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Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/1408991
14 www.canadianlawyermag.com
FEATURE
CROSS EXAMINED
After September 11, 2001, Faisal Kutty has fought several legal battles against discrimination
with the Council on American Islamic Relations (Canadian Chapter — CAIR-CAN) and the
Canadian Muslim Civil Liberties Association (CMCLA):
2001: Critiquing and advocating for reforms to the Anti-terror laws enacted post 9/11
2005 – 2007: Maher Arar rendition matter and inquiry on behalf of CAIR-CAN and CMCLA
2005: Faith-based arbitration controversy in Ontario (as counsel to a coalition of Muslim groups)
2006: Air India Inquiry (as counsel to CAIR-CAN and CMCLA)
2006: Toronto 18 Terror Cases (represented a suspect and made submissions to the UN on behalf of some
family members)
2007: No-fly list (Passenger Protect Program) — made submissions on behalf of a coalition of Muslim groups
2007: International Trial Observer in Egypt at the military trial of political dissidents in Egypt
POST 9/11 ACTIVISM
and writing and backed out of the advocacy
that 9/11 had forced him to fight in public.
However, in the last few years, his interest
in public advocacy was rekindled when
Quebec banned religious coverings, and
the federal government debated whether
to pass a non-binding motion condemning
Islamophobia.
Kutty points to the legal system in Canada
as one of the biggest impediments to positive
change, and the lack of organized groups that
can challenge the government overreach that
his father experienced, and what drove him
to act post-9/11.
"Having lived in the US, I feel like Canada
always points the finger at how things are
bad there. But in reality, those bad things
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