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In this small "clarification" on page 2 of today's National Post, you will see a reference to "Naiyer Habib of British Columbia". This is the first reference in any newspaper to Mr Habib in relation to the Canadian Islamic Congress suits against Maclean's. So who is he? Well, he's one of the two "complainants" (or plaintiffs) in the suits. Mohamed Elmasry is the sole complainant in the federal case, and in the British Columbia trial, which begins next month, the only two complainants are Elmo and Mr Habib.
This isn't hard to find out. So why do the Canadian media - including tonight's edition of "The Agenda" (see below) - persist in booking the Sock Puppet Three instead of Mr Habib?
Who is Naiyer Habib? He's a cardiologist in Abbotsford and the BC board director for the Canadian Islamic Congress. He was the former head of cardiology for the Regina Health District in Saskatchewan until he quit suddenly in 2001. He was also the president of the Islamic Association of Saskatchewan and "Muslims for Peace and Justice", in which capacity he appeared on the CBC and released public statements. He made this comment in response to the recent edition of NPR's "On The Media" on this subject:
Why such inflammatory ongoing majority publication against Muslims and putting forward a defence to have freedom of speech.
Why such inflammatory ongoing? Who can say? Dr Habib has also commented on this case at The Guardian, so it seems odd that he's such a shrinking violet only in his own country. Still, the fact remains: He's the plaintiff in the BC trial beginning on June 2nd, and the Sock Puppets aren't. Why isn't Steve Paikin booking Naiyer Habib? You'd think the good doctor would relish the opportunity. After all, as he says here a propos Franklin Graham and other "toads in the well" (as he puts it):
They have no guts as I have commented in other media to face Scholars on Islam.
Well, I certainly have the "guts" to face Dr Habib. Unfortunately, no Canadian TV producers have the guts to book him.
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