Criminalization of Sacred Texts and Teachings: Bill C-9 poses a severe threat by potentially jailing imams, priests, and rabbis for reciting or teaching verses from the Quran, Bible, or Torah that express traditional moral views, such as those on same-sex relationships or gender ideology, deeming them "hateful" without safeguards.

This directly endangers Islamic communities, where Quranic recitation in sermons (khutbahs), educational programs, or daily worship could lead to prosecution, eroding the core of faith practices.

• Selective Persecution and Inconsistencies: While the bill claims to combat hate like Islamophobia, but harshly penalizes faith groups for upholding religious teachings/morals. Please note Canadian laws offer leniency to violent offenders such as rapists and pedophiles through prior legislation, but jail Religious preachers.

For Muslims, this creates a chilling environment where distributing Qurans, selling Islamic literature, or running faith-based TV programs risks criminal charges, fostering fear and self-censorship within the community.

• Suppression of Religious Symbols and Practices: The legislation bans "terrorism or hate symbols," potentially targeting items like the Palestinian kaffiyeh worn by many Muslims, equating cultural or solidarity expressions with hatred and subjecting Islamic communities to disproportionate harassment.
• Overreach into Religious Education and Worship: By repealing protections in the Criminal Code (e.g., paragraph 319(3)(b)), Bill C-9 exposes Muslim educators and leaders to liability for good-faith discussions of religious subjects, stifling Islamic schools, mosques, and community centers from freely practicing and transmitting faith.
• Disproportionate Impact on Faith Groups: As highlighted by Muslim organizations, the bill risks over-enforcement against already surveilled communities like Muslims, turning routine religious activities into crimes while ignoring existing laws that adequately address hate.

Attacks on Human Rights and Freedom of Expression

• Erosion of Free Speech and Dissent: Bill C-9 criminalizes "willful promotion of hatred" through vague provisions, removing Attorney General consent for prosecutions and allowing subjective complaints to silence opinions, prayers, or protests deemed offensive, directly violating Charter-protected freedoms.
• Criminalization of Peaceful Protest: It creates "protest-free zones" around places of worship, schools, and community centers, imposing up to 10-year sentences for actions that "provoke fear" or disrupt access, even for legitimate demonstrations against policies like those in Gaza or institutional harms, stifling collective expression and human rights advocacy.
• Expansion of Police Powers and Selective Enforcement: By broadening police discretion and eliminating oversight, the bill enables arbitrary targeting of dissenters, particularly in over-policed groups, while shielding institutions from scrutiny—undermining equality rights and fostering a police state mentality.
• Chilling Effect on Society: The legislation duplicates existing Criminal Code protections against hate crimes but adds redundant, overly broad offenses that deter free expression, association, and labor rights (e.g., criminalizing strikes), rolling back decades of progress on human rights.
• Threat to Broader Freedoms: It prioritizes suppressing "hate" in a way that equates moral or political disagreement with criminality, potentially criminalizing thoughts and creating a precedent for further erosions of fundamental rights like freedom of assembly and conscience.

Thinks to Do:

Submit Physical Petition to House of Commons-- The Pdf of the Petition to sign is attached.

Where to Submit:

Submitting a Physical Signed Petition Against Bill C-9

Sending your physical signed petition to your Member of Parliament (MP) is the most effective and official way to have it presented in the House of Commons. Only an MP can present a paper petition. Required Process (Sending to MP)

• Send your fully signed petition (at least 25 signatures recommended) to your chosen MP.
• The MP will forward it to the Clerk of Petitions for certification.
• If certified, it will be presented in the House of Commons.
• The government must respond within 45 days, and the petition will be recorded on the House of Commons website.

CC to Minister of Justice and Prime Minister

• This is not required, as the official impact comes only from presentation in the House.
• However, it is highly recommended to CC them – it adds extra pressure and reaches more key decision-makers.
• Bill C-9 (the Combatting Hate Act) is currently under review in the Justice Committee (as of January 2026, Parliament reconvenes later in January), so contacting the Minister of Justice (who sponsors the bill) is especially useful.

Suggestions:

1. Make multiple (3) copies:
   • Original → Your MP (for presentation).
   • Copy 1 → The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
     Address: 284 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H8
   • Copy 2 → The Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada
     Address: Office of the Prime Minister, 80 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A2
   • Copy 3 – Keep as a record.
2. Include a cover letter with each copy:
   • Write a short letter stating: "I am enclosing a copy of a petition signed by Canadian residents calling for the complete withdrawal of Bill C-9. Please consider our serious concerns regarding its threats to religious freedom and freedom of expression."
3. Additional impact:
   • Send copies to other MPs in your area, especially members of the Justice Committee (list available on parl.ca).
   • Use registered mail for proof of delivery.

Also Send Scanned Copy Through E-mail:

This approach maximizes visibility for your petition.

In Shaa Allah, it will contribute to success!,

Sending a scanned copy (images or PDF of the signed petition) via email is a great additional step. It cannot replace the official physical petition (which requires original signatures for House presentation), but it raises awareness, applies pressure, and creates a record. Many groups do this to reach leaders directly.

Tips for Emailing

• Use a clear subject line, e.g., "Petition Calling for Withdrawal of Bill C-9 – Attached Signed Copy"
• Include a brief cover message: Introduce yourself, summarize the petition, and request the bill's withdrawal.
• Attach the scanned copy as a PDF (clear scans of all pages).
• CC your local MP, and Other MPs of your city.

Current Emails (as of January 2026)

• Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada: The Honourable Sean Fraser
  Email: mcu@justice.gc.ca (mailto:mcu@justice.gc.ca) (official Minister's office email)
• Prime Minister of Canada: The Right Honourable Mark Carney
  There is no direct public email; use the official online contact form: https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/connect/contact

(You can write your message here and attach the scanned petition if the form allows, or mention that a physical copy is being sent to your MP.)
Some sources mention pm@pm.gc.ca, but the official form is best for higher chance of response.

Sending these emails creates additional impact, especially since Bill C-9 is still in the Justice Committee stage and Parliament will reconvene soon.

In Shaa Allah, your campaign will succeed!

Prepared by:

Seerah Education Foundation

E-mail: seeraheducationfoundation@gmail.com