Choose Nearest City

  • Calgary
  • Ottawa
  • Edmonton
  • Regina
  • Halifax
  • Saskatoon
  • Hamilton
  • Toronto GTA
  • Kingston
  • Vancouver
  • Kitchener
  • Waterloo
  • London
  • Windsor
  • Montreal
  • Winnipeg
  • Outside of Canada

Choose your city (or nearest city)

  • Calgary
  • Montreal
  • Edmonton
  • Ottawa
  • Regina
  • Saskatoon
  • Halifax
  • Toronto GTA
  • Hamilton
  • Vancouver
  • Kingston
  • Waterloo
  • Kitchener
  • Windsor
  • London
  • Winnipeg
  • Outside of Canada
  • Events
  • Directory
  • PatronsPatrons

Enter your login credentials

Forgot username?

Forgot password?

Remember Me
Register
Facebook Login Google Login
loading
Please wait, logging in...

Register Details

[Form copy_BFRegistration not found!]
Have an account? Login

Forgot Username

[Form forgot_username not found!]

Forgot Password

[Form forgot_password not found!]

How would you like to proceed?

LOG IN / SIGN UP allows you to:
  • Have a record of all events you've been to.
  • Request cancellation if you cannot make it to an event.
  • Post an event of your own.
  • Add your business/organization listing to the online directory.
  • Add an opportunity (job, volunteer, petition, survey, etc.).

Please login to continue

LOG IN / SIGN UP allows you to:
  • Have a record of all events you've been to.
  • Request cancellation if you cannot make it to an event.
  • Post an event of your own.
  • Add your business/organization listing to the online directory.
  • Add an opportunity (job, volunteer, petition, survey, etc.).
Muslim Link is Ottawa Muslims' Online Community Newspaper. The site includes an up-to-date Events Listing and Business and Community Directory for Ottawa Muslims.
.
ML Directory
ML Directory
  • Home
  • Events
    • Ottawa
    • Montreal
    • Toronto GTA
    • Edmonton
    • Calgary
    • Vancouver
    • London
    • Windsor
    • Hamilton
    • Halifax
    • Winnipeg
    • Kingston
    • Kitchener/Waterloo
    • Regina/Saskatoon
    • Event Table
  • Directory
    • Ottawa
    • Montreal
    • Toronto GTA
    • Edmonton
    • Calgary
    • Vancouver
    • London
    • Windsor
    • Hamilton
    • Halifax
    • Winnipeg
    • Kingston
    • Kitchener/Waterloo
    • Regina/Saskatoon
  • News
  • Stories
  • Islamic Finance
  • Classifieds
    • Opportunities
      • Volunteer Opportunities
      • Job Opportunities
      • Crowdfunding
      • Bazaar Vendors Wanted
      • Call for Donations
      • ​​Scholarships / Bursaries
      • ​​Petitions
      • Nominations
      • ​​Call for Participants
      • ​​Call for Submissions
      • Call for Abstracts
      • Grants
      • ​​Surveys
      • ​​Invitation to Dialogue
      • Sponsorships
      • Contests
    • Locations
      • Jumaa Locations
      • Full-Time Islamic Schools
      • Part-Time Islamic Schools
      • Hifz Programs
      • Iftar Locations
      • Taraweeh Prayers
      • I'tikaf Locations
      • Eid Prayers
      • Eid Festival Locations
      • Camps Locations
    • Rentals
      • Add Rental
    • Find a Place
    • Find a Tenant
  • Opportunities
  • Locations
  • Rentals
  • Blog
  • Action Alerts
  • Home
  • News
  • Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) Condemns Ottawa School’s Reversal on Use of Arabic-Language Song about Peace
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) Condemns Ottawa School’s Reversal on Use of Arabic-Language Song about Peace
12
Nov
2024

Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) Condemns Ottawa School’s Reversal on Use of Arabic-Language Song about Peace

Written by  CJPME
Published in News
  • Add to Facebook
  • Like this? Tweet it to your followers!

