5 things to know about the Commons motion on Islamophobia

MPs debated a Liberal-sponsored anti-Islamophobia motion and a Conservative counter-motion this week amid much public confusion and misinformation.At the centre of the heated political battle is a single word: "Islamophobia."

Here are fivethings to know about the motion.

1. What will it do?

The motion, officially known as M-103, was tabled by MississaugaErin MillsLiberal MP Iqra Khalid on Dec. 5, 2016. Itaims to condemn and combat Islamophobia, acts of discrimination and hate against Muslims. This week's debateunfolded inthe emotional aftermath of the Jan. 29mosque shooting in Quebec City, wheresix Muslim worshippers were killed.

It does three things:

• Calls on the government to condemn Islamophobiaand all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination.
• Asks the government to recognize the need to quell the increasing public climate of hate and fear.
• Requests the Commons heritage committee to study how the government could develop a government-wide approach to reducing or eliminating systemic racism and religious discrimination, includingIslamophobia, and collect data to provide contextfor hate crime reports and to conduct needs assessments for impacted communities. Findings are to be presentedwithin eight months.

Saskatchewan Conservative MP David Anderson, his party's religious freedom critic, presented a counter-motion on Opposition day, which mirrors M-103 but removes the word 'Islamophobia' and instead calls on government to "condemn all forms of systemic racism, religious intolerance anddiscrimination of Muslims, Jews, Christians, Sikhs, Hindusand other religious communities."

2. Is it a motion or a bill?

While some have mischaracterized it as a "bill" or a "law," out of confusion or deliberate attempts to spread misinformation, M-103 is actually a private member's motion.

A motion is a proposal moved by an MP to draw attention to an issue consideredurgent or of public interest. It cannot become a law, but it can lead to the development of a bill that could eventually become a law

A bill is a draft of a proposed law which must be passed by the House of Commons and Senate before it becomes a law.

3. What is Islamophobia?

Much of the debate insidethe House of Commons and across the country focused on this word, and whether its reference in the motion will tackle the growing problem head-on, or erode free speech. TheLiberals insistthe wordis clear and well understood, whilethe Conservatives say it's confusingand potentially harmful.

On Wednesday Khalid offered this: "What is Islamophobia? The most commonly used definition, and the one I ascribe to, is that Islamophobia is the irrational hatred of Muslims that leads to discrimination," she said.

Anderson countered: "This is a word that we see often but one that many people are uncomfortable with because they do not know what it includes."

Karim Achab, a linguistics professor at the University of Ottawa, said any word with "phobia,"such as claustrophobia, sociophobia or homophobia, impliesadisorder and suggestspeople who have a negative opinion about Islam and who are vocal about it should be seeking medical or psychological help.

He believes the term is used to make people feel guilty and silence criticism about Islam. He said a moreappropriate term would be one using the prefix anti-, as in anti-Semitism.

Amira Elghawaby, spokeswoman for theNational Council of Canadian Muslims, said the termIslamophobia is commonly used in Canada is to describe the irrational fear or hatred of Muslims that leads to discrimination or actual acts of harassment or violence.

Dislike of or prejudice against Islam or Muslims, especially as a political force.Oxford Dictionary definition of Islamophobia

She said theterm is widely used bycommunity members, public officials and academics, as well by international organizations including the United Nations, and called it "unfortunate" that the divisive debate is shifting focus away from collective effortsto make everyone feel safer.

Oxford Dictionary defines Islamophobia as"dislike of or prejudice against Islam or Muslims, especially as a political force," while Webster's online dictionary defines it as "prejudiceagainstMuslims."Merriam-Webster offers a definition most similar to Khalid's, which is "irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination againstIslamor people who practise Islam."

4. Why are some people opposed?

M-103 has become a lightning rod, attracting a flurry of comments and conversations on social media, blogs and websites.

Some critics of the motionworry it could infringe on free speech and the charter right to freedom of expression, because criticismof Islam could be construed as Islamophobia. Some have even raised the fear that the parliamentary study could ultimately lead to legislative changes, including Shariahblasphemy laws. Others object to Islam beingsingled out as a religion in need of special protection.

M-103 has also provoked thousands of hateful messages and threatsdirected at Khalid and Heritage Minister Melanie Joly, whodeclared the government's "strong and clear" support for the motion.

5. What happensnext?

M-103now goes to the bottom of the list of private member's business and is expected to returnfor an hour of debate in early April.

At that time, it could be passed in theHouse but if a recorded vote is requested, that would occur the following Wednesday.

The political debate will likely continue to rage in the meantime, with several Conservative leadership candidates seizing the issue or even fundraising on it. The Liberals are also using M-103to showcase the government's "diversity is our strength" message.