The mayors of Montreal and one of its boroughs say public safety is behind their decision to block a proposed Islamic community centre for followers of a controversial imam.
Moroccan-born Hamza Chauoi has been denied an operating licence for his proposed community centre at a site that is not zoned for public worship in Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, located in the city’s east end. The borough originally granted Chauoi a permit, but it was eventually revoked.
But Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre says the refusal is not a matter of religious freedom, but rather one of public safety and order.
"It has nothing to do with freedom of speech," Coderre said at a news conference Saturday morning. He described Chauoi as "an agent of radicalization and instigator of social tensions," adding that the imam has "his own agenda" for the site.
Real Menard, mayor of the borough Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, said he will not allow Chauoi to set up in his jurisdiction.
"I'm not going to have any move that will give a place to this imam," Menard said at the same news conference.
Chaoui has made inflammatory and sexist comments in the past. He has also declared Islam and democracy "completely" incompatible.
Coderre said he has no intention of labelling any one religion in particular, but said his focus is on fighting extremism.
He added that the city's lawyers are "ready to rumble" if Chaoui decides to sue.
"We feel solid, if ever there are legal proceedings. Our role is to govern and to make sure to have a balance between openness and vigilance," Coderre said.
Coderre added that he could have stepped in to block the community centre under city laws on the grounds that it would cause "disturbances to the public order.”
Community members in Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve commended the mayors for their decision to block the building of the community centre.
But Victor Muniz-Fraticelli, a law professor at McGill University, questioned whether the city could deny Chaoui a permit.
"They may be things we object to on political and philosophical grounds, but they do not seem to constitute a crime in themselves," said Muniz-Fraticelli.
“They’re effectively restricting freedom of religion and freedom of assembly for the content of that speech,” he added.
The Montreal mayor also came out in support of the anti-terrorism bill introduced by the Conservative government on Friday.
Bill C-51 puts forth several measures, including giving new powers to Canada's spy agency, CSIS, to interfere with suspected terrorists' activities on Canadian soil.
With files from the Canadian Press
