Letter Sent to the Canadian Prime Minister

Source: London Muslim community
Date: October, 26, 1999

To: The Honorable Prime Minister: October 26, 1999.

STOP RUSSIAN ATROCITIES IN CHECHNIYA

We are calling on Prime Minister Jean Chretian to demand that Russia withdraw its forces from Chechnya and cease attacks on civilians in that country. Since Russia began its most recent attacks on Chechnya, hundreds of innocent civilians have been killed and almost 200 000 have been forced from their homes. Many of these refugees are without shelter and now face hunger and disease.

This campaign exposes the hypocrisy of Russian officials who condemned NATO’s actions against Serbian forces in Kosova. NATO used every means to avoid civilian casualties. Russia seems to be targeting the entire Chechnyan population with what amounts to state terror by a rogue nation.

For some 200 years, the Chechnyan people struggled to determine their own fate, free from dictates of Russian and Soviet colonial masters. It is time the world community offered its support for the freedom and independence of Chechnya.

We respectfully call on you to:

1. Condemn Russian attacks on innocent civilians

2. Pressure Russia to withdraw from Chechnya

3. Suspend Economic aid that allows Russia to finance its nuclear campaign On behalf of Canada’s 500 000 Muslims, and some 1.2 billion worldwide, we believe that these reasonable measures are consistent with the Canadian government’s stance on other local and regional conflicts such as in Kosova and East Timor. It is always in Canada’s interest to help save innocent lives and end conflict.

We ask of you to push for and support a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Chechnya that will result in freedom for the Chechnyan people. Anything less will inevitably lead to endless conflict and suffering.

Yours Sincerely,

The London Muslim community represented by its various Muslim organizations:

London Muslim Mosque

Chairman, Abdul Rahim Chahbar

Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario

President, Dr. Zafer Hussein

Muslim Youth Association of London (MYAL)

President, Ali D. Chahbar

Al-Mehdi Almuntathar Islamic Union

President, Mahmoud Haidar

Muslim Students Association (MSA)

President, Khaled Sultan

Islamic Call Society

President, Asem Fadel

Canadian Bosnian Islamic Centre

President Majda Delic