Banning British Iman Only Adds To His Allure

Whoops, that's just fear and wishful thinking talking. British authorities haven't found enough hate or even glorification of violence in ul Haq's preaching to judge him anything more than disturbing and, despite dark mutterings about "legal opinions," Canada is presuming his appearance at a weekend Scarborough youth conference would be damaging.

There's a thin yet well-defined line between hate and free speech, which ul Haq is careful not to cross. Self-confident countries that understand freedom is best nurtured by fresh air and daylight are equally disciplined.

In rushing to the barricades, Ottawa is inflating a hollow threat. It's making a martyr of a midget and adding the lure of the exotic to someone who is gutter ordinary.

More contradictory still, the willingness to be swayed by narrow interest groups denies the broader Muslim community an opportunity to demonstrate it understands both Islam and the responsibilities of living in an open society better than the imam.

In effect, barring ul Haq announces that the federal government lacks confidence in the collective wisdom of the minority as well as the majority.

In letting good intentions shape a bad mistake, Harper is forgetting history. Facing communism, the federal government left the last great monster in plain sight and comrades thronged to the party in ones and twos.

That lesson is particularly significant at a time when the lunatic actions of fundamentalists are too often cast as a struggle between civilizations. Even if a little bit true, the test for open states is to keep their beacon shining bright in the world's window.

There's no question that was easier back when two superpowers were duelling with sharp-edged ideologies. Given the contrast between democracy and dictatorship, free markets and planned economies, almost everyone who could opted for a Western model more or less synonymous with America.

Toronto Star [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on July 4, 2006]

Note: Toronto Star