Some B.C. mosques ban NDP MLAs, candidates after Middle East comments from minister

Representatives from more than a dozen British Columbia mosques and Islamic associations have sent a letter to Premier David Eby calling for the minister of post-secondary education to be removed from her role.

They say no NDP MLA or candidate for the next provincial election is welcome in their sacred spaces until the premier takes action against Selina Robinson.

She has faced heavy criticism and calls to resign for days after saying Israel was founded on a "crappy piece of land."

She has since apologized in a social media post, saying her comments were "disrespectful," and she had been referring to the land having limited natural resources.

"I understand that this flippant comment has caused pain and that it diminishes the connection Palestinians also have to the land," Robinson wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday. "I regret what I said and I apologize without reservation."

Eby has said that Robinson's comments were wrong and hurtful and increase division in the province, but has not directly responded to questions regarding whether he considered firing her.

On Friday, he said he believed Robinson "crossed a line" with her remarks and she has assured him she will be reaching out directly to members of impacted communities to make reparations.

"I expressed my disappointment to her about not meeting that standard. She's got some work to do," Eby said.

The letter from Muslim groups, dated Friday, says neither Robinson's apology nor Eby's response address the serious harm done to members of the community and argues Robinson has shown "blatant bigotry" that's tarnished the reputation of the province and the NDP.

"Ultimately, what it comes down to is, does the B.C. NDP condone these attitudes toward any equity-deserving group, let alone Palestinian Arab and Muslim communities that are already at greater risk of harm?" the letter says.

Signatory Haroon Khan, director of the Al-Jamia Masjid mosque in Vancouver, says the NDP's decision not to call for an end to Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza makes Robinson's apology and Eby's assurances "empty words."

"The vast majority of the will of Canadians is that we are against this war, we are against this genocide, and we all want peace. But systematically, we're being denied, [and] our governments are not falling in line with the will of the people," Khan told CBC News on Sunday.

"And unless and until they do, don't come to our sacred places, to our mosques, for a photo op."

The B.C. NDP cancelled a fundraiser scheduled for Sunday evening in Surrey, a party spokesperson confirmed to CBC News.