Salim Mansur
Encyclopedia
Salim Mansur is an Associate Professor of Political Science
at the University of Western Ontario
in Canada
. He is a columnist for the London Free Press
and the Toronto Sun
, and has contributed to various publications including National Review
, the Middle East Forum
and Frontpagemag. He often presents analysis on the Muslim world, Islam, South Asia, Middle East. On two occasions, fatwa
s (religion edicts) were issued against him, calling for his death.
Mansur is a member of the Board of Directors for the Center for Islamic Pluralism based in Washington, D.C., a Senior Fellow with the Canadian Coalition for Democracies
, a group which seeks to support democracies and placed particular emphasis on calling for the Canadian government
to adopt a pro-Israel stance.
Salim Mansur was one of the founding members of Canadians Against Suicide Bombing, a group that has lobbied to amend Canada’s Criminal Code to cite suicide bombing as a terrorist crime, efforts which resulted in the passing of Bill S-215 on December 2010.
He is an academic-consultant with the Center for Security Policy
in Washington, D.C. He has been a consultant with CIDA
on development issues and has published widely in academic journals on foreign policy matters and area studies of the Middle East and South Asia.
He is featured on the documentary Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West
produced by the David Horowitz Freedom Center
. He also unsuccessfully ran for the Canadian Alliance
party in 2000, being defeated by Sue Barnes
.
Mansur, a Sunni Muslim, said he was ostracized after writing columns for the condemning the Taliban and comparing it to the Khmer Rouge of Cambodia. According to Mansur, the severe backlash has prompted him to stop going to his local mosque.
At a press conference on October 2, 2008, Mansur stated that "Islam is my private life, my conscience...[but] my faith does not take precedence over my duties...to Canada and its constitution, which I embrace freely;" "I am first and most importantly a Canadian;" "only in a free society will you find Islam as a faith and not a political religion." Mansur also criticized New Democratic Party
Leader Jack Layton
, whom Mansur said "has gone to bed with Islamists", because he is running candidates in Ontario and Quebec who are closely identified with the push for Sharia law.
for its 60th anniversary, and declared that the Jewish state "deserves admiration": "Israel is a tiny sliver of land in a vast tempest-ridden sea of the Arab-Muslim world, and yet it is here the ancient world's most enduring story is made fresh again by Jews to live God's covenant with Abraham as told in their sacred literature." In 2010, he wrote: "The story of modern Israel, as many have noted, is a miracle unlike any [...] It is a robust and inclusive democracy, and is at the leading edge of science and technology [...] What hypocrites demand of Israelis and the scrutiny Israel is subjected to by them, they would not dare make of any other nation."
Mansur wrote that a Palestinian state was de-facto created by Britain
in Jordan
by partitioning its Palestine Mandate in 1922, and the Palestinians would have had a state of their own, had they accepted Israel and reconciled themselves to the rights of the Jews in Jerusalem and the Holy Land
.
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He is a columnist for the London Free Press
London Free Press
The London Free Press is a daily newspaper based in London, Ontario, Canada.The London Free Press began as the Canadian Free Press, founded by William Sutherland in 1847. It first began printing as a weekly newspaper in 1849. In 1852, it was purchased for $500 by Josiah Blackburn, who renamed it...
and the Toronto Sun
Toronto Sun
The Toronto Sun is an English-language daily tabloid newspaper published in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is known for its daily Sunshine Girl feature and for what it sees as a populist conservative editorial stance.-History:...
, and has contributed to various publications including National Review
National Review
National Review is a biweekly magazine founded by the late author William F. Buckley, Jr., in 1955 and based in New York City. It describes itself as "America's most widely read and influential magazine and web site for conservative news, commentary, and opinion."Although the print version of the...
, the Middle East Forum
Middle East Forum
The Middle East Forum is an American conservative think tank founded in 1990 by Daniel Pipes, who also serves as its director. MEF became a 5013 non-profit organization in 1994...
and Frontpagemag. He often presents analysis on the Muslim world, Islam, South Asia, Middle East. On two occasions, fatwa
Fatwa
A fatwā in the Islamic faith is a juristic ruling concerning Islamic law issued by an Islamic scholar. In Sunni Islam any fatwā is non-binding, whereas in Shia Islam it could be considered by an individual as binding, depending on his or her relation to the scholar. The person who issues a fatwā...
s (religion edicts) were issued against him, calling for his death.
Biography
Mansur was born in Calcutta, India and moved to Toronto, Canada where he completed his doctorate studies in political science.Mansur is a member of the Board of Directors for the Center for Islamic Pluralism based in Washington, D.C., a Senior Fellow with the Canadian Coalition for Democracies
Canadian Coalition for Democracies
The Canadian Coalition for Democracies was a Canadian political action organization that advocated greater support for Israel, India, and minorities in the Muslim world such as Christians, Copts, Bahá'ís, Assyrians, and Ismailis....
