Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ADVT 
National

Muslim Woman Makes Peace With Halifax Police Officer Who Made Islamophobic Comments

The Canadian Press, 11 May, 2018 12:26 PM
    HALIFAX — A Muslim activist says she has made peace with a Halifax police officer who made Islamophobic comments on social media.
     
     
    Rana Zaman complained to police after seeing an officer's comments on a change.org petition aimed at stopping a Calgary swimming pool from hosting a nude swim this winter.
     
     
    The officer, using his own name, suggested it was an attempt by "mussies" — an offensive term for Muslims — to find child sexual abuse victims.
     
     
    Zaman filed a formal complaint with police in February, and asked to meet with the officer.
     
     
    She also posted a screen shot of the comment, with the officer's name and picture blacked-out. Zaman told commenters she did not want to reveal the officer's identity because she felt it would start a "witch hunt" that would hurt innocent people like the man's family members.
     
     
    "My heart does not want to have this person fired or degraded in any way," Zaman wrote, "but seeks the opportunity to speak with him and perhaps others of the police force who may share similar sentiments."
     
     
    Zaman met with the officer, as well as several police department heads. She said he was immediately regretful about his comments and even broke into tears.
     
     
    "It was heart-wrenching," Zaman said in a phone interview.
     
     
    Zaman said she quickly learned the officer had been dealing with personal issues and, in his formal apology, alluded to dealing with a "personal loss" at the time.
     
     
    She said there is no excuse for the officer's words, but there are reasons why people lash out in hurtful language.
     
     
    "That comment is coming out of pure anger, and there's something behind it, there's pain and anger behind that comment," Zaman said.
     
     
    The meeting, organized by Constable Amit Parasram, the Halifax force's equity and diversity officer, prompted a letter of apology from the officer as well as ongoing discussions about tolerance and acceptance on the force.
     
     
    Constable Carol McIsaac confirmed that Zaman filed a complaint and the issue was settled "informally," outside the involvement of the Nova Scotia Police Board. But due to the disciplinary nature of the complaint, she said she could not speak to how the conflict was resolved.
     
     
    "We take diversity very seriously and we took the nature of this complaint very seriously," McIsaac said in a phone interview. "We continue to work with Ms. Zaman to create broad opportunities for enhanced dialogue and to help shape our training."
     
     
    Zaman said she gave the officer a chance to ask her questions about her religion — and he was surprised to see she wasn't wearing a hijab.
     
     
    "There's nothing wrong with him as a human being. He didn't commit any kind of crime. How many of us do not at one time or another say something out of anger that we regret?" Zaman said.
     
     
    They agreed to continue the conversation after the meeting.
     
     
    Zaman said having conversations where people can openly ask questions will help people to unlearn stereotypes and prejudice within government institutions.
     
     
    Zaman said she is now organizing meet and greets with Halifax Regional Police where officers are encouraged, but not forced, to stop by and ask questions and get to know Zaman and other Muslims in the community.
     
     
    "I see people as basically to be inherently very decent and good people. They just want to live their lives and want the best for themselves and their children," Zaman said.
     
     
    "If you're open, receptive and you don't go in there pointing a finger at someone and accusing him full of anger, you will be quite surprised, they will surprise you in return and actually open up to you."
     
     
    Zaman said she still messages the officer from time to time, and plans on inviting him to a meal during the holy month of Ramadan, which begins next week.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Teen Who Helped Beat Woman To Death, Posted Video Online To Be Sentenced In June

    Teen Who Helped Beat Woman To Death, Posted Video Online To Be Sentenced In June
    A teenager who helped attack a young Manitoba woman and shared the footage of her bloody death will not learn how much time she will spend behind bars until June.

    Teen Who Helped Beat Woman To Death, Posted Video Online To Be Sentenced In June

    Vancouver's 8th Homicide Of 2018: One Man Dead After Early Morning Assault In Yaletown Park

    Vancouver's 8th Homicide Of 2018: One Man Dead After Early Morning Assault In Yaletown Park
    Vancouver has recorded its eighth homicide of the year after a man died following what police believe was an attack in a park in the city's Yaletown neighbourhood.

    Vancouver's 8th Homicide Of 2018: One Man Dead After Early Morning Assault In Yaletown Park

    Mosque Shooter Couldn't Believe Man He Shot Seven Times Survived: Fellow Inmate

    Mosque Shooter Couldn't Believe Man He Shot Seven Times Survived: Fellow Inmate
    Quebec City mosque shooter Alexandre Bissonnette told a fellow inmate he couldn't believe a man he pumped seven bullets into didn't die, a Crown prosecutor told his sentencing arguments Wednesday.

    Mosque Shooter Couldn't Believe Man He Shot Seven Times Survived: Fellow Inmate

    Van Attack Puts Spotlight On Violent Sentiment In 'INCEL' Community: Expert

    TORONTO — A message allegedly posted by the accused in Toronto's deadly van attack is shedding light on a mostly male online community that an expert says endorses violent rhetoric against women.

    Van Attack Puts Spotlight On Violent Sentiment In 'INCEL' Community: Expert

    Halifax Cartoonists Capture Public Mood Following Toronto, Humboldt Tragedies

    Halifax Cartoonists Capture Public Mood Following Toronto, Humboldt Tragedies
    Halifax cartoonist Michael de Adder says he was simply trying to find a small bit of positivity with an image that has garnered national attention for its depiction of recent tragedies in Toronto and Humboldt, Sask.

    Halifax Cartoonists Capture Public Mood Following Toronto, Humboldt Tragedies

    Pilot Likely Disoriented In Plane Crash That Killed Former Alberta Premier Jim Prentice

    Pilot Likely Disoriented In Plane Crash That Killed Former Alberta Premier Jim Prentice
    The Cessna Citation jet went down shortly after takeoff from Kelowna, B.C., on its way to the Springbank airport west of Calgary in October 2016.

    Pilot Likely Disoriented In Plane Crash That Killed Former Alberta Premier Jim Prentice