After UOMSA’s Communications Officer Assma Basalamah was expelled and banned from coming back to the Parliament building because of her involvement in “direct action” against the federal budget on March 29, 2012, she was congratulated by then-UOMSA president Adam Gilani on Twitter.

While Assma Basalamah was Communications Officer of the University of Ottawa’s Muslim Students Association (UOMSA), she gave full support to student protests occurring in Quebec in the spring of 2012 and she took part to similar protests in Ontario. She commented extensively about it on her Twitter account at the time.

After Assma Basalamah was expelled and banned from coming back to the Parliament building because of her involvement in “direct action” against the federal budget on March 29, 2012, she was congratulated by then-UOMSA president Adam Gilani on Twitter. The Twitter conversation occurred between March 29 and 30, 2012. In the current school year (2012-2013), Gilani is listed as a member of the UOMSA advisory council. The MSA is an important component of the Muslim Brotherhood infrastructure in North America.

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB

A Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) report recently released to the National Post under the Access to Information Act highlights that Islamists are radicalizing Muslims and others at “a large number of venues” (NP article – CSIS report). The CSIS report was heavily censored before being released. Only mosques, internet, prisons, family settings and foreign locations appear as venues of radicalization in the censored version. Student associations run by the Muslim Brotherhood in Canadian universities are also important venues for Islamist radicalization.

In 2007, the New York Police Department stressed that the Muslim Students Association (MSA) is an “incubator for radicalism” (p. 68 – Archives PdeB).

In their pledge of allegiance, MSA members declare that “Jihad is my spirit” and that “I will die to establish Islam.” The pledge is available online and it was rebroadcast by Sun TV (video 03:50) during a show dedicated to former MSA leader Huma Abedin, Hillary Clinton’s personal assistant.

MSA appears at #2 in a list of Muslim Brotherhood-linked organisations that was added to an internal Brotherhood’s memorandum. This memorandum clearly states that the MSA and other MB-linked organizations are engaged in “a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within” (point 4).

Ahmed Said Khadr’s radicalization at the University of Ottawa

In her book Guantanamo’s Child about Omar Khadr, author Michelle Shephard explains that the radicalization of Omar’s father (Ahmed Said Khadr) occurred while he was a member of the University of Ottawa’s MSA. Ahmed Said Khadr studied engineering in Ottawa in the late seventies.

After his graduation, Ahmed Said Khadr went to Pakistan to run the office of Human Concern International, another Muslim Brotherhood-linked organization. While running this MB outfit, Khadr fought alongside al-Qaeda and was killed by the Pakistani army in 2003. An al-Qaeda website profiling “120 Martyrs of Afghanistan” described him as a leader of Bin Laden’s organization and praised him for “tossing his little child [Omar] in the furnace of the battle.”

Michael Petrou (Maclean’s – August 12, 2012): Canada gives $2 million to group collecting for the charitable alma mater of Omar Khadr’s dad

Other Islamists have supported the “Maple spring”

Besides Assma Basalamah, other Islamists expressed their support for the so-called ”Maple spring”. Ehab Lotayef wrote a poem criticizing the Quebec government that was published in the pro-Iranian Montreal-based newspaper Sada Almashrek. In the past, Lotayef has organized numerous activities favourable to Hamas, the branch of the Muslim Brotherhood in Gaza. The Iranian agency Press TV also published numerous articles favourable to the Quebec student boycott in the spring of 2012. It describes the movement as a part of a global fight against neo-liberalism.

Point de Bascule (July 16, 2012): Bill 78: Montreal pro-Hamas organizer Ehab Lotayef denounces Quebec government’s “fascist laws”

Point de Bascule (June 21, 2012): Iran gives an extensive and favourable coverage to Quebec student boycott while fearing that the PQ will benefit from it

Laura-Julie Perreault (La Presse – July 11, 2012): Iranian media report about the Maple spring (Les médias iraniens s’intéressent au printemps érable)

Salah Basalamah

Assma Basalamah is the daughter of Salah Basalamah, a professor at the School of Translation and Interpretation of the University of Ottawa.

In his book Le droit de traduire (The right to translate – Presses de l’Université d’Ottawa, 2009), Salah Basalamah presents Tariq Ramadan as his “intellectual brother in arms”. In the past, Ramadan has openly advocated for an Islamic colonization of the United States and the introduction of sharia in Canada by using the existing legal framework.

In 2008, Le Devoir (Montreal) reported that Peter Leuprecht, the organizer of a conference attended by Salah Basalamah and a former dean of McGill University Faculty of Law introduced him as “Tariq Ramadan’s representative here in Canada” (Text – Original).

In his Tariq Ramadan dévoilé (Tariq Ramadan unveiled – p. 95), author Lionel Favrot mentions that, in the ‘90s, Basalamah and Ramadan established a Muslim cultural centre in Geneva (Switzerland). Favrot describes Basalamah as an “Islamist militant (…) known for having been in Saudi Arabia on numerous occasions”. Salah Basalamah is the son of Yahia Basalamah, a leader for many years at the Saudi mosque in Geneva.

