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WORLD  CJC Condemnation Of Taliban Edict BY CJC CANADA, May 26 (VNN) — CJC deplores Taliban edict that Hindus and other minorities wear distinctive marks Ottawa ö Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) president Keith Landy today urged the Canadian government to take all possible steps to convey to the Taliban government of Afghanistan, the reaction of abhorrence of the Canadian people for their edict forcing non-Muslims in Afghanistan to wear distinctive marks on their clothing. According to Keith Landy, CJC national president, "this is an edict that should be condemned by all who support religious freedom and the rights of minorities. The Taliban regime has demonstrated its lack of respect for human rights in the past. This is but one more gesture to return Afghanistan to the Middle Ages." Mr. Landy continued, "Jews and other minorities have often been subject to such discriminatory dress edicts, most recently during the Nazi domination of Europe. This is a chilling reminder of those times and that such laws are never passed for the benefit of the minority affected. This is the kind of "protection" that minorities have to be protected from and serves mainly to make them targets either of the authorities or of populations incited to hatred." "We urge the Canadian government to convey to the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan the horror of all Canadians at such clear discrimination against a religious minority and to call for this odious measure to be rescinded immediately. We must also continue to press for UN action against a regime which has shown a blatant disregard for all international human rights norms," concluded the CJC president. For further information: Rubin Friedman National Communications Director Canadian Jewish Congress (613) 233-8703x228  Comment on this storyContact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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