CJPME Saddened and Disgusted by Attack on Quebec City Mosque

Montreal, January 30, 2017  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is saddened and disgusted by Sunday night’s deadly attack on a Quebec City mosque that killed six and injured eight.  CJPME condemns the attack, and echoes suspicions that this attack was a terrorist incident motivated by hatred towards Muslims.  “The climate towards Muslims in Quebec has been increasingly hostile in recent years,” explained Thomas Woodley, president of CJPME.  “Quebec and national politicians have often fanned the flames of animosity and prejudice towards Muslims, and attacks like these are the tragic and inevitable result.”    Continue reading

 

Muslim Writer and Philosopher Tariq Ramadan to speak in Canada

Montreal, Jan. 9, 2017 – Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is proud to host writer and philosopher Professor Tariq Ramadan for a five city Canadian speaking tour visiting Calgary, Edmonton, London, Mississauga, and Toronto between Jan. 18th and 21st.  Prof. Ramadan will deliver a political talk entitled, Creating Thriving Societies in Troubling Times.  In the wake of current events in Europe and North America, CJPME considers Ramadan’s visit to be extremely timely and useful to the Canadian discourse on international peace, security and harmony.  Prof. Ramadan’s talk is intended to address the preoccupations of both the West and the Muslim world in the face of the shifting world alliances, East-West perceptions, international terrorism, ongoing conflicts, and massive refugee movements.   Continue reading

 

Green Party votes for Economic Sanctions on Israel

Montreal, Dec. 5, 2016  — Over the weekend, at a federal Green Party Special General Meeting (SGM), Green members voted 84% in favour of economic sanctions on Israel because of its violations of Palestinian human rights.  “This is a landmark decision in Canadian politics,” declared Thomas Woodley, President of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East.  “This vote reflects Canadians’ anger about the West’s failure to bring peace in Israel-Palestine, and a desire to see an end to Israel’s human rights abuses.”  While the new resolution does not specifically cite the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS), its precepts align perfectly with those of BDS, including calls for boycotts, divestment and sanctions.   Continue reading

 

CJPME Denounces Ontario Passage of anti-BDS Motion

Montreal, December 1, 2016  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) denounces the passage of an Ontario motion condemning BDS.  The BDS movement – standing for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions – seeks to non-violently pressure the Israeli government to fulfill its human rights obligations under international law.  “This motion will surely put a chill on free speech in Ontario vis-à-vis Israel’s human rights abuses,” asserted Thomas Woodley, President of CJPME.  “It is a sad day when Ontario seeks to censure individuals for their political views.” Continue reading

 

Chomsky, Klein and other Canadians support Green Party Position on Israel-Palestine

Montreal, November 30, 2016  — Earlier this week, an open letter signed by Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein and other notables encouraged Canada’s Federal Greens (GPC) to maintain economic pressure on Israel for its human rights abuses against Palestinians.  This letter demonstrates the global interest in the GPC’s recent resolutions on Israel-Palestine – resolutions that thus far distinguish the party from other Canadian parties.  Political writer and pundit Chomsky, and writer and environmental activist Klein were joined by dozens of other international and Canadian activists.   Continue reading

 

CJPME applauds Canada’s renewed commitment to Palestinian Refugees

Montreal, November 16, 2016  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) congratulates the Canadian government’s decision today to renew funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) – the UN aid agency for Palestinian refugees.  Earlier today, Canada’s Minister of International Development, Marie-Claude Bibeau announced that Canada is contributing $25 million to support the organization’s work.  “The Trudeau government has finally differentiated itself from the Harper government in regards to the Middle East,” declared Thomas Woodley, president of CJPME.   Continue reading

 

CJPME applauds new Green Party Resolution on Israel-Palestine

Montreal, November 11, 2016  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) applauds the proposed Green Party of Canada (GPC) resolution on Israel-Palestine.  The proposed resolution was emailed to party members Wednesday, and was a result of collaborative work between the GPC shadow cabinet and other party human rights activists.  “We are pleased to see a fair-minded and inclusive resolution which addresses the concerns of both Israelis and Palestinians, and speaks to the long-standing human rights issues in the region,” declared Thomas Woodley, President of CJPME. Continue reading

 

CJPME applauds Parliamentary action on Yazidis & Islamophobia

Montreal, November 1, 2016  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) applauds two recent bi-partisan motions in Parliament.  First, CJPME was happy to see the bi-partisan call for immediate help to Yazidi refugees, especially women and girls.  Second, CJPME was pleased to see the unanimous consent for an anti-Islamophobia motion.  “Both motions reflect critical maturing in Canada’s thinking on the Middle East and its peoples,” declared Thomas Woodley, President of CJPME.  “If Canadian leaders can set aside racial stereotypes and partisan politics to intervene in a humanitarian and inclusive way, then we’ve made progress,” added Woodley.  Continue reading

 

CJPME: Liberals must Define New Approach to Middle East During Johnston Trip

Montreal, October 27, 2016  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) calls for Governor-General David Johnston’s state visit to the Middle East to be the moment for the Liberal government to demonstrate a new approach to the region.  “Thus far, the Trudeau government has been virtually indistinguishable from the Harper government on questions relating to the Israel-Palestine conflict,” said Thomas Woodley, President of CJPME.  CJPME believes that after a year in office, it’s time for the Trudeau government to define a new approach vis-à-vis the conflict.   Continue reading

 

CJPME: Green Party BDS Resolution Supports Human Rights

Montreal, August 8, 2016  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) enthusiastically applauds the Green Party’s decision to support the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.  “By voting overwhelmingly in support of this BDS resolution, Green Party members demonstrate their deep concern for the human rights of indigenous Palestinians,” asserted Thomas Woodley, president of CJPME.  BDS is a movement applying economic pressure on Israel until it respects the human rights of Palestinians in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.   Continue reading