The Muslim Students Association at the University of Alberta has been forced to defend its roster of speakers for Islam Awareness Week.
Three of the four men scheduled to speak on campus next week — Jamal Badawi, Abdullah Hakim Quick and Abdullah al-Andalusi — have been criticized by MacEwan University assistant professor Junaid Jahangir and others for allegedly making homophobic or pro-terrorist statements.
The students association said it conducted an investigation in the wake of the criticism.
“We found that without exception, all of the allegations have been specifically refuted or clarified by the speakers,” the association said in a statement released Friday morning. “As we feel that these remarks of clarification adequately express a refutation of both homophobia and violent radicalism, we feel comfortable hosting these speakers at the University of Alberta.
“The MSA completely condemns all forms of terrorism and violence against civilians. As well, the MSA condemns all forms of hate against groups, including hatred against the LGBTQ+ community.”
On Dec. 8, Quick issued a lengthy blog post in response to mounting criticism of his past statements. He admits to issuing a “moral reprimand” to a group of gay Muslims about 20 years ago.
“I understand now that they did give off the wrong impression,” he wrote. “For that, I am sorry. I have never advocated violence, vigilantism or disregard for the rule of law.”
The Telegraph in London reported in July that al-Andalusi lived a double life for two years, saying he was employed by a government agency that monitored police forces’ ability to counter terrorism, that his real name is Mouloud Farid and that he is an outspoken Islamic extremist. Al-Andalusi refuted the Telegraph’s claims in a blog post on July 12.
Badawi, a Muslim scholar from Halifax, told the Toronto Sun in March 2015 that reports linking him to the radical Muslim Brotherhood were “a myth” and that the organization doesn’t exist in Canada.