When Canada's most quoted and often controversial imam, Ally Hindy, appeared at the Brampton courthouse this past weekend to support the group police describe as a homegrown terrorism cell, few were surprised.
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, and with Canada's focus on terrorism, Hindy has either known, or involved himself with, virtually every high-profile Canadian accused of terrorism offences.
He has also been one of the most vocal critics of Canada's spy service and the RCMP — the federal agencies that investigated the alleged cell of 17 people who were arrested Friday night and Saturday morning as part of a massive police raid. Hindy claims police and the spies unfairly target Muslims, and that their invasive tactics have dissuaded many in the community from co-operating with federal authorities. |