Montreal, November 18, 2024 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) strongly condemns the media-fueled outrage surrounding the inclusion of the Arabic song Haza Salam during a Remembrance Day ceremony at Sir Robert Borden High School in Ottawa. CJPME is deeply concerned by the media's role in amplifying unfounded backlash against the song, as well as its failure to report on a potential hate crime that followed this sensationalist coverage. CJPME believes that by stirring up an unfounded and polarized response to the song, Canadian media has perpetuated anti-Palestinian racism.
CJPME was informed of a vandalism incident following the outcry over the song, in which the school’s welcome sign was defaced with the words “Hamas High.” Despite their role in manufacturing the initial controversy, not a single Canadian media outlet has reported on the subsequent incident of anti-Palestinian vandalism. At the time of this statement’s release, only one article by reporter Desmond Cole on his blog Yes, everything mentions the graffiti.
CJPME believes the reaction to Haza Salam, a song whose lyrics express longing for peace, reflects latent anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian racism and double standards in how media treat culturally significant expressions from Middle Eastern communities. “This is not just a manufactured controversy but a clear example of how media bias can stoke racial and religious tensions,” said Jason Toney, Director of Media Advocacy for CJPME. “This time last year, Canadian media and many Canadians celebrated the incorporation of Ukrainian culture into Remembrance Day ceremonies,” said Toney. “This year, however, we see outrage over the inclusion of an Arabic-language Palestinian song. This is a troubling double standard that highlights underlying biases against Middle Eastern and Palestinian communities.”
The incident of vandalism, which Principal Aaron Hobbs confirmed to parents in an email, underscores the real-world consequences of the media's inflammatory reporting. Despite this evidence, CJPME cannot stress enough that not a single Canadian news outlet has reported on the hateful graffiti targeting Arab students. “This omission is a glaring failure in journalistic accountability,” added Toney. “The media’s negligence in reporting on the hate crime, which is directly linked to their coverage of manufactured outrage, must be rectified immediately. They cannot run away from their responsibilities as journalists.”
CJPME calls on Canadian journalists to uphold their ethical obligations by reporting on incidents of anti-Palestinian racism and providing balanced, accurate coverage. Furthermore, CJPME urges school officials and government representatives to support affected students and take active steps to foster an inclusive environment for all community members.
About CJPME – Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is a non-profit and secular organization bringing together men and women of all backgrounds who labour to see justice and peace take root again in the Middle East. Its mission is to empower decision-makers to view all sides with fairness and to promote the equitable and sustainable development of the region.