Calgary-West MP, Rob Anders, is trying to mend ties with Calgary's largest Muslim organization. Anders attended a Ramadan dinner to try to defend his actions after a political pamphlet was sent from his office.
Anders met with the Muslim community in his riding at a Ramadan prayer service Friday, but not everyone was pleased to see the area MP.
Tension is boiling over a mail-out in which Anders wrote:
"It is now illegal to hold opinions that offend radical Muslim activists...under Section 13 of the so-called Human Rights Code Canadians have been prosecuted for holding personal beliefs which offend radical Muslim Imams and Liberal activists."
The examples refer to two Canadian journalists, Mark Steyn and Ezra Levant, both of whom were taken to court over editorials they published.
"We want to gather a petition of people who are against Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act which is restriction of freedom of expression," said Anders.
But the Muslim Council of Calgary says the flyers were ill conceived.
"He unfairly scapegoated the Muslim community as somehow being a threat to freedom of speech in Canada because we have from time to time taken recourse to the Human Rights Commissions," said David Liepert, Muslim Council of Calgary spokesperson.
The Muslim Council of Calgary invited Anders to a prayer service to help improve ties.
"We can't condemn him for not building bridges if we don't do it ourselves," added Liepert.
Anders didn't apologize for his flyers saying he was simply using two well known cases to illustrate his point.
Still, some in crowd felt slighted, but others hope Anders' willingness to meet with the Muslim community will be the first step toward a renewed relationship.
