The Media Accountability Project  

"This is the press, an irresponsible press. It will make the criminal look like he's the victim and make the victim look like he's the criminal. If you aren't careful the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." Malcolm X. 1964

CJPME President Thomas Woodley was published in The Hill Times, countering Andrew Caddell’s unjust critique of Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s special representative on combatting Islamophobia.

In his letter, Woodley argues that Caddell’s attack is not a reflection of any shortcomings on Elghawaby’s part, but rather a reaction to her effectiveness in amplifying the voices of Canadian Muslims and defending their rights. He highlights Elghawaby’s vital role in confronting rising Islamophobia and standing up for the civil liberties of pro-Palestinian protesters—rights enshrined in Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Woodley strongly condemns Caddell’s misrepresentation of Elghawaby’s human rights advocacy, exposing Caddell’s accusation that she defends "radical Muslims" as rooted in his own deep-seated anti-Muslim bias.

Woodley also addresses the damaging conflation of anti-Zionism with antisemitism, emphasizing that Elghawaby’s principled stance against this conflation has made her a target for pro-Israel advocates. He finally adds that despite Caddell’s claim that Elghawaby has “lost the room,” her voice is resonating with the public now more than ever.

CJPME remains committed to defending the rights of marginalized communities and supporting those who challenge discrimination and injustice across Canada.

"The ”room” that Caddell accuses Elghawaby of having “lost” has been indifferent and discriminatory to Muslims and other racialized groups for far too long.  Far from losing it, Elghawaby has been a clear voice for reform and change, and to Caddell’s horror, the room is starting to listen."

"Benlolo’s recent opinion piece is just another example of the sustained campaign by pro-Israel advocacy groups to muddy the history of Palestine and attempt to delegitimize its history. The article is riddled with hateful falsehoods that must be challenged, below are just a few."

Refusing to acknowledge Palestine and its people not only perpetuates historical inaccuracies but also undermines the rights and aspirations of millions of Palestinians. It is imperative that the media recognize Palestine as a legitimate entity, acknowledging the diverse heritage and identity of the Palestinian people.

On June 17, 2024, CJPME complained that a statement by the Manitoba Islamic Association had been misrepresented in a CBC article. In reference to mental health, the Association expressed concern about the impact the ongoing “genocide against Palestinians” was having on youth. CBC paraphrased the reference to genocide as the “war in Gaza.”

Following our complaint, CBC’s Sr. Manager of Journalistic Standards & Public Trust acknowledged this was a mistake. To resolve it, CBC included the direct quote from the Association and added an Editor’s Note that reads, “The story has been updated to reflect that the Manitoba Islamic Association referenced genocide in Gaza, not war, in its statement.”

CJPME is satisfied with CBC’s response and believes it is essential that references to genocide are not whitewashed by vague references to the “war in Gaza.”

"To paraphrase “genocide against Palestinians” as “the war in Gaza” is to substantively misrepresent the Manitoba Islamic Association’s statement. There is a chasm of difference between war on one hand and genocide on the other. The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide states that genocide is a crime that can be “committed in time of peace or in time of war.” As the Convention lays out, on a definitional level, genocide is entirely distinct from “war.” This is not only the case in the context of international law but also in ordinary language. War and genocide are not synonyms that can simply be substituted in for each other. In the context of this article, the distinction is hugely important. Given that this misrepresentation deals with the momentous mental health impact that the ongoing genocide in Gaza has on people, especially Palestinians and Muslims, such a difference in the perception of an event is essential."

"How do these facts not justify the CBC using the phrase anti-Palestinian racism? Unless there is a double standard at play, it seems inarguable that using the language of anti-Palestinian racism is not only justified, but essential for readers to clearly understand the nature of this incident. The police clearly identified this as an investigation into an anti-Palestinian hate crime."

"By making the assumption that this incident is Islamophobic, you are minimizing both the suffering of Palestinians and the adversity that their advocates face for expressing solidarity. While Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism are linked, APR is a distinct form of hate that deserves clear coverage."

With this type of thinking, how do we explain the hundreds of millions of people who have rallied in support of Palestine and its liberation in the past eight months? In our thousands, in our millions, we are all Palestinian.