Montreal, Oct. 29, 2015 – Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is pleased to announce that it will be hosting Professor Tariq Ramadan of Oxford University for a three city Canadian speaking tour visiting Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, on Nov. 21st, 22nd, and 23rd respectively.  A philosopher and writer, in addition to being an academic, Prof. Ramadan will deliver a political talk entitled, Wars, Refugees and Revolutions: Addressing the Fears and Fanaticism of our Age.  CJPME considers this a great opportunity for Canadians to hear Prof. Ramadan speak to the preoccupations of both the West and the Muslim world in the face of recent developments in the Middle East, Europe and Canada.   Continue reading

Montreal, October 20, 2015— With the imminent change in government given yesterday’s election results, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) reminds leaders that Canadians are looking for leadership in the Middle East.  Most pundits agree that the ousting of the Harper government in yesterday’s election is a clear sign that Harper’s one-sided approach to a number of issues – including its divisive approach to the Middle East – is no longer sanctioned.   Continue reading

Montreal, September 17, 2015 — Almost 3000 Canadians have signed a petition calling for the resignation of Canada’s Immigration and Citizenship Minister Chris Alexander.  Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) launched the petition about two weeks ago, based on the grassroots anger expressed by many in the wake of the Canadian government’s inaction on the Syrian refugee file.  While the petition acknowledged the tragic death of 3-year-old Aylan Kurdi on a Turkish beach as the catalyst to the anger, the petition was a broader critique on the record of Alexander as Immigration and Citizen Minister.  Continue reading

Montreal, Sept. 1, 2015  — At a time of unprecedented turmoil in the Middle East, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is pleased to announce an ambitious seven-city Canadian lecture tour by veteran foreign correspondent and author Robert Fisk.  Dr. Fisk’s lectures will be entitled “‘Goodbye, Mr Sykes! Adieu, M. Picot!’ How the ISIS ‘caliphate’ frightens the Middle East – and us.”   Continue reading

Montreal, August 3, 2015  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) calls on Canadian political parties to prioritize Middle East policy during the upcoming election campaign.  Especially over the past few years, the Middle East has become extremely dynamic and marred by conflict, and Canada’s interaction with the region will have repercussions for years to come. CJPME calls for Canadian politicians to take a step back, rethink our approach to the Middle East, and share their ideas with Canadians. Continue reading

Montreal, July 8, 2015 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) joins other Canadian and international organizations in commemorating the one-year anniversary of Israel’s latest military assault on the Gaza Strip between 8 July and 26 August 2014. Continue reading

Montreal, May 22, 2015 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) urges the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) to support FIFA sanctions against Israel. On May 29, 2015, the 209 member-states of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) will vote on a resolution on whether to have Israel suspended from FIFA.  Israel stands accused of gross violations of FIFA’s code of conduct against Palestinian soccer players for harassing, beating, torturing, shooting, and imprisoning them. For the resolution to pass, a 75 percent vote majority is required, although a simple majority would still result in Israel being censured. Continue reading

Montreal, May 12, 2015  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) repudiates the Harper government’s threat to use “hate crime” laws against BDS activists, as suggested in a CBC article yesterday.  BDS stands for “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions” and is a movement to put economic pressure on Israel to – among other aims – stop its unlawful colonization of Palestinian territories.  Like CJPME, many Canadians would view legal action by the Harper government as an attempt to silence legitimate criticism of Israel’s violation of Palestinian human rights and international law. Continue reading

Montreal, April 21, 2015  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) calls on the Canadian government to push diplomatically for a ceasefire in Yemen.  Not only is the civil war in the country causing widespread death and destruction, but the Saudi Arabia-led airstrikes are adding to the mayhem and obstructing humanitarian efforts.  “While it may be difficult to intervene neutrally in a civil war, Canada should certainly do everything it can to stop the Saudi-led airstrikes.  These airstrikes are carried out in clear violation of international law,” asserts Thomas Woodley, President of CJPME. Continue reading

Montreal, April 13, 2015  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) calls on the Canadian government to make an emergency intervention to help the Palestinian refugees caught between warring factions at the Yarmouk camp.  UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon condemned the situation in Syria’s Yarmouk refugee camp this week, calling it Syria’s “deepest circle of hell.” Yarmouk Camp, located just seven kilometers from central Damascus, is currently home to approximately 18,000 Palestinian refugees and has been threatened by Assad government forces, Syrian rebel groups and, most recently, Islamic State (ISIS) fighters. The situation in Yarmouk has deteriorated in past weeks with aid agencies unable to reach people in need and ISIS militants engaging in violent acts against civilians. Secretary Ban Ki-Moon further described Yarmouk by saying, “a refugee camp is beginning to resemble a death camp.” Continue reading