A R C H I V E S
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Urgent: Sander and Libel Law Suite filed agai |
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| amatullah |
| 04/21/03 at 11:23:37 |
| not sure if this belongs in the tree of hope or here or annoucements? Friends here is an important appeal asking for support for a well known Canadian activist Susan Howard Azzeh. She was attacked in the St. Catherines Standard newspaper in an article and "Protest March was the Worse Anti-Semitism" and then again in an editorial. Please send money to the Canadian Arab Federation Legal defense Fund to fight the charge that defending Palestinians is being anti-Semitic. Please send a contribution. RESTORE THE GOOD NAME OF SUSAN HOWARD-AZZEH ACCUSATION OF ANTI-SEMITISM OFTEN USED TO SILENCE CRITICISM OF <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />ISRAEL’S ACTIONS ? The “Canadian Arab Federation Legal Defense Fund” & “Friends of Susan Howard-Azzeh Committee” call upon your help to restore the good name of long-time human rights activist & Palestinian supporter, Susan Howard-Azzeh, after she was unjustly labeled an anti-Semite & holocaust denier in the St. Catharines Standard, April 20, 2002. At the time, the paper was owned by Izzy Asper’s CanWest Global Company. Ms. Howard-Azzeh’s reputation was permanently damaged and a promised fulltime executive position was lost as a result. A LAWSUIT UNDER THE SLANDER & LIBEL ACT has been launched against the Standard by Ms. Howard-Azzeh. This case CAN BE WON and MUST BE WON - for the benefit of all. Susan has helped so many people, especially with individual advocacy – now is the time we can help her. (Fundraising Information at Bottom of E-mail.) NEXT LEGAL PROCEEDING: April 30, 2003. BACKGROUND - END THE OCCUPATION RALLY - “In Memory Of Nidah” Susan Howard-Azzeh is a respected activist in the field of human rights, anti-racism and peace. She is married to a Muslim Palestinian. March 5, 2002 the Israeli military bulldozed the home of their little cousin Nidah Azzeh in the Azzeh Refugee Camp near Bethlehem, in the Israeli occupied territories of Palestine, while Nidah, her mother and sister were still inside. Nidah, who had just turned 13, ran out of the front door to get to safety. When Nidah appeared in the doorway, an Israeli soldier shot her in the head. She died instantly. Her funeral picture sits near Ms. Howard-Azzeh’s computer. Susan states, “In the photo Nidah looks like a little sleeping angel; you would not know she is dead.” In memory of Nidah, social justice activists, children, Canadians, Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims held a peaceful End the Occupation March and Rally in St. Catharines. Adult and child speakers called for an end to the illegal occupation and an end to the killing of both Palestinians and Israelis who are dying as a result of the occupation. Of 40 placards used in the march, the majority said, “End the Occupation”. Others said, “We Want Peace” or “Stop Killing Our Children.” One placard stated, “Sharon and Hitler are the same.” NEWS COVERAGE The next day, a Saturday, the top headline in the Standard proclaimed, “Protest March Was The Worst Anti-Semitism” and labeled marchers as “holocaust deniers”. The Standard followed with an editorial attacking the credibility of Ms. Howard-Azzeh. The Standard published more than a week of predominantly negative letters to the editor directed at Ms. Howard-Azzeh. A REPUTATION DESTROYED The article & editorial caused great damage to Ms. Howard-Azzeh’s solid reputation and health. She received hate mail, hate phone calls, computer viruses and social isolation. The Mayor called her into his office for an explanation. After 25 years of award-winning volunteer work, Ms. Howard-Azzeh had recently been promised a fulltime position as Executive Director of a local multicultural centre. The job paid $50,000. which she needed to pay tuition for 3 of her 4 children entering college and university in September, 2003. After the Standard headline, the position was given to someone else. “I WILL ALWAYS SPEAK THE TRUTH and STAND UP FOR JUSTICE” Statement published May 2002: Ms. Howard-Azzeh states “I and the marchers are not anti-Semites, holocaust deniers or anti-Jewish. I sympathize with the suffering of the Jewish people, especially during the holocaust, affirm the sanctity of all human life, and condemn the killing of both Palestinians and Israelis in the current Palestinian/Israeli crisis. Labeling anyone who disagrees with the policies & actions of Ariel Sharon & the Israeli government as anti-Semites & holocaust deniers is the worst form of censorship. It is very powerful and silences many people. It won’t silence