2008/05/18

'Behead the Prime Minister'

Authorities Asked to Consider Reasonable Bail Terms and Re-examination of Solitary Confinement for 'Toronto 11'


- For Immediate Release -

(Ottawa, Canada - April 22, 2008) - In an open letter, the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN) in partnership with the Canadian Arab Federation (CAF), Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC), Federation of Muslim Women (FMW), Islamic Ahlul Bayt Assembly of Canada, Islamic Circle of North America Canada (ICNA Canada), Islamic Society of North America Canada (ISNA Canada) and Muslim Association of Canada (MAC), along with an additional 11 organizations, today asked authorities to consider reasonable bail terms and re-examine the use of solitary confinement for the "Toronto 11."

In the letter the 19 organizations wrote:

Subject: Authorities asked to consider reasonable bail terms and re-examine solitary confinement for 'Toronto 11'

April 22, 2008

During the week of April 14, 2008, charges against four more of the "Toronto 18" were stayed. Along with the three men who were previously released, the case of the "Toronto 18" has now been whittled down to the "Toronto 11."

As representatives of Canada's Muslim communities, we are committed to Canada's security, while also ensuring that due process and civil liberties are respected. Thus, in consideration of the public knowledge we have of the cases, and the impact the proceedings have had on the accused and their families, we are requesting an end to solitary confinement and that their right to reasonable bail be seriously considered.

Citizens of conscience, including Canada's Muslims, are deeply concerned about the status of each of the remaining 11 men still facing trial. It appears that our government, intelligence and law enforcement agencies have cast an extremely "wide net" in their quest to catch criminals and terrorists in the wake of the Sept. 11 tragedies. As a direct result, innocent persons continue to be harassed, interrogated, detained, arrested and incarcerated. The reputations of many have been smeared and lives reduced to tatters.

This phenomenon has been exemplified in the cases of Maher Arar and Project Thread. The Arar case, as citizens are aware, resulted in a public inquiry and Mr. Arar's complete exoneration. In the less well-known Project Thread case, 24 South Asian men were wrongly labelled as terrorists. They had their lives turned upside down. Ultimately, despite the media circus, no terror related or criminal charges were even laid. Most were deported on minor immigration offences.

It is now clear that the lives of seven more men and boys and their families have been irreparably harmed. Initially assumed to be part of the "Toronto 18" plot, some of these men and boys have, as a result, spent nearly two years of their lives in jail. The majority were held in solitary confinement for 23½ hours a day. They have now been released and charges against them stayed.

Balancing the pursuit of law, order, peace and security with the protection of individual human rights and civil liberties is a difficult task, especially when the balancing process involves individuals who may be unpopular. Are we, as a society, prepared to suspend basic rights, such as freedom of association and the presumption of innocence, in the name of anti-terrorism?

Ten of the initial "Toronto 18" remain incarcerated pending trial. Three men continue to be held in solitary confinement. Extreme isolation, conditions more severe than the majority of Canada 's convicted murderers and rapists are subject to, is hardly appropriate for persons who have not been found guilty by our justice system. Perhaps it is time that the use of solitary confinement in the case of the Toronto 11 be re-evaluated, especially given its extensive use in the cases of the seven who were recently released.

Like any other individual who is subject to the operation of the law, each of the remaining accused have the right to be granted reasonable bail terms, as the court deems appropriate. This Charter right should be seriously considered, especially if strong sureties are provided to ensure that bail conditions will be fully respected.

It is in this spirit that we respectfully submit that the rights of the remaining accused be given every consideration and protection under the law. We respectfully request that the use of solitary confinement for the Toronto 11 be re-evaluated. Finally, having regard to all of the circumstances, we respectfully ask that their requests for bail be given the fullest consideration.

