‘Our teachings embrace and celebrate Canadian values’: Toronto Mosque condemns criticism of Islamic school

Stewart Bell | Nov 9, 2012 2:03 PM ET | Last Updated: Nov 9, 2012 5:40 PM ET
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East End Madrassah The front cover of the offending curriculum document from Toronto's East End Madrassah.

 

Curriculum excerpts
“Islam has allowed boys to engage in sports for one specific reason and that is to always keep them healthy and strong. But why should a Muslim be healthy and strong? Firstly, it is necessary to take care of the body because it is a gift from Allah. Secondly, so that you may physically be ready for jihad whenever the time comes for it.”

“Islam is a dynamic, comprehensive school that aims at the rectification of the social and economic systems of the world in a special manner. Unlike the beliefs of the ancient Romans, the Jews, and the Nazis, Islam is not restricted to a certain community of a certain race, but is for all human beings…”
“No doubt any wise, humanitarian person accepts such a combat and admires it [jihad] because there is no other way to achieve the sacred ends of the Prophets.”

“End of Jewish Plots and Treacheries: Ever since the Prophet’s entry into Madina, the treacherous Jews had vehemently opposed him and his Islamic call, evoking memories of their hostility to the previous Prophet, Jesus Christ, half a millennium ago. The crafty Jews entered into an alliance with the polytheist Quraish in a bid to stamp out Islam. They conspired to kill Prophet Muhammad despite the fact that he was lenient towards them and had treated them kindly, hoping to convince them of Islam’s truth. But eventually as Jewish plots and aggressions increased, he had no choice other than to take up arms against them, in order to protect Islam and the Muslims. At the battle of Khaiber which is famous for Imam Ali’s heroic exploits, the Prophet defeated them ending Jewish intrigues and conspiracies in Arabia.”

Source: Curriculum, East End Madrassah, eemadrassah.ca

Police have met with those responsible for a Toronto Islamic school and advised them to make their teaching materials more reflective of Canadian values, an officer said on Friday.

The unusual meeting marked the end of a six-month investigation by the York Regional Police hate crimes unit that did not result in criminal charges but nonetheless identified concerns about the East End Madrassah.

A police report outlining the results of the investigation said a review of the madrassah’s syllabus books found portions that originated in Iran, “challenged some of Canada’s core values” and “suggested intolerance.”

“To demonstrate the thoroughness of our investigation we found it important to articulate that there are portions in there that clearly are not criminal, but perhaps from a pluralistic standpoint don’t necessarily appear to be the types of teachings that you would hope to see in an open forum,” Det. Brett Kemp said in an interview.

He said while the role of police was to investigate whether the teaching materials violated Canadian law, investigators felt the need to draw attention to concerns identified during a review of the madrassah’s syllabus books.

“That review looked at the content in its entirety and there were some we thought, ‘This isn’t a police issue, this is non-criminal, however to be more reflective of Canadian core values it perhaps needs to be revisited and perhaps needs to be taught in a slightly different way.’”

The mosque that runs the school said Friday it had been exonerated and was disappointed at the “rush to judgment and harsh comments” it faced over the controversy. Its two-page statement did not mention the concerns raised by police.

“Our teachings embrace and celebrate the Canadian values of tolerance, understanding and harmony,” Aliraza Rajani, president of the Islamic Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat mosque. He said the mosque had reviewed its teaching materials to ensure that “inappropriate language is removed or revised.”

Police launched the investigation after Jewish groups complained about teaching materials on the madrassah website that referred to Jews in disparaging terms such as “treacherous” and “crafty,” and contrasted Islam to “the Jews and the Nazis.” Boys were also encouraged to keep fit for jihad.

Police called the complaints “legitimate” and confirmed that the most offensive passages originated from Iranian foundations — one of which is an alleged front for the Iranian regime, which Canada has designated a state sponsor of terrorism.

Police held Principal Masuma Jessa and Imam Syed Mohammed Rizvi accountable. “As leaders in their respective roles the two must accept responsibility for failing to appropriately screen the learning material.”

The police report also said there were no clear guidelines for determining what was acceptable for religious institutions to teach children. “What needs clarification is the degree to which we tolerate the exposure of young impressionable minds to the promotion of a belief or ideology while it denigrates other communities or faiths.”

The Toronto District School Board revoked the school’s permit after police began investigating. The Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre wants school boards to investigate what private schools are teaching on school property.

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