

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TORONTO – Today Ahmed Hussen, President of The Canadian Somali Congress, released the following statement regarding Ontario Progressive Conservative advisor Benjamin Zycher’s hateful comments:

“The Canadian Somali Congress strongly condemns the hateful and divisive language used by Tim Hudak advisor Benjamin Zycher.

Ontario’s Muslim community enriches our diverse and accepting society. We do not tolerate comments that pit Ontarians against each other and seek to tear our communities down.

Mr. Hudak’s silence on this matter is unacceptable. We demand that Mr. Hudak condemn the hateful words of his advisor immediately.”

Mr. Hussen was reacting to Mr. Zycher’s long history of hateful public statements, and questioned why Tim Hudak and the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party would employ a man who holds these views. Numerous media outlets have reported that Zycher helped write the Conservative platform.

The following statements are particularly offensive to members of the Canadian Somali Congress:

“Now, let me be blunt: Michelle Obama, the product of lifelong affirmative-action coddling, is an intellectual lightweight who fancies herself a serious thinker…Can there be any doubt that the Princeton administrators accepted it only because of her skin color?”

– Benjamin Zycher, The National Review, August 17, 2009

“And so I have a question for my legal-beagle colleagues: Are whites not entitled to equivalent treatment under the 14th Amendment? If so, does that mean that education about the history of slavery would become illegal, as it would depict whites negatively? Would it be illegal to point out that most modern-day terrorist acts are perpetrated by Muslims? Anything about black crime, illegal immigration by Hispanics, ad infinitum? Can air brushing of photos be far behind?”

– Benjamin Zycher, April 24, 2006

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For more information contact:

Ahmed Hussen, National President

Canadian Somali Congress

Email: canadiansomalicongress@gmail.com

Website: www.canadiansomalicongress.com

Tel: 416-508-8797