Following a flood hatemail and even death threats to an Ontario Liberal MP who proposed a private member乌鸦传媒檚 motion calling on Parliament to condemn Islamophobia and all other forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination, Kelowna-Mission MP Stephen Fuhr has written an open letter to his constituents not only defending the MP, but saying despite his preference that the word 乌鸦传媒淚slamophobia乌鸦传媒� not be included, he supports the motion.

Fuhr, whose Liberal colleague Iqra Khalid, MP for Mississauga-Erin Mills proposed the motion乌鸦传媒攚hich is not a bill and would not result in a law乌鸦传媒攕aid while a number of his constituents have expressed what called 乌鸦传媒渇ear and outrage乌鸦传媒� that Parliament would even consider supporting such a motion because they see it as an 乌鸦传媒渁ffront乌鸦传媒� to their right to speak out about radical Islam and in their view pave the way to a permanent curtailment of rights, they are wrong.

乌鸦传媒淢s. Khalid乌鸦传媒檚 motion does none of that. The motion is neither binding on the government nor can it change our laws or take away our rights and freedoms,乌鸦传媒� says the local MP.

乌鸦传媒淢uch of their fear has been fuelled by misinformation and a misunderstanding of parliamentary process.乌鸦传媒�

Fuhr says while reported hate crimes across the country are decreasing, the incidents of reported hate crimes against Canadian Muslims have doubled.

乌鸦传媒淏y rejecting racism and discrimination, we are bringing this issue to the surface and acknowledging the difficulties some of our communities face,乌鸦传媒� writes Fuhr. 乌鸦传媒� If we can make it work here, we will continue to be a beacon for the rest of the world.乌鸦传媒�

Earlier this week, Khalid read out some of the shocking hate mail she has received since proposing her private member乌鸦传媒檚 motion. Some of it called for her to be put to death.

Her motion came after the murders of six Canadians, who were Muslim, at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Qu茅bec in Quebec City Jan. 29. The shootings resulted in many Canadians quickly rallying around Muslim communities across the country.

乌鸦传媒淭he voices that spoke publicly, both Muslim and non-Muslim, were measured and rational emphasizing our values of inclusiveness and diversity,乌鸦传媒� said Fuhr about reaction to the shootings.

But,he lamented, 乌鸦传媒渉ow quickly we have forgotten what is important.乌鸦传媒�

Fuhr said despite opinions to the contrary, Khalid乌鸦传媒檚 motion does not elevate one religion above all others or undermine every Canadian乌鸦传媒檚 right to freedom of speech.

乌鸦传媒淔reedom to speak out against rising discrimination is what makes Canada egalitarian,乌鸦传媒� he says in his letter. 乌鸦传媒淥ver the 150 years of our history, parliamentarians have tabled motions against racism, anti-Semitism, gender bias, and homophobia. And each time we have identified the discrimination, we have created a more cohesive and diverse society, not a more divided one.乌鸦传媒�

Here is the full text of Fuhr乌鸦传媒檚 open letter to his constituents.:

After the murders of 6 Canadians at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Qu茅bec on January 29th, 2017, Canadians quickly rallied around our Muslim communities.

The voices that spoke publicly, both Muslim and non-Muslim, were measured and rational emphasizing our values of inclusiveness and diversity.

How quickly we have forgotten what is important.

In the last few days, my colleague Iqra Khalid has been subjected to a flurry of baseless accusations, hateful verbal attacks and death threats because her private members乌鸦传媒� motion 103 calls on the House of Commons to 乌鸦传媒渜uell the increasing public climate of hate and fear; and condemn Islamophobia and all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination.乌鸦传媒�

A number of constituents have expressed their fear and outrage that Parliament would even consider supporting such a motion, seeing it as an affront to their right to speak out about radical Islam and in their view, paving the way to a permanent curtailment of their rights.

Much of their fear has been fuelled by misinformation and a misunderstanding of parliamentary process.

The fact is that while reported hate crimes across the country are decreasing, the incidents of reported hate crimes against Canadian Muslims have doubled.

Iqra Khalid, the Member of Parliament for Mississauga 乌鸦传媒� Erin Mills, Ontario is a Canadian Muslim woman concerned about growing racism and discrimination in our society, especially against Canadian Muslims. Yet, in exercising her right to express her concerns, she has been accused of elevating one religion above all others and trying to undermine every Canadian乌鸦传媒檚 right to freedom of speech.

Ms. Khalid乌鸦传媒檚 motion does none of that. The motion is neither binding on the government nor can it change our laws or take away our rights and freedoms.

Freedom to speak out against rising discrimination is what makes Canada egalitarian. Over the 150 years of our history, parliamentarians have tabled motions against racism, anti-Semitism, gender bias, and homophobia. And each time we have identified the discrimination, we have created a more cohesive and diverse society, not a more divided one.

Words do indeed have power and effect, and debate will continue about the use of the word Islamophobia in Motion 103. While I have expressed my preference to remove it, I agree with the spirit of the motion, which is that we have a responsibility to address all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination, including anti-Muslim sentiment, in Canada.

By rejecting racism and discrimination we are bringing this issue to the surface and acknowledging the difficulties some of our communities face. If we can make it work here, we will continue to be a beacon for the rest of the world.

Stephen Fuhr is the Member of Parliament for Kelowna-Lake Country. Constituents can reach him by contacting our constituency office at stephen.fuhr.c1@parl.gc.ca or by calling 250 470-5075.