JAZIRI IN THE STREETS

Over 200 Muslims gathered on the corner of Sherbrooke and McGill College Saturday to protest cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad.

The protest, organised by Said Jaziri, Imam of the Al-Qods mosque, coincided with many similar protests across Canada, including one in Toronto, which drew more than 1 300 people. The protest in Montreal attracted a smaller crowd, as many Muslim leaders throughout the city spoke out against it. “While Canadian and Quebec Muslims share in the intense emotion and displeasure of their fellow Muslims the world over, we call upon them to address this most serious matter in a calm and constructive manner,” said Salam Elmenyawi at a news conference Thursday, fearing a repeat of the violence that has claimed over ten lives in similar protests across the world.

Jaziri, however, placed a strong emphasis on keeping the peace. “We are against all forms of violence. We are not savage. We are not barbarians”, Jazeri told the crowd.

“What we are really looking for is peace,” he said. Speaking to the crowd over a loudspeaker, he cautioned them to stay calm when a counter-protest began across the street.

One of the counter-protesters, Michel Brunelle, defended the printing of the cartoons as a matter of freedom of expression. “The only way democracy can survive in a country is through information,” he said. Brunelle knew, though, that the counterprotest could have easily led to violence.

“Self-censorship is good, at this point. We don’t want to throw fuel on the fire,” he said. When one protester asked him if he had the right to insult Brunelle’s parents, however, he responded immediately.

“Yes. Politeness is a matter of respect. You have the right to say what you want, and I have the right to say what I want. You don’t have to like it, you just have to respect my rights.” Some protesters, however, did not believe that the issue at hand had anything to do with civil liberties.

“Somebody printed these cartoons, and they are inflammatory. It’s not about freedom of expression, it’s about insult. That’s it,” said one protester, Omar, who did not wish to share his last name.

Despite their differences, there were no incidents of violence between the two groups of protesters. Only one arrest was made, when a man began shouting anti-Muslim statements before the protest had officially begun.

Jazeri, proud that there had been no incidents of violence, said that he received several threatening emails and phone calls prior to the protest. “They were saying ‘if you go out in the street, something bad will happen.’”

Even though the day passed by mostly without incident, though, some protesters do not feel that it was a success. “Because there was no violence, no one will remember. No one will care. It’s sad, but true,” said Omar, after the crowd had begun to dissipate.

Jazeri, on the other hand, was very proud of the day’s achievements. “We want to thank all Muslims and non-Muslims who came to the protest. We want to thank the media. We want to thank everyone for remaining peaceful.”