rights should be as elevated as they are here, places like China and Russia and Pakistan. And for some reason, those countries have identified this group as a bridge too far. Why are we in Canada, though we hold ourselves up to be a beacon on the hill? Why have we not

banned this group? Let's say hi to Jerry Jerry welcome to the Ben Mulroney show Good morning Ben morning. I love you Thank you. Thank you, sir. You're the best. I really I really think you're the best. I love your opinions Allow them to have their say and record them and And do some Intel don't if you if you ban them then they're going to go underground we're not going to know who these people are and then and then televise it and show what they're saying don't don't push them underground use this as Intel and figure out who these people are. I don't know Jerry Jerry listen I appreciate the sentiment but

think about it I mean do you there's going to be people traveling in from abroad coming in for this. Do we really trust ourselves? Do we think that we've got a robust enough intelligence network and the people and the boots on the ground to ensure that once they're in here, those people leave? I, I, I would rather not have them here at all. Then say, yeah, come on in and, and, and we'll, we'll outsmart you by following you and listening to you and following the money. I don't trust us.

We are not serious enough on this sort of thing, but I thank you for your call, Jerry. Let's welcome Rick to the show. Rick, thanks so much for calling in. Hey, Ben, just wondering, I know you had somebody, two callers or four from Egypt. Yes, Ibrahim. Okay, yes, yes.

Okay, now where's the uproar from the Muslims or whatever against this? Well, I think that was his point. I think we've got to remember that the loudest people take up the most space. And I think Abraham represents a moderate group of people who just want to live their lives. They want to be part of the community. They want to build this country. And therefore, if they're not shouting, we're not going to hear them. And that's why I appreciated so much that he called in to remind us that there are people like him out there. And and and groups like

this make it harder on a guy like that. Hey, we're gonna take a quick break, but more of your calls after the break on this very important topic on the Ben Mulroney Show. We're talking about His But Terrier, which is a banned organization in places like China, Russia, and Pakistan, but for some reason in Canada,

we are allowing them to come into the country and have a conference about Sharia law in Mississauga. You know, when I hear politicians in the United States talk about thoughts and prayers following a school shooting, it's frustrating for so many of us because we know that that is coded language for, we're not gonna do anything about the problem. And I feel the exact same way when I hear politicians say,

hate has no place in Canada, that's not who we are. That's coded language for, yeah, but thank you, nothing to see here, move Canada. That's not who we are. That's coded language we're for. Yeah, but thank you. Let's, nothing to see here. Move along. And it's so very frustrating. Let's say hi to Naeem. Naeem, welcome to the show. Hey, good morning, Ben.

Good morning. I'm just as baffled. I echo a lot of the sentiments of your first caller, Ibrahim, as well. I was listening yesterday, I think, on Alex's show. She had Phil Gershky on Borealis threat. And I think he articulated that he's been following this group. And the reason they're not on the terror list is because they've never actually had an outright

call for violence. This is just more extreme, flamboyant, repugnant views that they share. And that's why they're not listed as terrorists. Nevertheless, they should be on the radar. I think it's also just as perplexing that in addition to China, Russia and Pakistan, the US hasn't labeled them a terrorist organization, which is pondersome for me as to why that hasn't happened. So I think sometimes I guess where the line is drawn is, what's their call versus what's their claim, right? And I think this is kind of where the fine line is,

but at the end of the day, we should be monitoring anybody who has hateful thoughts and speech like Greg this morning, even with Lisa McLeod and her extreme repugnant views, but she needs to be called out too. I think we just have a climate of a lot of hatred which I don't know where and why we've turned this way. Yeah, I agree with you. But I also don't know why we're selective about calling certain certain behavior out and others we sort of give us a pass to. Let's welcome Vince to

the show. Hey there, Vince. Hey, Ben, how are you? I'm well, sir, how are you? I'm good, I'm good. You know, this is gonna hurt for some, but at the end of the day, the politically incorrect view is quite often or not

the correct view. What do you mean? I want that to soak in. The politically incorrect view is the correct view. Whether it's trans rights, puberty blockers, Islam, the fact is there's no place for Islam in the West. There isn't. There's no such thing as extreme, not extreme. Whether it's Q495, Q860, the Quran talks about violence. I have a lot of Muslim friends. I've been to a Muslim mosque. I respect it. I respect them. But at the end of the day, the politically incorrect view is the correct view. And my friend, this is a

Christian state. Whether I believe in God or not, that's what it is. It's on our bills. It's in our Charter of Rights in the first sentence. It's in our anthem. This is Canada first. Yeah, and Vince, listen, I thank you for your call. I disagree vehemently. I think this is this, what makes this country, what used to make this country great is that there was a pull.