Sincerely,

Ihsaan Gardee
Director of Community Relations
Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations
CAIR-CAN


On behalf of:

Canadian Arab Federation (CAF)
Canadian Coalition for Peace and Justice
Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CAN)
Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC)
Canadian Muslim Civil Liberties Association (CMCLA)
Canadian Muslim Forum (FMC-CMF)
DawaNet Canada
Federation of Muslim Women (FMW)
Islamic Ahlul Bayt Assembly of Canada
Islamic Circle of North America Canada (ICNA Canada )
Islamic Society of North America Canada (ISNA Canada )
Islamic Society of Toronto
Muslim Community Council of Ottawa-Gatineau (MCCOG)
Muslim Council of Montreal (MCM)
Muslim Association of Canada (MAC)
Ottawa Muslim Association (OMA)
Salaheddin Islamic Centre
South-Western Ontario Muslim Students' Association
Young Muslims Canada

http://www.montrealmuslims.ca/module-pagesetter-viewpub-tid-7-pid-2023.html


=//Turnquest

2008/05/06

Antipsychotics

Antipsychotic drug use soaring in kids in U.K.

Last Updated: Monday, May 5, 2008 | 11:04 AM E

American children take antipsychotic medicines at about six times the rate of children in Britain, a new U.K. study suggests.

Does it mean U.S. kids are being over-treated, or that British children are being under-treated?

Experts say that's almost beside the point, because use is rising on both sides of the Atlantic. And with scant long-term safety data, it's likely the drugs are being over-prescribed for both American and British children, research suggests.

Among the most commonly used drugs were those to treat autism and hyperactivity.

In the U.K. study, antipsychotics were prescribed for 595 children at a rate of less than four per 10,000 children in 1992. By 2005, 2,917 children were prescribed the drugs at a rate of seven per 10,000 — a near-doubling, said lead author Fariz Rani, a researcher at the University of London's pharmacy school.

The study is being released Monday in the May edition of the journal Pediatrics.

By contrast, an earlier U.S. study found that nearly 45 American children out of 10,000 used the drugs in 2001, versus more than 23 per 10,000 in 1996.

There are big differences that could help explain the vastly higher U.S. rate.

A recent report in The Lancet suggested that the U.K.'s universal health-care system limits prescribing practices there. The report also said direct-to-consumer ads are more common in the United States. These ads raise consumer awareness and demand for medication.

While drug company ties with doctors are common in both the U.S. and U.K., Vanderbilt University researcher Wayne Ray said British physicians generally are more conservative about prescribing psychiatric drugs. Ray co-authored the U.S. study, published in 2004.

Drugs have powerful side-effects

The new U.K. study, involving 1992-2005 health records of more than 16,000 children, is the first large examination of these drugs in British children. It found the increase was mostly in medicines that haven't been officially approved for kids. They were most commonly prescribed for behaviour and conduct disorders, which include attention deficit disorder.

Side-effects including weight gain, nervous-system problems and heart trouble have been reported in children using these drugs and there's little long-term evidence about whether they're safe for them, the study authors said.

"This highlights the need for long-term safety investigations and ongoing clinical monitoring," they said, "particularly if the prescribing rate of these medicines continues to rise."

One of the most commonly used antipsychotics in the U.K. study was Risperdal, a schizophrenia drug that is sometimes used to treat irritability and aggression in autism. Its side-effects include drowsiness and weight gain.

Thioridazine, sometimes used to treat hyperactivity in those diagnosed with attention deficit disorder, was frequently used early on. Its use decreased after 2000 when a U.K. safety committee warned of heart-related side-effects, the authors said.

Reasons for the increases are uncertain but may be similar to those in the United States, such as an increase in autism cases and drug industry influence.

In both countries, the issue isn't simply how many children are getting these drugs, said Dr. David Fassler, a University of Vermont psychiatry professor. "The more important question is whether or not the right kids are getting the most appropriate and effective treatment possible," he said. Fassler wasn't involved in the study.

Dr. William Cooper, a Vanderbilt pediatrician, said the study shows the drugs are being used "without full understanding about the risks."

"I find it really interesting that we're now seeing increases in other countries besides the U.S., which suggests that the magnitude of this issue is global," said Cooper, also an author of the 2004 U.S. study.

Excerpted from :
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/05/05/antipsychotic-drugs.html

Worth reading the comments too.

