Document warns of rise of ‘extreme right groups’
The Canadian government’s policy to welcome Syrian refugees, and terrorist attacks in European countries, have contributed to the rising popularity of extreme rightwing groups in Quebec, according to documents recently made public by Quebec’s public security minister.
Included among the documents is a summary prepared for the minister on Feb. 3, just days after six people were killed inside a mosque in Quebec City.
It suggests the government should be concerned about the potential actions of individuals who believe in extreme right groups taking violent action on their own.
The author of the document, titled Right Extremism in Quebec: Principal Findings, wrote: “In general, we note that those who adhere to the ideals supported by the extreme right are principally active on the internet, be it on social media, or also inside discussion forums. They protest principally
They protest principally against the growing place of Muslim religion in our society and the cultural insecurity that it generates.
against the growing place of Muslim religion in our society and the cultural insecurity that it generates.”
The summary also expresses concerns for the possibility of violent confrontations as the “identity movement is closely followed by small groups associated with the extreme left, that struggle against xenophobia and racism.”
It also notes that left-wing groups have successfully organized counter protests while monitoring rightwing groups through the internet.
Large sections of the documents were redacted before they were made public, through an Access to Information request. That includes a significant part of a paragraph covering an assessment of public safety and “extreme right groups in Quebec.” The mostly redacted paragraph ends with the sentence: “We cannot however exclude the possibility that xenophobic acts will be committed by individuals who adhere to extreme rights ideals and act alone.”
The assessment ends with a mention of the Jan. 29, attack on the mosque in Quebec City and notes “we do not know precisely at this moment the motivations behind the attack” and the incidents that followed in other mosques.
The rest of the same paragraph was redacted from the copy of the document that was made public.
Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, of Quebec, was arrested shortly after the shooting at the mosque. He has been charged with six counts each of murder and attempted murder and his case returns to court on Dec. 11.