Situation in Sudan  That part of the world could be a powder keg, which could lead to ramifications down the line five or six years when we will look back and ask ourselves why we did not talk about this. In Somalia right now there is the insurgency of an Islamic movement. Just recently, there was an attack on the president of Somalia that probably could have cost him his life. One of the things we are failing to discuss is that we are not approaching our communities in Canada, be it the Sudanese Canadian community, the Ethiopian Canadian community, the Eritrean Canadian community or the Somali Canadian community.

Civil Marriage Act  But they are all greatly upset by this proposed legislation to recognize gays and lesbians as married couples, as it contradicts their religion and culture. Not only Hinduism, but also every other religion in the world, such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Taoism and Shamanism, disapprove of homosexual marriages. As members of the clergy family, I have had the opportunity to read about all the religions of the world.

Government Appointments  I think all in this House agree that all religions in the world are full of people of good faith and goodwill who want to see a better world. That is why we are working with the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to help clear that country of terrorist elements.

Foreign Affairs committee  This ought to be an absolute priority. At some other time, I would also like us to discuss Islam and China. Today, however, I would like to focus on the fact that democracy should be considered as a fundamental need for Latin America, Africa and some South Asian countries. We have all seen the polls on Latin America; what strikes me is that although the tangible benefits of democracy have been slow in coming, people's faith in it has not faltered.

Foreign Affairs committee  It has been internationalized by India, which made democracy its political system sixty years ago. Fragile democracies have now been established in large Islamic countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. Democracy has been established in all parts of the world, in all cultures of the world, in all spiritual and cultural traditions of the world. We can no longer do as we did 25, 30 or 50 years ago and export democracy.

Public Safety committee  Commissioner, in the post-9/11 environment, as you characterize it--and this false and misleading characterization was made before the actual detention by American authorities--if a characterization was made of a person of interest like Maher Arar to the effect that he was an Islamic extremist associated with the al-Qaeda terrorist movement, ought you to have known? It is not whether you knew, as you said you did not, but in the post-9/11 environment in your capacity as Commissioner of the RCMP, ought you to have known such a significant characterization was being made?

Public Safety committee  In particular, were you aware of the conveyance of the false and misleading information by RCMP officials to a U.S. authority that likely contributed to his removal, for example, that Maher Arar and his wife were Islamic extremists who were associated with the al-Qaeda terrorist movement, a characterization that, as the commission put it, would have disastrous consequences if so made as it was? Those are my questions to you, Commissioner.

Security Certificate Process  It demonstrates what can happen when information is faulty and not challenged appropriately. Mr. Arar was designated as part of an Islamic extremist group even though the description was inaccurate and without any basis. The current security certificate process is set up in a manner whereby a similar situation can occur.

Islamic Foundation of Toronto  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of the Islamic Foundation of Toronto, Canada's largest mosque, in responding to the earthquake in Kashmir. To date, the foundation has raised $414,000 to aid in the recovery of the region. Of course, with matched funding, that amount effectively doubles.

Emergency Management Act  They are also willing to engage in the same bloody-minded, violent actions against the west that have nothing to do with Islam whatsoever, nothing to do with religion and certainly nothing to do with any God of which I am aware. It is important that we continue. I hope the government, as the Liberals have tried to do, invests in intelligence and works with civil society in Canada, with affected communities, communities that have within them members who would engage in this behaviour.

Emergency Management Act  In fact, the Quran says very clearly that if a person saves one life, that person has saved the lives of humanity. If a person kills one person, that person kills humanity. Indeed, Islam and the Quran forbid anyone to take up arms against another and to hurt another. That is much misunderstood and is little known. We have to understand that the people who are utilizing religion and other propaganda to foment often violent sentiments against the west are warping, twisting and mutilating their religion for their own benefit.

National Defence committee  They're trying to drive us out of the south and create what I would call flippantly Pashtunistan, under a radical Islamic sort of caliphate structure, create this enclave that can't be assailed by the international community. That serves a number of purposes. It serves the Taliban's purpose of trying to gain some form of control or domination over the tribal groupings in the south on both sides of the border.

Maher Arar Inquiry  Speaker, Justice O'Connor's report makes it clear that what happened to Maher Arar was totally unacceptable. First, he was described as being an Islamic extremist--he and his family--with possible terrorist links. Then we learn from the report that false information was transmitted to U.S. authorities completely in violation of the RCMP's own rules.

Questions on the Order Paper  Speaker, in response to (a), prior to the signing of the arrangement between the Canadian Forces, on behalf of the Government of Canada, with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on 18 December 2005, Canadian Forces transferred detainees to U.S. authorities. There is no written arrangement on transfer of detainees between Canada and the United States of America.

Iran  Mr. Speaker, the president and leader of the Islamic regime in Iran today announced that Israel must be “wiped off the map”, and that a new wave of Palestinian attacks will destroy the Jewish state. He has gone on to say that anyone who recognizes Israel will “burn in the fire of Islamic fury”.