Vancouver Sun: Cleric blames media for storm over anti-Jewish diatribe

Oct. 25, 2004

By: Jonathan Fowlie

VANCOUVER - A Vancouver-based Muslim cleric who called Jews the "brothers of monkeys and swine" released a long statement on the weekend saying he is "not a violent nor hateful person" and that his comments were taken "completely out of context."

Younus Kathrada was heavily criticized last week after reports surfaced in the media of speeches he had made in which he called Jews the "brothers of monkeys and swine" and in which he espoused the virtues of an "offensive jihad," or holy war, between Muslims and people of non-Muslim religions.

In the 1,600-word response on his website, Kathrada said he is going through "perhaps one of the saddest moments of my life," and attempted to clarify what he meant in his lectures.

"References to Jews in any of my lectures have always been linked to the Palestinian issue and the Al-Aqsa mosque," Kathrada wrote, adding "it is not our belief that Jews are subhuman."

With regards to an "offensive jihad" Kathrada said he "made it clear, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that many conditions must be met before this is permissible."

He blamed the media for quoting him out of context in search of a "sensational story."

In reaction to Kathrada's posting, Jewish groups said on Sunday the statement does not change their condemnation of the cleric's earlier comments.

"In my view there is no authentic remorse," said Mark Weintraub, chairman of the Pacific region of the Canadian Jewish Congress.

"But even if there were, it is against Canadian law," he said. "Incitement of hatred and genocide are criminal offences -- punishable by imprisonment if appropriate."

After reading Kathrada's statement, Karen Lazar of B'nai B'rith Canada said, "I think a lot of what he says gives us great cause for concern.

"Having read this, B'nai B'rith certainly stands behind its initial call for an investigation to be launched immediately into charges of incitement to hatred and incitement to genocide, and I hope authorities will respond immediately," she said.

Weintraub said Kathrada's posting was no different from someone who has committed assault turning around and saying he was misunderstood, in an effort to avoid being charged.

"How do you reinterpret a call to kill Jews?" he said. "The hatred in other countries must be kept out of Canada, and I call on all Canadians to stand firm in repudiating his call for violence."

Reached by Canadian Press on Sunday, Kathrada would not elaborate on his statement.

"I think I've made it about as clear as I could on the [web]site," he said. "At this point in time I think I would like to leave it at that."

Kathrada's Dar al-Madinah's information centre came into the spotlight earlier this month because Rudwan Khalil Abubaker, a Vancouver man reportedly killed by Russian forces in Chechnya, went there to pray.

A report from Russian officials says Abubaker was buried in Chechnya after the raid, meaning his body may not be returned.

Federal officials in Canada say the Abubaker family has been provided with the details of that report and told that a representative from Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs will speak with the family's lawyer about the case again today.

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