Canada had a pull. There was an attraction that people had to it because they could come here and they could practice whatever faith they believed in and, and, and still become part of this great community that had been built, uh, you know, on north of the four, uh, four ninth parallel. This is the, and it didn't matter whether you were Christian, Muslim, Jewish, you would come here, you would leave your grievances from wherever you came from at the door,

and you would come here and bring the best of your culture, the best of your religion, the best of your society, and you would help make this place greater than it was before. And so there absolutely is a place in Canada for the Muslim faith, 100% there is. I reject the notion that that's not the case. And and and you can cherry pick, you can cherry pick words and sentences from

any any religion that that that makes that lesser than it is. I reject that entirely. And the it isn't a politically incorrect thing to say and I believe it's also an incorrect thing to say but I do respect your right to to say. And I believe it's also an incorrect thing to say. But I do respect your right to say it. And I do respect your right to say it on my show. Let's welcome Max Max. Thanks so much for calling into the Ben Mulroney show. Good morning. How you doing? I'm well.

Okay, very quickly. I'll just say I'll put this out to the listeners. This is not new. What we're seeing here coming out of, well, that one particular region, but you know, the fact that there's someone preaching hate in Mississauga, this is not a new revelation. I want everybody, when they have a chance today, Google Mississauga, Imam, preaches hate. You will see chapter and verse over and over and over again, CBC, CTV, whoever reporting on someone at some point in the last eight years about some guy saying Jews are dogs, Christians are evil, we need to take over Canada, da da da da da da.

I don't know why the news channels or cables got ahold of this one. It's like, oh, this one's, you know, we really need to talk about this one. This has been going on for a very long time. As a Jewish man, I remember when October 7th happened, the volume of protest or support rallies route that happened after october seven

that girl's day hummus is not a terrorist organization the uh... what is it the isis flag yeah we did a couple showed up at one of those protests like guys i'm sorry this is nothing new everybody needs to google mrs. bugger imam pre hate, you'll see that this has been going on for a long time already. This is a symptom. This is not the sickness.

And Max, thank you so much for the call. And not I can't disagree with a lot of that. But that doesn't mean it's it's past the point of fixing. and it doesn't mean that we Shouldn't and must call this out at every at every opportunity. We can't let this stuff slide Wherever it's coming from we cannot let it slide Welcome Adam. Thank you so much for calling into the show Adam Thank you. So first of all as as a Jewish man, as the guy always says, there's way more hate from the right than there is from the left. But the problem is, is that the right is always

claiming victimhood for the slightest, slightest calling out of their hate. And I grew up... You're going to have to give me some examples here of the right, because I need context here. I don't know what you're talking about. Oh, oh, things like, oh, this shouldn't be a Christian country. Excuse me, but there is an entire movement in the United States and Canada to turn Canada into a Christian country. I've never seen any evidence of that.

You've got to give me more. You have never seen any evidence of that. I've never seen any evidence of that. You've got to give me more. You have never seen any evidence of that? I've never seen any evidence of that beyond... I'm serious. I cover the news every single day. I spend about four or five hours a day reading the newspapers and following things. I have never seen evidence of that. How about the six states in the United States actually...

We are not... No, I am not... I do not... I do not answer for the ills of another country, sir. What happens in the States happens in the States. How about Daniel Smith, who says to her members that she believes that Alberta should be guided by Christian principles. So how is that claiming victimhood? Because she says that the woke people are out together. Okay. Okay.

Okay. So, but more importantly, maybe we come from different eras, but I remember when this country did not want to accept anyone for any faith and let them practice their faith, because I used to get sent out into the hallway because I was Jewish. Okay. Okay. So please stop trying to make it that this was the big draw of Canada. Well, well, Toronto used to be a one big white monolith. It is now the most multicultural city in the world and up until a few years ago,

that's what made this city so great. So, and most people would agree, it's far more interesting, exciting city today than it was 15, 20, 30 years ago. So you're not gonna find me suggesting that what we need is less multiculturalism. It's just what has been done with it and how it's been weaponized.