The B.C. Human Rights Commission has rejected a human rights complaint against Maclean's magazine that claimed an article about Islam violated anti-hate laws.
In a ruling released Friday, the commission found the article by Mark Steyn did not violate anti-hate laws or raise hatred against Muslims.
It's the third time the complaint by members of the Canadian Islamic Congress has been dismissed by a human rights commission in Canada.
The October 2006 article, called "The Future Belongs to Islam," discusses the global ambitions of young Muslims and suggests the West doesn't have the will to withstand the challenge.
In the B.C. complaint, the Islamic Congress claimed the writing suggests Muslims pose a threat to Western society, to democracy and human rights -- a violation of the B.C. Human Rights Code.
In a ruling released Friday, the provincial human rights panel dismissed the claim.
The article may have been "hurtful and distasteful" to some, the commission tribunal found.
But "read in its context, the article is essentially an expression of opinion on political issues which, in light of recent historical events involving extremist Muslims and the problems facing the vast majority of the Muslim community that does not support extremism, are legitimate subjects for public discussion," it found.
"The article may attempt to rally public opinion by exaggeration and causing the reader to fear Muslims, but fear is not synonymous with hatred and contempt."
The CIC's surrogates also lost out in their complaints before the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
I'm happy the complainants lost in this case. I summed up my thoughts rather well in this bygone post:
This is a complex, messy area. But in general, I think our society is well-served when we respect both the fundamental freedom of expression that our Charter sets out -- and personally observe the uncodified fundamental principles of decency and respect for others when exercising that freedom.
Use the Criminal Code to restrict truly hateful speech and let human rights commissions stick to their knitting.
But if we aim for a society where no one is ever simply offended, then I would argue we've given up on freedom.
It would appear the B.C. HRC substantially agrees with me.