An outgoing Progressive Conservative MPP in Ottawa has apologized for a social media post that criticized one of the people running for his seat — a message Muslim groups said was Islamophobic and the MPP himself admitted was “inappropriate.”
Lisa McLeod, longtime MPP for Nepean, posted on X about candidate Hussian Abu-Raish on Tuesday.
In one message, McLeod shared a link to a page promoting Abu-Raish and commented, “If you support Sharia law … (you) could be the next PC candidate for Nepean …”
McLeod's post was referring to Sharia, Islam's legal code.
In another post, MacLeod shared the message of Abu-Rayash's campaign. It described his accomplishments and said McLeod did not support the Muslim community and “pushed pro-Israeli policies.”
Both positions were subsequently removed.
'Deeply disappointing'
In his post to X on Wednesday, Abu-Rayas said it was “deeply disappointing” that McLeod had “chose to interfere with Nepean's nomination process by spreading insulting, hateful and Islamophobic rhetoric against me.”
Abu-Raish has included a defamation notice against McLeod, saying he has not and does not advocate Sharia law in Canada. Lawyer Mark Bory confirmed to the CBC that he is representing Abu-Rayas and served the defamation notice.
“This comment is more than just an attack on Mr. Abu-Raysh's religion,” the notice said. “It's also a crude and heavy-handed attempt to discredit him. It's what you posted to damage your chances of winning the Progressive Conservative nomination in Nepean as an extremist.”
Abu-Raysh demanded an apology from McLeod.
“Lisa's interference in this nomination has no place,” he said in his post. “It is time for him to step down and let the Nepali people decide who their candidate will be.”
Abu-Rayash told the CBC via email that McLeod's tweet “sparked a flood of hate my way and it really hurts to face Islamophobia.”
McLeod's office did not respond to a request from the CBC seeking clarification of his posts.
'My intention is not to mislead'
MacLeod apologized on his X account later Wednesday.
“Although it was not my intention to confuse or hurt anyone, I understand that my comments were inappropriate,” according to the post.
“I have received inappropriate comments myself and should have done better.”
I want to apologize for the comment I made in my 7 January X post about Hussain Abu-Rayas. Although it was not my intention to confuse or hurt anyone, I understand that my comments were inappropriate. I myself have been on the receiving end of inappropriate comments and had to…
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) called McLeod's comments “deeply disappointing”, while the Muslim Advisory Council of Canada called on Premier Doug Ford to be removed from the Progressive Conservative Party caucus.
McLeod, a former provincial cabinet member, announced last year that he would not seek re-election in the next Ontario election, for which a date has not yet been called.
“What makes it Islamophobic is the assumption that there is a hidden agenda,” said NCCM's Fatema Abdallah, adding that the posts are implicitly problematic for all Muslims or people associated with Islam.
Abdallah said the NCCM is asking the Prime Minister to condemn and condemn the comments.
Mohammed Sawaf, board chair of the Muslim Advisory Council of Canada, said McLeod's post took information out of context.
“(She) doesn't really understand that Sharia law can't be implemented here in Canada,” Sawaf said. “It's actually used to spread hatred and create division.”
The Prime Minister's Office did not respond to CBC's request for comment.
