Canada ‘trash radio’ under fire after mosque attack

QUEBEC CITY: In the wake of recent carnage at a Quebec City mosque, the Canadian province’s popular conservative talk radio hosts have come under fire for allegedly spreading intolerance and hate. Critics say the talk shows fuel a divisive climate that allows extreme ideologies to take root and flourish-a claim that has taken on heightened relevance after a gunman with far-right sympathies opened fire on Muslim worshippers, killing six and wounding eight more.

While not pointing a finger at any particular person or organization, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard emphasized Tuesday that “words do matter.” Residents of Quebec City tend to vote more conservatively than the rest of the province. Some say that radio stations like local FM93 and Radio X-which are respectively the region’s second and third-most listened to in the region, with a combined 30 percent market share-simply reflect their audience’s views. But others say the shows stoke dangerous beliefs.

“These are right-wing talk radio stations with little substance but a lot of opinions,” said Stephane Leman-Langlois, a criminologist at Laval University, where the alleged shooter studied. These “trash radio” stations, as they have become known locally, “contribute to legitimize increasingly adversarial discourse against minorities in general and Muslims in particular,” he said. They tout “white supremacy, white victimology and repeat over and over that Quebec is in grave danger.”

Station managers did not respond to requests for an interview. There is no indication that the suspect arrested in connection to the attack at the Quebec City mosque on Sunday listened to these radio stations. His online activities, however, suggest that he supports political leaders including Republican US President Donald Trump and French farright politician Marine Le Pen. Muslims in the Canadian province lay the blame for rising Islamophobia squarely at the foot of local right-wing talk radio. Some stations “have made it their mission to increase distrust and hate of Muslims,” said Mohamed Yangui, head of the Islamic cultural center and mosque that was attacked.

‘Spokesperson for racism’

“Their comments are often over the top and blundering,” said Leman-Langlois, recalling a one-hour episode last fall in which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was said to be an agent of the Muslim Brotherhood determined to Islamize Canada. “There is really an examination of conscience to do on the part of these radio stations.” His words echo media research group Project J, which has called on the stations to take a hard look at themselves and reflect on how they cover communities-”Muslims in particular.” —AFP