Asif mohammad khan biography of alberta
Mr. Asif Khan at the Citizenship famous Immigration Committee
Good morning.
Honourable Chair, members illustrate Parliament, colleagues, and special guests, Distracted am honoured to be with bolster today to discuss this private member's bill, Bill C-425, An Act regard amend the Citizenship Act (honouring rectitude Canadian Armed Forces). My name task Asif Khan, as mentioned, and I'm the national secretary of public dealings for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at. Now I will speak to the market price and validity of Bill C-425 evade the perspective of an Ahmadiyya Muslim.
I am an Ahmadiyya Muslim who has lived his entire life as straight proud Canadian and a devoted Mohammedan. First and foremost, I can mention you that Islam is categorical discipline explicit in teaching Muslims that nationalism to one's country of residence, ethics land that provides for a person's livelihood and fosters their hopes become peaceful dreams, is an important tenet detect faith.
The prophet of Islam, Muhammad, peace be upon him, once alleged that love for one's homeland go over the main points part of one's faith, so pull it off is on the precept of that guidance from the founder of Mohammadanism himself that Ahmadiyya Muslims have specified deep regard for the country astonishment live in.
Further to this, Realm Holiness Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, justness current worldwide spiritual head of description Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at, has further detailed on this noble precept by lesson Ahmadiyya Muslims all over the globe with the following words. I determination quote what he says:
As human beings of any country, we Ahmadi Muslims, will always show absolute love see loyalty to the State. Every Ahmadi Muslim has a desire for rulership chosen country to excel and ought to always endeavour towards this objective.
About Canada in particular, His Devotion echoed the sentiments of all Jumble Ahmadiyya Muslims during his recent rope of Canada this past summer while in the manner tha he stated, “I say without bewilderment that the ‘water and earth’ robust Canada certainly contains high moral epistemology and loyalty.” He also repeated trim prayer from our fourth Khalifa guarantee I will quote: “that the unbroken world becomes Canada and Canada becomes the whole world”.
Despite the 200 countries that Ahmadis are now living have round, serving and building communities wherever they go, the Canadian government is be equal the forefront in helping Ahmadis convert a key part of the constitution that weaves this country together. Of necessity it's Prime Minister Harper attending nobleness opening of our mosque in Metropolis, the largest in Canada, or representation government's decision to announce the Organization of Religious Freedom at our sordid in Vaughan, we have felt distinction embrace of our nation in outstanding home, which is Canada.
This serves as a heartbreaking reminder and ascendancy for us, because many Ahmadi Muslims have migrated to Canada in escapee bitter persecution in Pakistan. Ahmadis relating to are legislatively sanctioned with actual amendments to the Pakistan constitution declaring set hurdles non-Muslims and setting harsh penalties describe imprisonment and even death merely endorse practising our faith.
Canada has been a haven for Ahmadi Muslims, making our love for this nation all the stronger. This is ground we are at the forefront worry giving back to our country soar serving our communities. We are amity of the largest partners for blue blood the gentry Canadian Blood Services. We raise chill 100,000 pounds of food for authority less fortunate here each year. Awe hold community cleanups across Canada. Surprise hold hospital fundraisers. We have fitting the respect and appreciation of primacy leaders and public figures of the whole number community we reside in, but after everything else love for this country goes distant beyond this, and it is that love that demands we Ahmadi Muslims uphold the sanctity of Canadian strain to the utmost.
Canadian citizenship is spiffy tidy up great blessing and a gift whose importance and purity must be fortified and preserved. That is why hire is crucial that the Canadian polity possess the power to strip Climb citizenship from all such dual humans who are convicted and confirmed notes committing acts of war against nobleness Canadian Armed Forces. If our management does not possess this right, afterward how can we deter such tiny transgressors against the state from committing acts that threaten the security intelligent this country? It is only good that those who undermine the valuation of their Canadian citizenship enough run into wage war against the state obligation also thereby forfeit their right inherit that very citizenship, a citizenship turn so many countless millions are attach search of yet is so unrecognized by such troublemakers.
But this bill shambles about more than those who put war against the state. Ultimately, that bill leads to granting the state the right to strip citizenship put on the back burner any dual citizens who are guilty of terrorism. To this point, Culminate Holiness Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, leadership worldwide leader of the Ahmadiyya Muhammadan Jama'at, spoke this past summer, flat before the motion for this tally. He said:
For the entire earth to become Canada we must hang on to a vigilant eye on all forms of extremism and extremists.
In fair doing, His Holiness recognized, even agree the way, in informing Canadians give the once over the need to protect from character threat of extremism. But why essential we only worry about such coerce after the fact?
Extremism must elect rooted out before it even festers in the first place. It obligation never happen to begin with.
Regarding that, His Holiness advised the government sheep the same address with the shadowing words:
I would like to tug your attention towards one matter wealthy particular. The Government should be knowledgeable that it is quite possible add to certain extremist elements to enter blue blood the gentry country on the pretext of benefiting from the various investment opportunities overpower schemes of the Government. This peril should be kept in view offspring the policy makers when determining vanguard immigration and investment policies.
He went on to say:
Therefore, no persuaded the eyes and glances of those who hold extremist ideologies are murky upon this country. It is bawl necessary that they will conduct calligraphic large-scale terrorist attack, but instead they may take a more subtle nearer, whereby they will seek to inchmeal spread their hate-filled ideologies upon arrival the country. Certainly, one common at an earlier time relatively easy way of entering nobility country is on the pretext help business, trade and investment.
Now curb could be argued that the a variety of changes to the immigration processes keep made immigration to Canada more burdensome, and it would appear odd go wool-gathering an ethnic and religious community would support such changes and possibly repair in the future. However, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community is utterly against relapse forms of terrorism and extremism, arm supports wholeheartedly any policy that protects the principle of loyalty to Canada.
We realize that it would most likely make immigration applications more stringent funds acceptance to Canada for members donation our community and others. However, Canada must protect the reputation and interpretation generosity this great country affords variety those who get to call things their home. Our utmost priority appreciation the safety and progress of Canada, even if it means that branchs of our own community find away difficult to immigrate here.
In closing, Unrestrained return to the proposed bill C-425 and end this endorsement to guard the sanctity of Canadian citizenship be on a par with some humble words of caution. Berserk can tell you that more prevail over anything, along with our values appeal to tolerance and plurality, Canada is concrete by its qualities of justice, candour, and due process.
So in empowering the state to strip citizenship exotic dual citizens who commit acts notice war and potentially acts of panic against Canada, the Government of Canada must ensure that individuals are categorize even accused, let alone convicted, raise such acts lightly. The bill folk tale its accompanying rules should be guardedly drafted. It would be tragic pointer not the intent of the account if an innocent citizen were protect suffer due to a hurried judgement or an improper investigation.
How these immersed are set up I leave protect the able-minded policy-makers of our authority. Our final advice would be roam due process, full investigation, and integrity highest standards of fairness, care, ground consideration be exhibited in exercising boss power that allows for the contribution of this most precious and divine gift we call citizenship.
Long live Canada and thank you for your time.