Article Added On: October 04, 2004 - over 3 years ago
Title: Toronto Muslims conduct photographic protest
Publication: CTV.CA September 4
Publication Date: January 01, 2004 - over 4 years ago
Faith Groups: Muslim
Themes: religious attitudes in Canada

Description: Canadian Muslims Protest Treatment of Man who Videotaped CN Tower

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A group of Toronto Muslims, armed with video and still cameras, conducted a photographic protest Sunday in support of one of their own. They recorded images of the CN Tower. At 553.33 metres, it is the world's tallest building. It also claims records for the world's longest metal staircase and highest wine cellar. Kassim Mohamed was detained last May by the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service for videotaping the landmark. "This is not fair what Muslims are going through. This is not fair. We are humans. We are not terrorists," Mohamed, 38, told CFTO News. "Muslims are not terrorists. Islam is a religion where we believe in one God, not in killings." After he filmed the CN Tower and other Toronto landmarks in May, Mohamed's videotape was seized. Four years ago, Mohamed moved his family to Egypt so his children could receive an Islamic education. He travels back to Canada at least once per year. Mohamed said the videotape was for his children. "My family wanted to see Toronto. They had not seen it for a while. They missed the improvements ... the CN Tower, the greatest tower in the world." However, Mohamed wasn't just having problems with CSIS. The Canadian citizen, who was born in Kenya, was detained in an Egyptian jail for two weeks after he returned there following his CSIS grilling. "They held me because they had information from Canada," Mohamed told CTV News in late September. "They wanted to question me because I was a suspect in Canada." A lawsuit has been filed by Mohamed against the federal government. It seeks $1 million in damages and a letter stating he is not a member of any terrorist organization. His lawyer is Lorne Waldman. In Mohamed's statement of claim, Waldman claims an RCMP officer essentially exonerated his client. "Det. (Const. Joseph) Harris stated that a national security investigation (had) begun because Mr. Mohamed was seen videotaping the CN Tower ... (he) confirmed the investigation was negative and that the RCMP has no further concerns with Mr. Mohamed," Waldman was quoted as saying in the document. Besides Mohamed, Waldman is also representing Maher Arar, a Syrian-born Canadian who was deported to his birth country by the United States. While held there, Arar has alleged he was tortured. An inquiry is underway to determine what happened and to find out what involvement Canadian security agencies may have had. With a report from CFTO's Desmond Brown