Muslim Canadian Congress Comes Through

TORONTO -- The Muslim Canadian Congress will honour Canadian soldiers who have died in Afghanistan during a prayer service this weekend in a move that's believed to be the first of its kind in the country.

The congress organized the service even though it has been critical of Canada's role in Afghanistan in the past.

True enough. But last month, when the MCC's Sohail Raza told me about the MCC's plans for the fateha - a Muslim prayer ritual for the dead - he was quite clear about why the MCC wasn't involved in demonstrations demanding the withdrawal of Canada troops from Afghanistan:

"It is necessary for our troops to be there. You just have to look at who they are fighting against. The Taliban was the biggest setback for Muslims in our history, and if we were going to have a demonstration about Afghanistan, I would rather see a rally in support of our Canadian troops there."

As usual, it's perplexing. I'm happy to have the Newfoundlanders sort it out.