Quebec premier off the mark

This editorial ran in the Winnipeg Free Press:

It’s one of those political statements that surely must leave observers at all points of the political spectrum scratching their heads.

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard’s comment linking an isolated terrorist attack by a lone individual to the entire religion of Islam does not seem to have been made impulsively or mistakenly.

But the inflammatory remark — in response to a reporter’s questions about the involvement of a Montreal man in the stabbing of a police officer at an airport in Flint, Mich. — represents both a reversal from Couillard’s previous public statements and the apparent adoption of a position that has no logical justification. A 49-year-old Montreal resident, Amor Ftouhi is accused of the stabbing, police Lt. Jeff Neville, allegedly after shouting the Arabic phrase “Allahu akbar.” (“God is great”).

Couillard said: “You cannot disconnect this type of event — terrorism — from Islam in general.”

The Quebec premier went on to say that Muslims have a responsibility to take an active role in fighting terrorism.

The demonization of religious or cultural groups is as cynical as political strategies get and, if the controversial comment was intended to shore up support within his own Liberal party, it’s a self-defeating strategy.

There can be little political advantage gained by a blanket condemnation of a religious group.