December 8, 2006
There they go again. In the latest evidence that Canada's far-left leanings has careened out of control, Canadian Immigration a few days ago denied entry into the country by one Walid Shoebat.
Shoebat was there to speak specifically on the dangers of the growing Islamic terrorist movement, at the Simon Weisenthal Center in Ottawa on the evening of Dec 6 and in Montreal Dec 7. Both of these engagements had long been scheduled. Shoebat is a reknowned anti-terrorism, pro-West speaker and author; he is most noted for his book on his own experiences, [i]Why I Left Jihad[/i].
Shoebat was planning to speak on his former life as an Islamist extremist terrorist in Lebanon over 20 years ago, and his transformation to peace activist and anti-jihadist. Shoebat has visited Canada four times since 2004 - most recently on September 10 of this year - to speak at various venues, do interviews for Canadian newspapers, and has appeared on Canadian television as a guest pundit. There was no resistance at any of these occasions to his entering Canada.
But he was stopped from entering the country this time, by Canadian immigration personnel, who cited his involvement in terrorism - some 20 years ago.
Shoebat's representative, Keith Davies, who is director of the Walid Shoebat Foundation, told the press shortly after the incident, ""The refusal by the Canadian authorities to let Walid Shoebat in the country shows the absurd policies of immigration officials . . . Mr. Shoebat is trying to educate people about the dangers of terrorism, but is refused entry because he has admitted to his involvement in terror over 20 years ago".
Given that Shoebat was not stopped before, and is in fact welcome in the U.S. and around the world, where he is considered a noted humanitarian and peace-activist, one must wonder what the real agenda of the Canadian officials was. Davies voiced the question many have in the wake of the entry denial: "Why should the Canadian authorities want to silence his important message?"
For more information on Walid Shoebat, visit The Walid Shoebat Foundation at
