Just hours after the terrorist knife attack that killed three people in Nice, Justin Trudeau made a point of expressing Canada’s solidarity with the French people. “We absolutely condemn these unacceptable heinous terrorist attacks. There is absolutely nothing that justifies this violence ”, he said, Thursday, October 29, on the sidelines of a virtual meeting with representatives of the European Union. A rapid reaction that contrasts with the long silence observed by the Canadian authorities after the attack which claimed the life of the history and geography professor Samuel Paty on October 16 in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine (Yvelines). The Canadian Prime Minister had waited eleven days before breaking his silence.
Asked Tuesday, October 27 during a press conference normally devoted to Covid-19, Justin Trudeau declared: “The beheading, the murder of Samuel Paty is absolutely unacceptable and unjustifiable. And we join with everyone in condemning this act and remaining in solidarity with our friends and allies in France. “ But the Prime Minister immediately matched his conviction with “This heinous terrorist attack” a warning: ” But at the same time, we are also in a situation where tensions ignite with rhetoric, and we owe it to ourselves to listen and to work in calm to prevent an increase in tensions in the world. “
He announced that he wanted to take the opportunity to meet with world and Canadian leaders of the Muslim community to “Understand their concerns and work to reduce these tensions”. Justin Trudeau had refused to say whether this second reflection constituted a criticism of Emmanuel Macron and his plea for freedom of expression reiterated during his tribute to Samuel Paty, but after the attack in Nice, he added : “We owe it to ourselves to recognize that these criminals, these terrorists, these murderers do not represent Islam or the Muslim people in any way. “
” Two weights, two measures “
André Lamoureux, professor of political science at the University of Quebec in Montreal, judge “Complacent” the statements of the Prime Minister, who took care not to utter the word “Islamist” in its condemnation of the attacks. He sees it as an illustration of the politics of ” Two weights, two measures “ led by the head of government.
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