People in Regina voice different concerns over Motion 103

Protesters of all ages gathered at Regina City Hall on Saturday to show their support or anger for Motion 103, known as M-103.

M-103 was put forward by Iqra Khalid, a Liberal Party member of parliament in which the motion condemns Islamophobia in Canada, along with all other forms of racism and religious discrimination.

The crowd representing the anti-support for the motion were with the Canadian Coalition of Concerned Citizens (CCCC) who organized rallies across Canada for ‘Canadian Patriots that believe in Freedom, Liberty & Justice that stands against Sharia Law & Globalization.’

CCCC had more than a dozen people in attendance and told 980 CJME their message was simple, they don’t support the motion.

A  protester a part of CCCC told the crowd that they love everyone as they are, Muslim or not, and hopes that the motion can include all religions in Canada.

CCCC supporter Robert Johnsen said he came out today because of the importance of freedom of speech.

“It’s important for every religion to be able to express their opinions,” said Johnsen. “If you say that a group of people that are ‘anti a particular group’ like the Muslim group, for example, I think that’s an unfair statement and that it’s important again for every religion and everybody to experience freedom of speech.”

Johnsen added that although his side of the protest was smaller, that doesn’t change the fact that people, on either side, are standing up for what they believe in.

“It doesn’t bother me, everyone has the right to their opinion, whether I agree or disagree with it,” he said.

Protest got a bit louder once media showed up for interviews #yqr pic.twitter.com/NFqxverpZS

— Jessika Guse (@JessikaGuse) March 4, 2017

As Johnsen was being interviewed, chants by the opposition got louder. More than 40 people who supported M-103 or were a part of the group Colonialism No More were heard chanting ‘hey hey, ho ho, Islamophobia has got to go.’

Creator of the Little Mosque on the Prairie, Zarqa Nawaz, also took in the protest. She said since President Trump has been elected, anti-immigrant, anti-refugee anti-Muslim hatred is on the rise.

” You know — we’ve had mosques being burned down, cemeteries being vandalized, Muslims being slaughtered in a mosque,” said Nawaz. “The killing and violence against people of colour has increased exponentially and I mean, we have to start coming out and speaking about why this is happening and the fact that this is even happening in Saskatchewan is something that we need to talk about.”

Nawaz added that one thing that’s most frustrating to her is that people don’t truly understand the religion.

“People are saying it’s a slippery slope to Sharia which is not true at all,” she said.

“I mean there was a similar motion passed in 2015 against anti-Semitic bigotry and that was passed unanimously so there was not even a controversy about that but the moment you talk about anti-Muslim bigotry then it’s a problem.”

Peaceful protests and counter protests took place across Canada, including one in Saskatoon where more than 70 people come out to express their views.

Part 1 of the arguments being had at the protest at @CityofRegina city hall #yqr pic.twitter.com/uNy8nRiL5G

— Jessika Guse (@JessikaGuse) March 4, 2017