Updated: Fri Oct. 10 2008 14:00:50

The Canadian Press

The B.C. Human Rights Commission has rejected a complaint that a Maclean's magazine article about Islam violated Canada's anti-hate laws.

It's the third time the complaint has been dismissed by various human rights commissions in Canada after it was filed by two members of the Canadian Islamic Congress, which claimed the piece by columnist Mark Steyn raised hatred against Muslims.

The article, called `The Future Belongs to Islam' and posted on the Maclean's website in October 2006, 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.

But the provincial human rights panel dismissed the claim, saying the group failed to prove the article rises to the level of hatred and contempt.

In June, the Canadian Human Rights Commission also rejected the complaint, saying the views expressed aren't extreme, and a similar complaint filed with the Ontario Human Rights Commission failed when it ruled it didn't have jurisdiction to hear it.

Please Add Comments(3)

michael
BC Human Rights Commission is hoping that this will fly under the radar. They are also protecting their jobs by not "convicting" Mcleans

Jim
Good for them!

It is about time views were allowed to how we feel!

I think it is called "freedom of speech" which too often is taken as discriminatory because someone speaks what they feel and how different races make us feel in OUR country

Marlene
This is the third time around for this issue in the courts!! Who is paying for this? Probably the deep pockets of the Taxpayer. I am tired of special interest groups (ALL of them, including the bleeding hearts, professional protesters - there is no end) making their big deal my big deal. Trust me it is not. Life is too short - live yours and let me live mine. You protest that people are in your face, well you are in mine and now I protest.