Haroon Siddiqui

Haroon Siddiqui, one of Canada's most highly regarded editors and past president of PEN Canada, has been a voice of moderation and wisdom in the post-9/11 world. A columnist at the Toronto Star, Canada's largest newspaper, he has a readership that includes people from every corner of the earth and practitioners of all the world's religions. He has been critical of his media colleagues for their reliance on sensationalist cliches and stereotypes. He has questioned almost every aspect of George W. Bush's failed "war on terrorism." His work has been notable in promoting understanding. Siddiqui as been awarded the Order of Canada, the nation's highest civilian honor, for his journalistic contributions as well as for his voluntary work in helping to forge the new Canadian identity. A former news editor, national editor and editorial-page editor, he writes from his experience of traveling the world, covering such historic events as the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan, the American hostage crisis in Tehran, the Iran-Iraq war and India's emergence as an economic and global power. He is one of the most trusted voices today on issues surrounding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, on Iran and Islamophobia in the world.