News Releases & Statements


NCCM welcomes news of reduced sentence for Canadian held in China

Urges Ottawa to do more to bring Huseyin Celil home (Ottawa - February 4, 2016) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent civil liberties and advocacy organization, welcomes the news that Chinese authorities have commuted the life sentence of a Canadian citizen who has been unjustly detained since 2007. According to human rights observers, in 2006 dual Canadian-Chinese national Huseyin Celil was captured, tried and convicted in a deeply flawed process that targeted him for advocating for the rights of the Uyghur Muslim minority in China. He was ...

Read More


NCCM endorses call for government to protect rights of Canadians detained abroad

(Ottawa - January 26, 2016) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent civil liberties and advocacy organization, joins civil society partners and former Canadian prisoners including journalist Mohammed Fahmy, in calling on Canada to do more to protect its citizens.  Today, Amnesty International and the Fahmy Foundation released the “Protection Charter”, a list of principles meant to guide the Canadian government on how best to strengthen and improve its protections of Canadian citizens, permanent residents and those with close Canadian connect...

Read More


NCCM welcomes government’s approach to national security policy

(Ottawa - January 21, 2016) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent civil liberties and advocacy organization, welcomes statements today by federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale outlining the government’s approach to addressing national security policy. In a CBC radio interview, the Public Safety minister outlined a three-pronged approach to addressing national security, which includes amending the Anti-terrorism Act, 2015, strengthening oversight of security agencies and expanding community outreach for preventing radicalization to ...

Read More


NCCM condemns vandalism of Ottawa Church

-For Immediate Release- (Ottawa – January 19, 2015) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent civil liberties & advocacy organization, condemns the recent vandalism of the Parkdale United Church in Ottawa. According to a media report, the church was spray-painted with racial slurs. The graffiti was discovered shortly after signs promoting a special Martin Luther King Day service were posted. “The NCCM stands united with our fellow Canadians in categorically denouncing this act of hatred and intimidation. An attack on one Canadian is an ...

Read More


NCCM denounces terror attack claiming lives of six Canadians

(Ottawa - January 16, 2016) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent Muslim civil liberties & advocacy organization, condemns today's horrific attack on a luxury hotel in the African country of Burkina Faso which claimed the lives of six Canadians. In a statement released today, NCCM Executive Director Ihsaan Gardee said: "Canadian Muslims categorically condemn this despicable act of terror, and all acts of violent extremism and terrorism such as this week's attack in Jakarta, Indonesia which also claimed the life of a Canadian. We are deeply ...

Read More


NCCM urges investigation of Vancouver assault on refugees as potential hate crime

(Ottawa - January 9, 2016) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent civil liberties & advocacy organization, condemns the assault on a crowd of refugees attending a welcome event at the Muslim Association of Canada Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia. The NCCM calls for the incident to be investigated as a potential hate crime. According to a media report, an unknown assailant riding a bicycle pepper sprayed Syrian refugees gathered outside the community building on Friday evening. "This is an act of cowardice condemned by all Canadians of ...

Read More


NCCM welcomes government investigation into case of child on security list

(Ottawa - January 5, 2016)  The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent civil liberties & advocacy organization, welcomes the announcement that federal Public Safety Minister is investigating the disturbing case of a six-year-old whose name appears to be on a security watch list. Syed Adam Ahmed was travelling to Boston with his father on December 31st to watch the Montréal Canadiens take on the Boston Bruins in the NHL's annual Winter Classic contest, when the family discovered that their son was "DHP", or "deemed high profile" and would theref...

Read More


NCCM welcomes updated policy on preventing creed-based discrimination

(Ottawa – December 15, 2015) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent civil liberties & advocacy organization, welcomes the release of the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s (OHRC) updated Policy on preventing discrimination based on Creed. First introduced in 1996, this policy update is meant to serve as a “valuable roadmap” in addressing evolving human rights issues around creed, religion and beliefs. "The OHRC's new policy is a welcome and timely tool to help diverse Canadian communities navigate and challenge discrimination based on ...

Read More


NCCM: Canadian Muslims endorse call for public consultation on changes to anti-terrorism law

(Ottawa – November 20, 2015) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent civil liberties & advocacy organization, joins other organizations, academics and privacy experts in an open letter calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to hold an effective and credible public consultation process on proposed amendments to the Anti-terrorism Act, 2015, popularly referred to as Bill C-51. “The NCCM supports measures that effectively enhance security while respecting civil liberties and the protections afforded under the Constitution. At the same time, ...

Read More


NCCM denounces latest anti-Muslim incidents in Toronto

"We must stand united, without fear" -For Immediate Release- (Ottawa - November 17, 2014) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent Muslim civil liberties advocacy organization, condemned the assault yesterday of a Muslim woman who was picking up her children from school and the vandalism of an apartment building in Toronto. According to a media reports, the assault victim was attacked in public when the suspects tore off the victim's hijab, called her a "terrorist" and told her to "go back to your country" while punching and kicking her. The ...

Read More