Irum Khan
Danielle Smith, the Conservative Premier of Alberta, has met with strong opposition for her decision to travel to Florida, U.S., and share a stage with Ben Shapiro, a podcaster and known Islamophobe infamous for his intense hatred toward the Muslim community.
In the past, Shapiro has been criticized for his comments against Arabs, including: “Israelis like to build. Arabs like to bomb crap and live in open sewage. This is not a difficult issue.” Regarding Palestine, Shapiro once stated, “The ideology of the Palestinian population is indistinguishable from that of the terrorist leadership.” From equating Islam with third-worldism to promoting articles spreading Islamophobia, Shapiro has a well-documented history of spreading hate.
In his podcast, titled “The Myth of the Tiny Radical Muslim Minority,” he once challenged the idea that “only a small percentage of Muslims are radical,” insinuating that 1.6 billion Muslims are radicalized. His channel currently has 7.23 million subscribers and has bypassed all YouTube regulations on hate mongering.
As for Smith, in a letter before the 2023 elections, she stated: “I will remain dedicated to defending human rights, preserving civil liberties, fostering inclusion, and combating racism and Islamophobia.”
Smith’s decision to visit the U.S. is also being challenged, given the threat to the Canadian economy and the existential crisis created by U.S. President Donald Trump. Sam Blackett, Smith’s press secretary defended the move stating,”At this event, the premier will be able to share Alberta and Canada’s message with an active, engaged and influential U.S. audience amidst the ongoing trade war.”
Smith will be joining Ben Shapiro at a fundraising gala organized by PragerU.
