Canadian values and the Muslim world

Date01 June 2017
Published date01 June 2017
DOI10.1177/0020702017710920
Subject MatterScholarly Essays
Scholarly Essay
Canadian values and
the Muslim world
Aisha Ahmad
Department of Political Science, University of Toronto, Toronto,
Ontario, Canada
Abstract
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms constitutes the fundamental value system
of our nation. The rise of anti-Muslim extremism thus presents a direct challenge to the
core principles that define our liberal democracy. As our international order transforms,
power polarities shift, and illiberal ideas spread across North America and Western
Europe, maintaining commitment to these core Canadian values will become increasingly
difficult. If our chief allies enact policies against their minority Muslim populations in the
name of security, Canada will be put under pressure to do the same here at home, with
devastating consequences for our democracy. Moreover, how Canada responds to the
complex and multilayered crises that have gripped many parts of the modern Muslim
world will have grave implications for both domestic and international security.
Ideologically-motivated slogans do nothing to keep Canadians safe. It is therefore crucial
that Canada continues to reject illiberal extremism and champions evidence-based inter-
national security policies, with a heavy investment in detailed ground-level analysis of
these complex conflict theatres.
Keywords
Islamophobia, Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Liberal International Order,
Canadian Foreign Policy, Islam, Muslims, International Security
For most f‌irst-generation Canadian Muslims, especially those coming from war-
torn or repressive countries, the 1982 Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is
a saving grace. For my family, the values of freedom and equality enshrined in the
Charter were fundamental, powerful, and inspiring. Freedom of religion meant
that my mother and father, born into dif‌ferent sects, could live without fear of
political persecution on account of their faith and their love. Multiculturalism
meant that our family could celebrate our cultural festivals, speak our native
International Journal
2017, Vol. 72(2) 255–268
!The Author(s) 2017
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DOI: 10.1177/0020702017710920
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Corresponding author:
Aisha Ahmad, Department of Political Science, University of Toronto, Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail,
Toronto, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada.
Email: aisha.ahmad@utoronto.ca

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