OTTAWA (ap) — Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien criticized a museum Wednesday for postponing an exhibit of Arab-Canadian artists because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.
The Canadian Museum of Civilization announced Tuesday it was postponing the exhibit titled Lands Within Me, on the experience of Arabs emigrating to Canada, which was scheduled to open Oct. 8.
Museum spokesman Pierre Pontbriand said the indefinite postponement would allow the addition of more information and historical context about the Arab world after the terrorist attacks.
Chretien, asked during Parliament debate about the matter, drew a standing ovation in the House of Commons when he said the museum made the wrong decision.
“I’ve been informed they want to do the exhibition in the month of March — if it is good for March 2002, it is good for October 2001,” he said.
Since the attacks, Chretien has repeatedly condemned assaults and harassment of people perceived to be Muslim or Arab and urged Canadians to show tolerance and understanding for Islam and its followers.
Museum president Victor Rabinovitch acknowledged the criticism in announcing the exhibit’s opening.
“Personally, I regret any hurt that may have been caused by our original decision to delay the opening,” he said. “Given the reaction of so many people, our decision is simply: `Fine, we’ll go ahead as intended.”’
