Amira Elghawaby

What a difference a day makes: The reframing of Canadian Muslims has begun

Published by The Globe and Mail

October 22, 2015

Women in headscarves are smiling everywhere. They are in the subway station in Montreal with brightly coloured headgear and cell phones to match. They are at a rally in Ottawa, up close with the prime-minister-designate as they snap selfies that will trend on Twitter. They are walking with their heads held just a little higher, returning smiles offered by random passersby.

URL: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/what-a-difference-a-day-makes-the-reframing-of-canadian-muslims-has-begun/article26935667/

Supremacist Attitudes Are A Universal Enemy

Published by National Council of Canadian Muslims

April 25, 2016

OTTAWA—Is it time for a blanket condemnation of all future terrorist acts committed in the name of Islam, occurring anywhere in the world, to be featured on the front page of every Muslim organization’s website? Or perhaps, every Muslim should permanently pin an expression of horror and an accompanying plea of solidarity on their social media accounts. Don’t misunderstand: the horror, the pain, the solidarity—all of it is real and authentic. But so is the frustration at the expectation that when criminals commit despicable acts of terrorism under the pretext of religion, Muslims everywhere should say something to assure everyone that they don’t support those views.

URL: http://www.nccm.ca/supremacist-attitudes-are-a-universal-enemy/

So who says Muslims can’t be both devout and patriotic?

Published by iPolitics

April 28, 2016

Social media was buzzing this week over a new Environics poll of Canadian Muslims. It should have served to dismiss a lot of poisonous misperceptions out there about matters of loyalty and belonging in Muslim communities. Instead, the initial media coverage ended up angering many. CBC’s original headline acknowledged some of the good news — but somehow still managed to frame the results in a negative light: “Muslim Canadians love Canada, but faith more important to their identity: survey”.

URL: http://ipolitics.ca/2016/04/28/so-who-says-muslims-cant-be-both-devout-and-patriotic/

Opinion: Recent polls show a need to stand up for multiculturalism

Published by The Montreal Gazette

December 28, 2014

My dad recently retired from the federal public service after spending over three decades serving this country. His job was to make sure that Canadian-made airplanes were as safe as possible. He was celebrated for his dedicated service by his colleagues and staff upon his retirement. Accolades came in from international safety agencies and aerospace corporations from around the world.

URL: http://montrealgazette.com/news/national/opinion-recent-polls-show-a-need-to-stand-up-for-multiculturalism

Can Canada strike proper balance on rights and security?

Published by The Toronto Star

April 25, 2016

Public safety is paramount to living in a functioning democracy. It’s why governments around the world are committed to ensuring their citizens are protected from those who would do them harm. However, in the frightening days following 9/11 and in the years since then western governments have struggled, and at times failed, at both safeguarding public safety and protecting the freedoms they are ostensibly fighting for. With Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale currently embarking on a sweeping review of national security policy in Canada, and promising to consult with communities and civil society, now is an opportune moment to raise critical issues that have been neglected or bungled for too long.

URL: https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/04/25/can-canada-strike-proper-balance-on-rights-and-security.html

Children banned from flying? Sadly, it’s not that uncommon

Published by The Globe and Mail

January 8, 2016

Sharing vacation stories makes returning to the humdrum of life more bearable, especially for school-age children who eagerly retell their family’s holiday adventures...

URL: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/children-banned-from-flying-sadly-its-not-that-uncommon/article28059610/

A women's rights champion is arrested and jailed. What will Canada do?

Published by The Globe and Mail

June 23, 2016

The first time I encountered Canadian-Iranian anthropologist Homa Hoodfar was during a small, intimate talk she gave to students at Carleton University. It was the late 1990s, and she was there to discuss her then-recent book, Between Marriage and the Market: Intimate Politics and Survival in Cairo.

URL: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/a-womens-rights-champion-is-arrested-and-jailed-what-will-canada-do/article30571799/

Amira Elghawaby: The devastating cost of securing our skies

Published by The Ottawa Citizen

July 29, 2015

Who pays the price for a highly-secretive security regime intended to protect North Americans who travel by air? As the Supreme Court of Canada’s ruling in the Latif v. Bombardier case last week illustrates, sometimes it is innocent bystanders who take the hit: paying with their reputations, livelihoods, and freedoms. Their crime is that they have the wrong name, and often the wrong ethnic, religious, or racial profile.

URL: http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/amira-elghawaby-the-devastating-cost-of-securing-our-skies