An outgoing Progressive Conservative MPP in Ottawa is apologizing for a social media put up that criticized one of many individuals vying for her seat — a message Muslim teams say was Islamophobic and that the MPP herself has now acknowledged was “inappropriate.”
Lisa MacLeod, the longtime MPP for Nepean, posted on X about Husien Abu-Rayash on Tuesday. He stated Wednesday night he’s searching for the Progressive Conservative Celebration nomination for Nepean.
In a single message, MacLeod shared a hyperlink to a web page selling Abu-Rayash together with the remark, “If you happen to help Sharia Legislation … [your] Subsequent PC Candidate for Nepean might be…”
MacLeod’s put up was referring to Shariah, the authorized code of Islam.
A now-deleted put up MacLeod made to her X account on Tuesday. It was one in every of two posts about Husien Abu-Rayash, who’s vying for her seat. (X)
In one other put up, MacLeod shared what seemed to be a message from Abu-Rayash’s marketing campaign. It stated MacLeod didn’t help the Muslim group and “pushed pro-Israel insurance policies.”
Abu-Rayash later clarified that the put up MacLeod referenced was shared by a group member and was not endorsed by him.
Each of MacLeod’s posts have since been taken down.
‘Deeply disappointing’
In his personal put up to X on Wednesday, Abu-Rayash stated it was “deeply disappointing” that MacLeod “has chosen to intrude in Nepean’s nomination course of by spreading defamatory, hateful, and Islamophobic rhetoric in opposition to me.”
Abu-Rayash included a libel discover to MacLeod, stating that he has not and doesn’t advocate for Shariah legislation in Canada. Lawyer Mark Bourrie confirmed to CBC he’s representing Abu-Rayash and despatched the libel discover.
“Not solely is that this remark an assault on the faith of Mr. Abu-Rayash,” the discover said. “It’s also a crude and heavy-handed try to defame him. It was posted by you to hurt his possibilities of profitable the Progressive Conservative nomination in Nepean as an extremist.”
A put up Abu-Rayash made on to X Wednesday. Lawyer Mark Bourie confirmed he despatched a libel discover to MacLeod included in Abu-Rayash’s put up. (X)
Abu-Rayash demanded an apology from MacLeod.
“Lisa’s interference has no place on this nomination,” he stated in his put up. “It is time for her to step again and let the individuals of Nepean determine who their candidate ought to be.”
Abu-Rayash informed CBC by way of e-mail that MacLeod’s tweets “unleashed a flood of hate my manner and dealing with Islamophobia head-on actually hurts.”
MacLeod’s workplace didn’t reply to a request from CBC searching for an evidence of her posts.
Peter Turkington, director of communications for the Progressive Conservative Celebration, stated Thursday her feedback “had been inappropriate and unbecoming of any elected official, and don’t replicate the views of the Ontario PC Celebration.”
However he additionally stated Abu-Rayash “was disqualified from working as a candidate for being out of compliance with Elections Ontario tips.”
CBC reached again out to each the social gathering and Abu-Rayash for extra data on the disqualification. An emailed reply from Abu-Rayash’s staff Thursday afternoon disputed that he’d been disqualified.
‘Not my intention to mislead’
MacLeod posted an apology to her X account in a while Wednesday.
“Whereas it was not my intention to mislead or damage anybody, I acknowledge that my feedback had been inappropriate,” in response to the put up.
“I’ve been on the receiving finish of unfair feedback myself and may have carried out higher.”
I need to apologize for remarks I made in my 7 January X put up about Husien Abu-Rayash. Whereas it was not my intention to mislead or damage anybody, I acknowledge that my feedback had been inappropriate. I’ve been on the receiving finish of unfair feedback myself and may have carried out…
—@MacLeodLisa
The Nationwide Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) referred to as MacLeod’s feedback “profoundly disappointing,” whereas the Muslim Advisory Council of Canada urged Premier Doug Ford to take away her from the Progressive Conservative Celebration caucus.
MacLeod, a former provincial cupboard member, introduced final 12 months she isn’t searching for re-election within the subsequent Ontario election, for which a date has not but been referred to as.
“What makes it Islamophobic is assuming that there is a hidden agenda,” stated Fatema Abdalla of the NCCM, including that the posts implied all Muslims or individuals with ties to Islam are inherently problematic.
Abdalla stated NCCM is asking the premier to sentence and denounce the feedback.
Mohamad Sawwaf, board chair of the Muslim Advisory Council of Canada, stated MacLeod’s posts took data out of context.
“[She’s] really not understanding that Shariah legislation cannot be launched right here in Canada,” Sawwaf stated. “That is really used to spew hate and create division.”
The premier’s workplace didn’t reply to CBC’s requests for remark.
