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The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has rejected and dissociated itself from its own anti-terrorism handbook only a day after it was released with much fanfare, citing the manual’s “adversarial tone”.
Last week, the “United Against Terrorism” handbook was released by the RCMP, in association with two Canadian Muslim groups, to combat the rise in radicalization of local Muslim youth and to counter the extremists propaganda being produced by extremist groups like the Islamic State (IS).
However, a day after the book was officially released, the RCMP has said that it will not distribute a copy of the handbook to its officers, and has publicly distanced itself from the manual. The RCMP has not stated portions of the book it objects to, and hasn’t explained its “adversarial tone” comment.
“After a final review of the handbook, the RCMP could not support the adversarial tone set by elements of the booklet and therefore directed RCMP Manitoba not to proceed with this initiative”, the RCMP said in a statement on its website.
It also directed all question about the manual to the Islamic Social Services Association (ISSA) and the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), the two Muslim groups behind the handbook.
“Any questions regarding the distribution, use or intention of the booklet should be directed to the authors, the National Council of Canadian Muslims, and the Islamic Social Services Association”, it said.
It also distanced itself from sections of the guide it didn’t directly contribute to.
“The RCMP contributed to Section 3 of the handbook entitled ‘Understanding Radicalization and the role of RCMP in law enforcement and national security.We are not responsible for other material contained in this publication”, it said.
Officials from both Muslim groups say that the manual has been received well in the community.
“We have received enthusiastic support for this initiative from Canadians across the country and countless requests to distribute the handbook in our diverse communities”, the daily Globe and Mail quoted executive director of the NCCM Ihsaan Gardee and president of ISSA Shahina Siddiqui as saying.