In another biography (La vérité sur Tariq Ramadan / The truth about Tariq Ramadan – p. 117), author Ian Hamel mentions that Yahia Basalamah worked as an editor for the magazine Al-Muslimoon set up by Said Ramadan (Tariq’s father). According to the Islamic Centre of Geneva, Said Ramadan launched the magazine in Egypt in 1952, then published it in Damas (Syria) in 1956 and finally in Geneva between 1961 and 1967.

After Salah Basalamah moved to Canada, he and Tariq Ramadan established Muslim Presence / Présence Musulmane, an organization that did most of its dawa (proselytizing) in French.

Basalamah is frequently interviewed by the Canadian media. CBC/Radio-Canada presents him as some kind of independent expert and observer in spite of his close links with the Muslim Brotherhood infrastructure. In the early 2000s, Salah Basalamah was selected by Youssef Qaradawi, the Brotherhood spiritual guide, to translate at least one of his books from Arabic to French.

In his Assessment of the Islamic Education in Canada presented at an interfaith meeting in 2007, Salah Basalamah endorsed Youssef Qaradawi and described him as “one of the most famous Muslim scholars in the World.”

Here is a list of positions taken by Basalamah’s mentor in recent years:

1. 1. Qaradawi promotes the conquest of the West by Muslims;
   2. He endorses the killing of Muslims who leave Islam (apostates);
   3. He condones female genital mutilations;
   4. He claims that Hitler was sent by Allah to punish the Jews (video);
   5. He declares that resorting to force and coercion is legitimate to enforce Islam’s principles (“changing wrong by force whenever possible” – Priorities of the Islamic Movement chapter 4);
   6. He describes the mosque as a political institution where participants are mobilized for jihad (“It must be the role of the mosque to guide the public policy of a nation, raise awareness of critical issues, and reveal its enemies. From ancient times the mosque has had a role in urging jihad for the sake of Allah”);
   7. In conformity with a Muslim Brotherhood principle of operation already reported by the New York Times in February 1949, Qaradawi endorses the use of suicide bombers.

In an interview given to a Quebec trade-union magazine in 2010, Salah Basalamah promoted to “complement” the reasonable accommodation approach by setting up meetings (“citizens’ agoras”) in districts, cities and areas throughout Quebec during which citizens would be asked to bring up the “issues that get people angry” («les questions qui fâchent»).

Basalamah specified that these meetings would have to be held “far from the media and the courts.”

It is easy to imagine what would happen at such meetings. Citizens not complying with various principles of sharia would be summoned to appear and pressured to comply with the wishes of a mob. Restaurant owners could be convened by a bunch of Islamists and intimidated until they promise to stop selling alcohol and pork or serving food during Ramadan. Women not wearing the hijab would have to explain themselves and pressured (at least) to change their behaviour, those decorating their houses for Christmas would eventually be asked to stop doing it in order to prevent their Islamist neighbours “from getting angry”, etc. All these threats would be uttered “far from the media and the courts”, as set out by Salah Basalamah.

Point de Bascule (April 19, 2012): Tariq Ramadan and Salah Basalamah on sharia, reasonable accommodations and citizens’ agoras

http://www.flickr.com/photos/uomsa/6876434064/in/photostream

http://www.uomsa.ca/execs.asps (Late spring 2012 version of the page)

https://twitter.com/AssmaSalahB

https://twitter.com/AssmaSalahB

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
Just got out of protesting budget speech @Parliament #notourbudget
2:08 PM – 29 Mar 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
Super smooth direct action at Parliament! #notourbudget Great job y’all!
2:09 PM – 29 Mar 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
“@tasharpeters: PRESS RELEASE FOR #notourbudget PROTEST: http://bit.ly/notourbudget #budget2012 #bdgt2012 #cdnpoli #canlab #climate” #fb
2:12 PM – 29 Mar 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
@rosiebarton@rickmercer @kady The most important voices about #budget2012 were saying #notourbudget ! http://bit.ly/notourbudget #fb
2:13 PM – 29 Mar 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
Just got out of Parliament escorted by the popo #notourbudget Retweet! Help make our voices be heard!
2:20 PM – 29 Mar 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
Funding for First Nations housing and education? Not in this budget. This is #notourbudget #indigenous
2:41 PM – 29 Mar 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
Canada needs strong, accessible public services, this is #notourbudget #cdnlab #budget2012
2:42 PM – 29 Mar 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
Corporations get tax breaks, students get debt sentences. This is #notourbudget #ggi #maplespring #CFSFCEE #cdnpse #cdnpoli #budget2012
2:44 PM – 29 Mar 12

Tasha Peters‏@tasharpeters
@leadnow – The @notourbudget twitter account was suspended about 3 minutes into the action! #budget2012 #cdnpoli #bdgt2012 #notourbudget
Retweeted by Assma B.
2:43 PM – 29 Mar 12

