In recent weeks, the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) has been attacked for its support of anti-hate-speech laws. A recent article on these pages by writer Michael Ross ("Human rights make for strange bedfellows," March 17) is a case in point.

Two faulty premises leap out: that today's white supremacists and neo-Nazis pose no real threat; and, laughably, that CJC is allied with extremist Muslims who feign victimhood in order to limit free speech.

The U.S. State Department's recently released report on contemporary global anti-Semitism notes that Nazi ideas of racial purity and culture, race and religious segregation still resonate among fringe extremist groups that have adopted anti-Zionist references. The report further notes that these groups are increasingly exploiting the internet to disseminate messages, build networks and recruit new adherents.

The radical right has not gone away. It must be vigorously challenged, both on its own malicious base and as a willing partner to the radical left, for the anti-Semitism it unleashes under the guise of anti-Zionism. When it comes to hate, left and right are irrelevant.

At the same time, CJC clearly understands the primacy of Islamist extremism in the current calculus of anti-Semitism, as our track record proves. A belief that human rights commissions have a role to play in Canada does not put us "in bed with Islamists," nor does it suggest a common vision for that role. We are on the record that well-publicized complaints against Maclean's magazine and Ezra Levant fell far short of the mandated standard of provincial human rights commissions and should not have been accepted.

We have always argued that the state plays a fundamental role in protecting vulnerable minorities from hate speech, but there are limits on such strictures. Far from advocating censorship or suppressing free speech, CJC has consistently argued that the state should not have statutory authority to regulate speech that is merely offensive, "politically incorrect," unpopular, critical or that "hurts feelings."

At the same time, one should not extrapolate from a few isolated cases to argue that human rights commissions in Canada have gone completely off the rails and should be abolished. Perhaps what is needed is a Federal Human rights Ombudsperson with specific legal training in human rights matters. This office could act as a sober second look at any action recommended to go forward.

Similarly, allegations that CJC has stood by timidly in the face of Islamic extremism are simply wrong. CJC has taken up the challenge of confronting Islamists in Canada and abroad. CJC has condemned the global conspiracy theories of former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir and the genocidal wish list of Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Here at home, CJC called out a Nova Scotia academic for attending Iran's Holocaust-denial conference. We have long advocated reform of key UN bodies and agencies to preclude their good work being vitiated by Islamic countries that readily replace existing mandates with their narrow political agendas.

We work with internet service providers to have objectionable Islamist material available in Canada removed. This includes a poem glorifying decapitation and anti-Semitic postings on a website associated with the Calgary Muslim Association.

CJC has challenged inflammatory and extremist statements by the Canadian Islamic Congress and filed complaints with the British Columbia hate crimes unit against a racist Vancouver-based sheik and a Delta, B.C., Muslim newspaper editor over the publication of an anti-Semitic diatribe.

In the face of cries of "Death to the Jews" in Canadian cities, CJC organized a series of conferences on promoting civil discourse with representatives of a wide variety of NGOs, faith and ethnocultural communities who pledged to discuss contentious political issues in ways consistent with Canadian values.

CJC put together a successful coalition effort with the moderate Muslim Canadian Congress, the Canadian Council of Hindus and gay and lesbian advocacy group EGALE to bar entry to Canada of an extremist British Muslim cleric who was an equal-opportunity hatemonger targeting groups on the basis of religious affiliation and sexual orientation.

CJC has steadfastly advocated for an effective and comprehensive anti-terrorism regime, including the careful use of security certificates, recognizing the vulnerability of all Canadians to terrorist acts of all stripes.

We work in partnership with Muslim Canadians committed to co-operative efforts for improving Canadian society. Building bridges between the two communities takes time, but we have already found common ground in combating racism and discrimination. CJC continues to invest in this relationship-building with reasonable interlocutors.

In the end, CJC can stand the heat when we differ respectfully with others. But we cannot stay silent when our views are misrepresented. CJC has a long and storied history of championing Canadian values, and we are resolute in continuing that tradition. We will not relent in our effort to combat the threats from all extremists in whatever forms they take. Our unyielding commitment to a strong, hate-free, harmonious Canada will continue to define Canadian Jewish Congress. - Rabbi Reuven Bulka and Sylvain Abitbol are co-presidents of Canadian Jewish Congress.

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