Mr. Speaker, several representatives of the Arab and Muslim community are here today to express their appreciation for the country that welcomed them, in which they now hold full citizenship, and their deep desire to play a positive role in Canadian life.
I know that, like Christianity, Islam is a religion that teaches love for one's neighbour, forgiveness and human solidarity.
Media reports of certain world events often paint a negative, unfair picture of Islam, portraying it as a religion associated with extremists and terrorists.
We need to remember that many Muslims in Canada fled regimes that had misrepresented Islam's fundamental values, or are the children of immigrants who fled such regimes. They looked for freedom and true respect for those values, and they found that here. Like us, they want to perpetuate those values.
The Arab and Muslim community can count on the Bloc Québécois to fight against any prejudice that could prevent it from flourishing and enriching our society.