=//Turnquest

2008/05/02

The Source of Distress

Most of the personal stress that average Muslims face in their everyday life does not come from work, school, family relations or self-esteem issues but rather from a more nuanced, often overlooked source. Simply put, Western Muslims struggle with balancing the demands of religious and secular life. Of course, this struggle also extends to people of other faiths but this column's focus lies specifically with Muslims.

Individual examples are plentiful. "Is this outfit too revealing or immodest?" "How can I politely ask the waiter if the food has anything haraam in it?" "Should I shake the hand of the co-worker of the opposite sex?" "Where can I make salat without attracting too much attention or getting distracted?" Often, these moments become so frequent that we learn to ignore them and forget to see them for what they really are
tests of faith.

The central problem we all face is: how can one stay true to one's inner faith and beliefs while adapting to the external demands of culture and society? Should one even try to compromise one's beliefs in order to accomodate what Muslims consider the shallow, vain and materialist nature of modern life? This line of questioning holds the answer within itself.

We as Western Muslims deal with the very real problem of living in the midst of a dominant culture that doesn't share our views. Not only is it not easy but it can also be fairly aggravating having to constantly explain to others why you have to pray, why you wear a hijab, why you don't eat pork...the list goes on.

Yet at the same time, the vast majority of us finds it awkward and rather extreme to try avoiding society altogether. Modern humans weren't meant to stay at home all the time except for Friday trips to the mosque. We have jobs, we like movies and music, we go shopping and attend school. We eat at restaurants and hang out with our friends. Heck, some of us even feel a need to contribute to society (gasp!).
With the benefit of full bellies, free primary education, internet access (if you don't have internet access, I'd like to know how you're managing to read this blog) and freedom from oppression, us Western Muslims happen to prefer the advantages of living here as opposed to "over there."

Striking the right balance between avoiding sin and not completely alienating ourselves from the rest of society is a touchy matter. It is not as easy as some shakyhs think (nor as difficult as some friends think) to refuse an invitation to an after work get-together at a bar with co-workers. Nor is it easy to find one's self in the MSA room longing for some peace after a hard day of studying receiving criticism about one's choice of outfit for that day. No-one is exactly alike in the personal lines we draw for ourselves. Some of us choose to eat non-halal food. Others won't even bother to explain themselves to others questioning them about their beard or why they put their feet in the bathroom sink.

When it all comes down to it, what we are essentially trying to do is please two masters. One is Allah swt. We know we should definitely obey Him. The other is "society," a concept that in Western intellectual thought is still relatively new. Merely proving the existence of something as abstract and undefinable as society would be a difficult task. Do the people who live on the other side of town whom you will never meet or interact with have any effect on your life? Maybe in the slightest most indirect of ways, but realistically, no.

As all of us have had strummed into our heads from an early age the truth that there is one God. Not two, not one-and-a-half, not zero. One. It's the fundamental truth of not just Islam, but , well, everything. Diverting our absolute focus away from God in this temporary life would be like trying to drive a car while painting your nails. You're asking for trouble. Muslims in general have got to resist the temptation to compromise our inner taqwa, our most valuable gift, for society's benefit because any attempt to divide our minds, hearts or souls would be at our own loss.


Anyone with a brain can tell you that we are living in difficult times. This generation is challenged with poverty, debt, conflicted identity and ever-changing political and social realities. Often, these hardships bring us to the breaking point.
Relationships with others can seem out of reach. Alienation and depression cloud over our view and the light on the horizon becomes dim. Nevertheless, we as Muslims must keep faith. Though the phrase may seem naive and narrowminded, understand this: God knows what you know not.

To sum up, you will not be cursed to the depths of Hell for moderation or reasonable compromise in your daily activities. That reality does not represent carte blanche to run amok and commit tons of sins. There are very real and specific lines that should not be crossed if your religion means anything to you. Above all is your belief in tauhid. Strengthen this belief, maintain your salat and stay away from the major sins and you will surely begin to see the struggle between East and West in its proper context. Enduring this facet of this temporary dunya is a small price to pay for the eternal pleasure of Allah swt.

=//Turnquest