Harold Levy, Toronto Star
A former cadet trainee alleges he was terminated from the RCMP training academy in Regina due to systemic discrimination and says he will go to court to have his human rights complaint reconsidered.
Ali Tahmourpour, 31, of Toronto, told a news conference held recently by the Canadian-Muslim Civil Liberties Association he was singled out for wearing a pendant containing passages from the Qur'an and for using Arabic script for his signature.
Tahmourpour learned his federal human rights commission complaint had been dismissed from a letter that states, "the evidence reviewed by the commission does not support the allegation of discrimination."
Anwaar Syed, executive director of the Canadian-Muslim Civil Liberties Association, said, "over the past couple of years there have been a growing number of complaints against the RCMP from various minorities alleging discrimination.
"Over the past few months, there have been even more complaints from Muslim/Arabs regarding profiling, discrimination and racism."
Syed alleged the commission did not thoroughly investigate Tahmourpour's complaint, filed March 21, 2001, because its investigators only interviewed the officers who allegedly discriminated against him and failed to interview other cadets.
Tahmourpour, who still wants to join the force, plans to file in federal court this week.
RCMP spokesperson Rochelle Patenaude said, "He has requested a judicial review. That is his right." A spokesperson for the commission said it does not comment on specific cases.