Mohammad Shafia, front left, Tooba Yahya, front right, and their son Hamed Shafia, back left, are escorted at the Frontenac County courthouse in Kingston, Ontario on Saturday, January 28, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
The Shafia murder trial has returned a verdict, and to no great surprise the jury has found Mohammad Shafia, 58, his second wife Tooba Mohammad Yahya, 42, and their son Hamed, 21, guilty of four counts of first-degree murder. They now begin a long, and we hope a horrible, next part of their life behind bars.
Much has already been written about the Shafia honour killings, but the ugly argument about culture clash has barely been allowed to surface. Though media publish the facts of the case and invite commentary, they are quick to delete and close commenting when Canadians begin to express their feelings. In that way the truth remains largely hidden, and that’s not a good thing for Canada because we desperately need to discuss it.
What sort of people are we letting into Canada that would consider doing such a thing? Is this the sort of Canada we want in the future? And if not, why are we not doing more to stop these kinds of people from bringing their warped, twisted sense of morality with them?
A few people have said that these sorts of immigrants should leave their barbaric views at home where it belongs. But even that opinion is a relativist one. Why should the third world be subjected to this kind of misogynistic tyranny? Is it ok to murder your family members for honour provided you’re beyond the borders of Canada?
There’s an even more unsettling thought to this case. In the rare instances in which a Shafia-type family actually acts on their barbaric ideals, how many find more non-violent means to coerce their family members in complying with their dishonourable notions of honour? How many women are abused behind the smiling, glossy-coloured magazine faces depicting Canada’s multicultural mosaic?
What’s more disturbing than the fact that there are people who would do this to their own daughters, is that such people who harbour such views even want to live in Canada. One is reminded of our most infamous Canadian family of convenience, the Khadrs, who immigrated here in order to exploit our own freedoms and generosity and use it against us. The Shafias are little different than the Khadrs.
For unless you despise Canada, why would you act so contrary to its nature? Why would you even want to come to Canada, where women are free to choose their own mates and make their own decisions in life, unless you intend to somehow change it?
Nobody wants to stop and think about immigration and the shifting demographics for fear the discussion is inherently racist. We are rapidly shifting from a Christian nation of European descendants, to one that is populated by South Asians, North Africans and people from the Middle East. That is a fact that is objectively neither good nor bad. The question one should ask next is whether there are negative consequences to these changes, and if so, what are they?
Well, the most obvious one is staring us in the face. If there are Islamic zealots in our midst, is it likely that the sort of incidents like the Shafia murders would become more common as we invite immigrants from Islamic countries? Or is this merely an aberration in a statistical average in which most Muslims follow the spirit and the letter of the law?
Who knows? But what is clear is that these new cultures have, in certain parts of Canada, decided to make their customs welcome. There are examples of Muslim women creating women-only swimming classes and salons and classrooms. This segregation may have a superficially friendly explanation, but it demonstrates a disinclination to conform to Canadian customs and modern attitudes.
Some people don’t seem to care about how Canada changes, since our nation relies on immigration for population growth, and hence can only become the face of those we allow in. And if that means a new majority decides to make certain customs and traditions a Canadian staple, so be it. This would be not unlike the sort of attitude that led to entire streets in France becoming impromptu prayer mats five times a day. And if that’s the sort of Canada you want, then by all means let’s not have a discussion about any of this.
If, however, you prefer that the country retain the sorts of values inherited by our founding European, Christian forebears, it would behove us to have a frank talk about who’s arriving at Pearson International Airport every single day, and what they’re bringing with them.
“What kind of Canadians murder for honour you ask“?
Simple: The immigrants and refugees our liberal (oops did I say that ‘bout PM Harpless) government allows in this country by the hundreds of thousands each year who come directly from countries that either support, sponsor and or endorse terrorism!
Lets not forget about our little Canadian child terrorist omar khadr who will be back HOME anytime soon!
Until we elect an actual conservative government that will stand up for the rights of Canadians, Canadian traditions and values this will continue!
Excellent post. The purpose of using the label racist is to silence dissent and debate, and we must not allow this to happen. The main reason is that the problem has nothing whatsoever to do with race, but it has everything to do with culture and values. People can be every skin colour under the sun and at the same time share a common culture and values. The danger is an immigration policy that does not take into account profoundly different cultures and values, and we are beginning to reap the results of such foolishness. I should add that while some cultures may be different, they are nonetheless compatible with western liberal democracy, while others are simply incompatible from start to finish.