Cdn Peace Alliance‏@CanadianPeace
Say ‘No’ to more jets & jails. #NotOurBudget #cdnpoli #bdgt12
Retweeted by Assma B.
2:02 PM – 29 Mar 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
“@derrickokeefe: Spread the word: this is #NotOurBudget http://notourbudget.ca/ #Bdgt12 #StopHarper #cdnpoli”
2:47 PM – 29 Mar 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
“@CamFenton: Flaherty’s #bdgt2012 address disrupted, story from PostMedia http://www.canada.com/business/Budget+Pension+changes+public+service+cuts+define+Flaherty+vision/6378456/story.html … #notourbudget”
2:50 PM – 29 Mar 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
#notourbudget Flaherty wanted to eliminate pennies so we gave him our two cents “This is not our budget!”http://www.canada.com/mobile/iphone/story.html?id=6378456 …
2:57 PM – 29 Mar 12

Guillaume Rigucci‏@GuiCR12
This is a sad day for Canadian Politics. #StopHarper #NotOurBudget #cdnpoli #Bdgt12
2:49 PM – 29 Mar 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
@GuiCR12 awsome! Did u suspect anything when u saw me? U looked sketched out!
2:59 PM – 29 Mar 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
Banned from Parl until further notice. #notourbudget @GuiCR12
3:20 PM – 29 Mar 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
Lol Cop thought i was lying when i told them my name was B-A S-A L-A M-A H #fb #notourbudget
3:28 PM – 29 Mar 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
We need a green economy, not a greed economy. This is #notourbudget #climate #tarsands #cdnpoli #budget2012 #bdgt2012 #canpoli #fb
3:29 PM – 29 Mar 12

Adam Gilani‏@adamgilani
@AssmaSalahB Congrats on your Parliamentary ban! You’ve got serious Cdn activist cred now. You’re ahead of me 🙂
3:31 PM – 29 Mar 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
@adamgilani Haha “got Canadian activist cred” and lost any chance of Canadian citizenship ;p
10:49 AM – 30 Mar 12

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
#uottawa students blocking administration offices #now! @Occupy_Ottawa @AllanRock @KStewartCBC @OntarioLabour @The_Fulcrum @
5:08 AM – 24 May 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
U ottawa students have taken the 2nd floor of Tabaret hall! All out! President allan rock wont go to work today ! @SFUO_FEUO @SfuoCampaigns
5:18 AM – 24 May 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
UOttawa students blok University admin offices, second floor TBT. @uOttawaNow pic.twitter.com/P6FuF2Fa
5:33 AM – 24 May 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
A people educated, will never be defeated!! @uOttawaNow @LaRotonde @The_Fulcrum pic.twitter.com/I7FeQ1T2
5:36 AM – 24 May 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
Well, the media is here! @uOttawaNow @AllanRock#bringthestriketoON!! pic.twitter.com/1js1yOe8
5:41 AM – 24 May 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
We (uofo students/ON students) are NOT apathetic. Nous sommes solidaires et esperons emmener la greve en ON! #fb pic.twitter.com/dxesZwRz
5:44 AM – 24 May 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
CBC, RadioCanada , CFRA, Metro & the Sun’s on its way. #fb pic.twitter.com/F5qfcG2g
5:48 AM – 24 May 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
If You Block Education We Will Block Administration #fb @AllanRock @uOttawaNow pic.twitter.com/2DJ3o0sB
5:50 AM – 24 May 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
A bouquet of red squares just for you! -StudentsWhoJustWontTakeIt. @AllanRock #livefromtabaret #fb pic.twitter.com/HnOW3egC
5:54 AM – 24 May 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
If you block our education we will block administration! Staff #fb pic.twitter.com/D9GjIaJS
6:00 AM – 24 May 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
Confederation Park #ottawa #greve #studentdebt #fb pic.twitter.com/D1iU1kdZ
3:23 PM – 29 May 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
“it’s a return back in time where only sons of lawyers could become lawyers!” #fb #greve #casseroles pic.twitter.com/2hJPjkx8
3:31 PM – 29 May 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
“c’est pas une greve etudiante, c’est un mouvement populaire! ” #fb #greve #casseroles #studentdebt pic.twitter.com/AwkIUewV
3:34 PM – 29 May 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
We stand in sol with the students of quebec colombia chili and Ontario! #casseroles #greve #studentdebt #fb
3:35 PM – 29 May 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
Stopping traffic! #fb pic.twitter.com/BbpyD7k0
4:05 PM – 29 May 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
Canadians for Choice & casseroles! #fb pic.twitter.com/qspMmUIq
4:14 PM – 29 May 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
#ggi #cdnpol red squares everywhere! #fb
4:18 PM – 29 May 12

Assma B.‏@AssmaSalahB
Red squates everywhere #fb #cdnpol #ggi pic.twitter.com/dIFibMsT
4:18 PM – 29 May 12