In the context of the campaign to challenge the listing of Hezbollah as a ‘terrorist’ organization in Canada, on Wednesday, October 17th, Tadamon! Montreal hosted a major lecture at McGill University as part of Culture Shock 2007.

Upwards of 200 people gathered to hear presentations from Bilal Elamine, the former editor of Left Turn Magazine, currently living in Beirut, Lebanon and Brian Aboud, a sociologist and historian active within Tadamon!. In addition a documentary film on the 2006 Israeli attack on Lebanon, “A Summer Not to Forget”, by the Lebanese filmmaker Carol Mansour, was screened for the first time in Canada.

Presentations attempted to contextualize the history of Hezbollah as a social & political force in Lebanon, through providing important examples and alternative perspectives to those often found in mainstream political depictions of the Lebanese movement in North America.

Bilal Elamine outlined the history of Hezbollah within the context of the Lebanese national liberation movement to combat Israel’s illegal occupation of Lebanese territory, specifically southern Lebanon, that lasted for upwards of 20 years. Elamine also offered perspectives on the common perception of Hezbollah as a political force within the Middle East, addressing the major popular support that the armed wing of the movement received within the context of Israel’s 2006 military attack on Lebanon.

Brian Aboud, outlined Tadamon!’s campaign to challenge the listing of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization in Canada, outlining the disputable evidence presented by the Canadian government in 2002, which lead to Hezbollah inclusion in the post-9/11 list of ‘terrorist’ organizations in Canada.

A special report produced by the CBC in 2002 uncovered that the central piece of evidence presented by the Canadian state, as the justification for Hezbollah’s inclusion within the list of ‘terrorist’ organization, was fabricated. Aboud also outlined the political importance of the campaign to challenge the listing of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization within Canada, in the context of confronting the laws and regulations utilized by Canadian authorities to repress migrant communities, in this case the major Lebanese Diaspora in Montreal.

Tadamon!’s campaign to challenge the listing of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization in Canada will be taking a higher public profile within the upcoming weeks & months. To support Tadamon!’s efforts you can get involved, donate to the collective, spread the word concerning the campaign, or contact Tadamon! with further ideas & suggestions…

Canada is one of only three countries world-wide to designate Hezbollah as a ‘terrorist’ organization. The other two are Israel and the United States. Tadamon! will be working to contest the politically-motivated designation of Hezbollah as a ‘terrorist organization’ in order to:

* Create greater space to freely discuss and engage in struggles for justice in the Middle East without fear of persecution or labeling;

* Reduce the vulnerability of migrants subjected to racial profiling and unjust immigration ’security’ measures;

* Confront the demonization of all who resist US-driven policies for a “new Middle East”;

* Challenge the Canadian government’s unconditional support for Israeli aggression.