I still can’t understand why so many media organizations invite website comments and then delete them when they get an answer they don’t like.
I trust you have submitted this to the NP for consideration?
Yes, we need a national discussion on this. Who will have the means and the will to provide a forum for it?
Once again, an excellent article, Adrian. You’re starting to make it a habit.
It is indeed puzzling that the liberal “progressives” in Canada have appeared to favour Islamic / Muslim immigration from countries who are openly hostile to Western cultures and customs while at the same time limiting Christian immigration.
Common sense would say to severely limit Muslim immigration in favour of cultures Christian, Hindu , Chinese which at the cultural level do not openly hate Western culture as do the likes of the Shafia’s.
Do these liberals / progressives harbour such a deep disdain for Western culture that they are willing to dilute and destroy it with barbarian cultures from openly hostile countries ?
… it certainly appears this way.
Well written literate reasoned post.
I fully agree, too boot.
We need to say it loud and clear: in Canada, REAL parents would die for their daughters, not kill them.
QUOTE, Adrian: ” I still can’t understand why so many media organizations invite website comments and then delete them when they get an answer they don’t like. ”
Liberal guilt, useful idiots, political correctness and their idea that they have a monopoly of what is just fair and right …… lets add media bias maybe ?
Lets say that a country had a religious and cultural tradition of cannibalism, would we be racist bigots not wanting them to emigrate to Canada ? Primitive Honour killings are not far removed from that extreme and incompatible with our values and laws.
I have no problem accepting Muslims who emigrate here to escape religious tyranny but I don’t want to have the ones wanting to import those values to this country.
Where oh where are our supposed feminists on this issue? MIA as usual! They are silent about everything that has the slightest tinge of pink and why haven’t they dusted off the 40 year old, bra burning rallies megaphone for any of these compromised women? The silence is deafening. They are completely useless and extremely over-rated.
AS for the media chat sites, what exactly are they afraid of? I think they are afraid that this has awakened the silent majority,those sick and tired of the crap and this case has empowered them to speak on a Sunday afternoon.
Many of these media outlets have methodically participated in nurturing the sort of behaviour and beliefs that allowed this crime to occur.
Based on some of the comments that I have read, I would guess that those outlets are taking a ton of criticism and as we all know, ‘they can’t handle the truth’!
Great post, Adrian!
Actually, I’ve heard a few comments from feminists to the effect that domestic violence is an issue in every society and culture and this is no different… blah blah blah
Great article Adrian. For a change we din’t bend over backwards to appease Islam. Refreshing.
Great post Adrian. Agree with Bec, where are the feminists?
francis. you are right. real canadians would die for their children not kill them. islam is a blight on the planet. read the koran and hadiths and you will see the evil that is islam.
I think that it is important to note that while in certain sects of Islam honour killings are not unusual, the practice of honour killings is not restricted to Islam. Shikhs, and Hindus also have a warped sense of family honour. This doesn’t take away from the heinous crime these three committed in any way but fair is fair. Canada needs be careful what it drags home. If nothing else this puts the lie to the old Liberal chestnut about humanity being ‘good’.
Would we invite cannibals into Canada? Yes. We invite all to come on the assumption that they wish to become Canadians. If we then fail to help them shed their old ways, whose fault is that? The basic Christian premise is that we don’t write people off until they demonstrate that they are incorrigible – like Khadrs and Shafias.
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yessirree, adrian… canadian my ass… when are people just gonna say it out loud?
you know, like…
“As Licia Corbella wrote in an excellent article in the Calgary Sun, Gharbi/ Lepine was “Not one of us”. He wasn’t a hunter, farmer or gun collector, but the product of an abusive, misogynistic father. “
and, fwiw, an abusive, misogynistic muslim father.
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A planned (even if it went wrong) murder, involving a father,
and/and a son and/and wife, of three daughters and another wife all at once is not exactly what is commonly understood as domestic violence. To not get that means one is excusing not trying to understand.
Mark
Ottawa
They come here because the Saudis finance almost all i$lamic immigration. The Caliphate and all…