Montreal, Nov 12, 2024 The Anti-Racism Program of the CJPME Foundation (ARPCF) condemns the backlash against Sir Robert Borden High School’s inclusion of an Arabic song about peace during its Remembrance Day ceremony.

Following the ceremony, some parents and students, particularly within the Jewish community, expressed discomfort, claiming that the song was inappropriate and distressing. This reaction was echoed by Lisa MacLeod, Member of Provincial Parliament for Nepean, who criticized the school’s decision and called for the principal to be fired. As a result, Principal Aaron Hobbs, initially defending the decision as an effort to promote diversity and inclusion, subsequently issued a formal apology, stating that the song’s selection had caused “significant distress” and was not aligned with the values of respect and unity upheld by the school.

“The selective outrage and swift backlash reveal a troubling double standard that unfairly targets Palestinian and Arabic cultural expression, framing it as inherently controversial or politically charged,” said Jamila Ewais, Lead Researcher of the ARPCF. Such responses reveal an underlying bias that labels Arabic expression as inappropriate in spaces intended to promote inclusivity and unity, while political calls to dismiss those who embrace diverse voices threaten educators’ freedom to genuinely foster inclusivity. Labeling Arabic as “controversial” perpetuates harmful stereotypes, linking the language—and by extension, Palestinian and Arab communities—with conflict or extremism. This prejudice not only marginalizes the Palestinian community further but also undermines Canada’s professed commitment to multicultural inclusivity.

.

Ewais pointed out that choosing an Arabic song titled “This is Peace,” written by Japanese-Kuwaiti singer Maryam Shehab, and conveying a message of peace, does not equate to endorsing a political stance. By including this song in Remembrance Day ceremonies, the school recognized peace as a universal value, celebrated across languages and cultures. Yet the reaction to this choice underscores how Arabic and Palestinian voices are reflexively excluded or viewed with suspicion, while similar expressions from other cultures face no such scrutiny.  Such attitudes reflect deep anti-Palestinian racism, as defined in the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association report, “Anti-Palestinian Racism: Naming, Framing and Manifestations.” 

The ARPCF recommends that educational institutions protect educators' rights by establishing policies against political interference, safeguarding staff from unjust dismissal over inclusive decisions. Schools should promote cultural competency with mandatory anti-bias training and develop inclusive curriculum guidelines that reflect students' diverse identities. Providing resources, such as legal assistance, for educators facing backlash and fostering open dialogue with communities will support these initiatives. The ARPCF urges leaders to reject narratives that demonize Arabic and Palestinian cultural expressions and take steps to dismantle biases, ensuring all communities feel respected and represented in Canadian narratives of peace and remembrance.

Read 1511 times Last modified on Fri, 15 Nov 2024 07:02
Rate this item
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
(0 votes)
Tagged under
  • Anti Palestinian Racism
  • Anti Arab Racism
  • Ottawa Carleton District School Board
  • Sir Robert Borden High School

CJPME

Latest from CJPME

  • ARPCF Condemns Anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic Graffiti Attack on Montreal Mosque ARPCF Condemns Anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic Graffiti Attack on Montreal Mosque
  • CBC Admits Mistake After Anchor Tells Palestinian Canadian Mourning Her Brother's Death om Gaza On Air That She Cannot Say Genocide CBC Admits Mistake After Anchor Tells Palestinian Canadian Mourning Her Brother's Death om Gaza On Air That She Cannot Say Genocide
  • Parliament’s Two Reports on Islamophobia and Antisemitism Acknowledge Anti-Palestinian Racism While Perpetuating It Parliament’s Two Reports on Islamophobia and Antisemitism Acknowledge Anti-Palestinian Racism While Perpetuating It

Related items

  • ARPCF Condemns Anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic Graffiti Attack on Montreal Mosque ARPCF Condemns Anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic Graffiti Attack on Montreal Mosque
  • CBC Admits Mistake After Anchor Tells Palestinian Canadian Mourning Her Brother's Death om Gaza On Air That She Cannot Say Genocide CBC Admits Mistake After Anchor Tells Palestinian Canadian Mourning Her Brother's Death om Gaza On Air That She Cannot Say Genocide
  • Parliament’s Two Reports on Islamophobia and Antisemitism Acknowledge Anti-Palestinian Racism While Perpetuating It Parliament’s Two Reports on Islamophobia and Antisemitism Acknowledge Anti-Palestinian Racism While Perpetuating It
back to top
.
.
.
.
.