me. I will always speak the truth & stand up for justice.” MS. HOWARD-AZZEH FIGHTS FAIRLY FOR ALL In addition to fighting for a variety of human rights causes, Ms. Howard-Azzeh lead the shut-down of the white supremacist neo-Nazi group, Heritage Front Niagara, and mobilized the community following the desecration of St. Catharines’ only Jewish cemetery. OTHERS UNJUSTLY LABELED AS ANTI-SEMITES: Eric Margolis, Toronto Sun; Neil McDonald, CBC; Father Robert Assaly, students at Concordia University. FINANCING FOR THREE PROJECTS We are in the process of raising $40,000. to $50,000. to cover legal costs for the lawsuit. Susan and her husband have contributed 1/5 of the costs. Ms. Howard-Azzeh is suing for $1 million dollars. A successful financial settlement will be allocated for legal costs, damages, and to three funds – one to projects aimed at ending the occupation, second to a freedom of the press without slander organization, and thirdly to finance other Arab/Muslim civil liberties court cases. JOIN OUR GROWING LIST OF DONORS AND ENDORSERS, FOR EXAMPLE: James Kafieh, President, Arab Canadian Civil Liberties Association $1,000.00; Dr. Yusef Haj-Ahmed, President Norgen Biotechnolgy Inc $700.00; Ahmed Motiar, Toronto $100.00; Shirley Hawley, St. Catharines $70.00; Shabban Basic,$50.00; Anonymous, Toronto $200.00; Dr. Sarah Danial, Psychiatrist, Niagara Falls $100.00; Belal Hassan, Grimsby $40.00. Flower sales & fundraiser, $500.00. Dr. Fuad Sahin, Islamic Society of Niagara Peninsula; Cyril Dabydeen, authour, lecturer Carleton University, past Race Relations Officer, Federation of Canadian Municipalities; Amnesty International Group 112; Dr. Arafat ElAshi, Director Muslim World League Canada; Jehad Aliwewi, past Executive Director Canadian Arab Federation; Mordecai Briemberg, Canada-Palestine Support Network, British Columbia; Father Robert Assaly, Canadian Friends of Sabeel; Malika Mounir, Multicultural Centre St. Catharines; Marlene Thomas-Osborne, Hamilton; Gen Storm; Ramzi Twal; Barry Joseph, New York City; Jon Cartu, Jewish member Niagara Region Human Rights Youth Council; Konstantin Kilibarda, Collaborative MA, International Relations and Political Science, University of Toronto, Toronto Coalition Against War and Racism , NRHRYC; Dr. Mohammed ElMasry, National President, Canadian Islamic Congress; Lisa Stevens; M. Mashal; Emilia Kovacs; Caroline Tilden; Dr. Abigail Bakan, Campaign to End the Occupation, Professor Political Science, Queen’s University; B.H. Yael, Coalition for a Just & Viable Peace in Palestine & Israel, Professor Ontario College of Art; Karrie Porter, Niagara Coalition Against War & Racism; Mughir al Hindi, Al-Awda-Canada Palestine Right of Return Coalition; more being added every day. CAF LEGAL DEFENSE FUND Any extra funds raised will be deposited in the “Canadian Arab Federation Legal Defense Fund” for future Civil Liberties Cases, administered by representatives of CAF (Raja Khouri), Niagara Palestinian Association (Burhan Azzeh), Palestine House (Elias Hazineh) and representatives of national human rights and faith organizations. DONATIONS MAY BE MAILED TO: CAF Legal Defense Fund, 1057 McNicoll Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M1W 3W6 or CAF Legal Defense Fund, Niagara Palestinian Association, Suite 112, 111 4th Ave, Ridley Square, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2S 3P5 MAKE CHEQUES PAYABLE TO: “CAF Legal Defense Fund” - Marked “SUSAN HOWARD-AZZEH CASE”. FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS CASE, PLEASE CONTACT: Mr. Raja Khouri at president@caf.ca or 416-493-8635, or Mr. Burhan Azzeh at niag_pal@yahoo.ca. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT !! CAF Legal Defense Fund and the Friends of Susan Howard-Azzeh Committee. CHALLENGE “No one should ever be subjected to the horrible abuse of a groundless allegation of anti-Semitism. [Izzy Asper and] the St. Catharines Standard should not be allowed to intimidate into silence activists who challenge Israel’s assault on the human rights of Palestinians. I wish you the best in your noble struggle for justice. Furthermore, ACCLA challenges all other Arab and Muslim Canadian organizations and individuals to match our donation of $1,000.00. Together we can raise the funds required to defend our community.” James Kafieh, President, Arab Canadian Civil Liberties Association. 416-529-6041 JK-CGM@hotmail.com . “Criticism of Israel, a brutal, repressive colonial regime…, is not anti-Semitism.” Dr. Sherene Razack, OISE, National Anti-racism Council Newsletter, December 2001. Thank you. Niagara Palestinian Association and Friends of Susan Howard-Azzeh Legal Defense Committee |
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