Imam’s story sparks passionate response
Re When words fail, Oct. 22 This is one of the most remarkable, revealing and hopeful articles the Toronto Star has ever published on Jewish and Muslim relationships in Canada.
It shines much needed light on how good will can search for truth, understanding, reconciliation and create space for the greater good, while bad will dredges for and elevates misconceptions, honing truth distortion in the service of enduring enmity and division.
The Star, Bernie Farber and journalist Jennifer Yang deserve much credit for this cautionary tale, this landmark must-read account — discerning, illuminating journalism at its best. Marjorie Robertson, Ottawa Ms. Yang’s article about Ayman Elkasrawy is an example of the prejudice of low expectations for Islam. Elkasrawy, a PhD candidate, prayer leader and man who has memorized the Qur’an, is clearly bright.
Only a fawning media can believe he could think words translated as “O Allah! Count their number; slay them one by one and spare not one of them. Allah! Purify Al-Aqsa mosque from the filth of the Jews!” would be an innocent prayer and can report this as a matter of “inexact science of translation.”
Clearly the Arabic words aren’t about rainbows, hugs and love. Henry Brechun, Cambridge, Ont. On one hand we talk about tolerance and accommodation. On the other we seem to accept punishments which amount to “cut off the thief’s hand” to mistakes which have not even been subject to due process — Ayman Elkasrawy was convicted by social media.
The press has reported case after case of people who made mistakes, sometimes on the job, which resulted in harsh punishments with potentially no chance of redemption or career resumption. This is “cruel and unusual punishment.”
Because modern penal reform aims to rehabilitate, not incapacitate, we have a separate juvenile justice system. In the adult system, first offenders often get fines or community work. The next step can be serving time on weekends to save jobs and family finances. Cases like Ayman’s must follow the evidence standards of the justice system, and the punishment must fit the crime. Joseph Polito, Toronto