Subscribe to Mailing List

Sign up for our free Muslim Link Snapshot and get our events listing and latest articles sent to your inbox weekly.

Please enter a name
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a city

Ottawa Events
View More Events
Al-Ihsan Jiu-Jitsu: Raising Rijal Program Featured
Tue, Jul 01, 2025 06:00pm EST/EDT
Sports/Fitness
Summer Programs @ Izzah Learning Center Featured
Wed, Jul 02, 2025 all day
Educational
Shaah(Tea) & Sheeko(Talk) Night
Sun, Jun 22, 2025 07:00pm EST/EDT
Social/Cultural
OMA Revert Program Dealing with Loneliness: An Islamic Perspective
Sun, Jun 22, 2025 07:30pm EST/EDT
Educational
Ottawa Eagles Wrestling SUMMER Program - 16+ Grappling Program
Mon, Jun 23, 2025 all day
Courses

Featured Articles

  • Association of Palestinian Arab Canadians (APAC) 9th Annual Palestine Day on the Hill: Watch Video Association of Palestinian Arab Canadians (APAC) 9th Annual Palestine Day on the Hill: Watch Video
  • Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) Statement on the Passing of Alia Hogben Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) Statement on the Passing of Alia Hogben
  • ARPCF Condemns Anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic Graffiti Attack on Montreal Mosque ARPCF Condemns Anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic Graffiti Attack on Montreal Mosque

About us

  • About Muslim Link
    Our Team
    About Eye Media
    Contact Us
    Diversity & Inclusion Policy
  • Events & Directory Disclaimer
  • Project: A Muslim History of Ottawa

How To

  • How to Advertise on Muslim Link?
    How to View / Edit Your Advertisement Campaign?
    How to Add a Directory Listing on the Directory?
    How to Claim a Directory Listing?
    How to Add an Event?
    How to Add an Opportunity?
    How to Add a Rental Listing?

Event Listings

  •  - Ottawa
  •  - Toronto GTA
  •  - Montreal
  •  - Edmonton
  •  - Calgary
  •  - Vancouver
  •  - London
  •  - Windsor
  •  - Hamilton
  •  - Kitchener/Waterloo
  •  - Halifax
  •  - Winnipeg
  •  - Kingston
  •  - Regina/Saskatoon

Business & Community Directory

  •  - Ottawa
  •  - Toronto GTA
  •  - Montreal
  •  - Edmonton
  •  - Calgary
  •  - Vancouver
  •  - London
  •  - Windsor
  •  - Hamilton
  •  - Kitchener/Waterloo
  •  - Halifax
  •  - Winnipeg
  •  - Kingston
  •  - Regina/Saskatoon

Advertisers

  • Advertise Online
  • Become a Patron
  • Sponsorships
  • Join Snapshot e-Newsletter
  • Snapshot Publishing Dates

ML Team

  • Writers Workshops
  • Content Policy
  • Staff Payment System
  • Join the team

Social Media

Follow us on our pages!

Facebook Twitter Youtube LinkedIn Pinterest

Copyright © 2025 Muslim Link. All Rights Reserved. All articles, photos, graphics and images on this site remain the copyright of Muslim Link, unless otherwise noted, and should not be copied without prior permission. Designed by Eye Media Solutions
Top
Copyright © Muslim Link. All articles, photos, graphics and images on this site remain the copyright of Muslim Link, unless otherwise noted, and should not be copied without prior permission. 2025 All rights reserved. Custom Design by Youjoomla.com