, a group which seeks to support democracies and placed particular emphasis on calling for the Canadian government
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
to adopt a pro-Israel stance.
Salim Mansur was one of the founding members of Canadians Against Suicide Bombing, a group that has lobbied to amend Canada’s Criminal Code to cite suicide bombing as a terrorist crime, efforts which resulted in the passing of Bill S-215 on December 2010.
He is an academic-consultant with the Center for Security Policy
Center for Security Policy
The Center for Security Policy is a Washington, D.C. think tank that focuses on national security issues. The Center was founded in 1988 by Frank Gaffney, Jr....
in Washington, D.C. He has been a consultant with CIDA
CIDA
Things known by the initialism CIDA include:* Canadian International Development Agency* Centro de Investigaciones de Astronomia, Venezuelan institute of astronomical investigation* CIDA City Campus* Council for Interior Design Accreditation...
on development issues and has published widely in academic journals on foreign policy matters and area studies of the Middle East and South Asia.
He is featured on the documentary Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West
Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West
Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West, also called Obsession, is a 2005 documentary film about the perceived threat of radical Islam to Western civilization. Using extensive Arab television footage it claims to give an 'insider's view' of the hatred preached by radicals to incite global...
produced by the David Horowitz Freedom Center
David Horowitz Freedom Center
The David Horowitz Freedom Center is a conservative foundation founded in 1988 by political activist David Horowitz and his long-time collaborator Peter Collier...
. He also unsuccessfully ran for the Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held...
party in 2000, being defeated by Sue Barnes
Sue Barnes
Susan "Sue" Barnes, PC, MP is a Canadian politician. Barnes is currently a member of the Liberal Party of Canada and was in the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of London West from 1993 to 2008....
.
Mansur, a Sunni Muslim, said he was ostracized after writing columns for the condemning the Taliban and comparing it to the Khmer Rouge of Cambodia. According to Mansur, the severe backlash has prompted him to stop going to his local mosque.
At a press conference on October 2, 2008, Mansur stated that "Islam is my private life, my conscience...[but] my faith does not take precedence over my duties...to Canada and its constitution, which I embrace freely;" "I am first and most importantly a Canadian;" "only in a free society will you find Islam as a faith and not a political religion." Mansur also criticized New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
Leader Jack Layton
Jack Layton
John Gilbert "Jack" Layton, PC was a Canadian social democratic politician and the Leader of the Official Opposition. He was the leader of the New Democratic Party from 2003 to 2011, and previously sat on Toronto City Council, serving at times during that period as acting mayor and deputy mayor of...
, whom Mansur said "has gone to bed with Islamists", because he is running candidates in Ontario and Quebec who are closely identified with the push for Sharia law.
Views on Israel and the Palestinians
In 2008, Mansur congratulated IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
for its 60th anniversary, and declared that the Jewish state "deserves admiration": "Israel is a tiny sliver of land in a vast tempest-ridden sea of the Arab-Muslim world, and yet it is here the ancient world's most enduring story is made fresh again by Jews to live God's covenant with Abraham as told in their sacred literature." In 2010, he wrote: "The story of modern Israel, as many have noted, is a miracle unlike any [...] It is a robust and inclusive democracy, and is at the leading edge of science and technology [...] What hypocrites demand of Israelis and the scrutiny Israel is subjected to by them, they would not dare make of any other nation."
Mansur wrote that a Palestinian state was de-facto created by Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
by partitioning its Palestine Mandate in 1922, and the Palestinians would have had a state of their own, had they accepted Israel and reconciled themselves to the rights of the Jews in Jerusalem and the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
.
Criticism of the Arab and Muslim World
Mansur writes that, From Algeria to Indonesia, from Central Asian republics to Sudan, the entire Muslim world "has turned its back on modernity". He says the Muslim world must stop blaming the West for its own ailments.Skepticism about Mainstream Scientific Position on Climate Change
Mansur has insisted that "the claim of man-made global warming" has been "falsified." He has also suggested that climate scientists, "corrupted by the lure of money and influence, subscribed to the UN-based scheme for the largest global tax grab and revenue transfer -- some version of global carbon tax -- by raising false alarms about impending planetary doom in the name of science."Books
- Islam's Predicament, Perspectives of a Dissident Muslim. by Salim Mansur, Mosaic Press, 2010. ISBN 9780889629066, 250pp.
Articles by Salim Mansur
- Time to crush terror
- Muslims, Democracy, and the American Experience
- Dissecting the Danish Cartoon Controversy
- Empty Gestures
- Canadians Against Suicide Bombing Salim Mansur leading member
- Climate Under Fire
- Mansur: Gore under spotlight
- Is there global warming 'truth'?
External Links
- Robert Fulford: Canada's angriest 'moderate', November 21, 2009, by Robert Fulford, National Post.