Matthew Behrens

Matthew Behrens is a freelance writer and social justice advocate who coordinates the Homes not Bombs non-violent direct action network. His column "Taking Liberties" examines connections between national security and civil liberties. Behrens has worked closely with the targets of Canadian and U.S. "national security" profiling for many years.

Columnists

Jan 19, 2015

No Chelsea morning for hypocritical world leaders in Paris

Matthew Behrens

In the wake of the Paris shootings, as voicing uncomfortable truths becomes increasingly risky, governments get set to introduce more repressive measures that mock freedom of expression.

Columnists

Dec 22, 2014

No room at Canada's inn

Matthew Behrens

For refugees worldwide, the same demeaning sign is hung at the entrance of far too many countries, including Canada: you are not wanted, you are not admissible, you are undesirable, you are dangerous.

Columnists

Nov 26, 2014

Militarism degrades, disrupts and destroys democracy

Matthew Behrens

As the Canadian government plays at fighting wars in Iraq/Syria and in eastern Europe, we see daily examples of how militarism ultimately degrades, disrupts and destroys democracy.

Columnists

Oct 23, 2014

Reflections on a violent day in Ottawa

Matthew Behrens

The tragic events in Ottawa give us an opportunity to examine our addiction to violence as the solution to conflict. Will we use the chance to disengage from our increasingly militarized culture?

Columnists

Oct 22, 2014

Demonizing those Canada calls 'radicalized'

Matthew Behrens

Like moral panics that have framed particular groups as the new internal enemy, youth both idealist and alienated now fit the focus of terror suspect, especially if they are Muslim and plan to travel.

Columnists

Sep 24, 2014

ISIS: Their barbarism… and ours

Matthew Behrens

The barbarism that is ISIS has its roots in the barbarism that was Canadian and "coalition" war policy in the obliteration of Iraq in the 1991 "Gulf" war and subsequent sanctions.

Columnists

Aug 22, 2014

Poland in the torture hot seat: Is Canada next?

Matthew Behrens

A little-noticed European Court of Human Rights decision regarding Polish complicity in torture may well have ripple effects on this side of the Atlantic and, hopefully, produce some accountability.

Columnists

Jul 23, 2014

The pain and suffering behind Canada's immigration inventory

Matthew Behrens

In a sign that the government has gone overboard with its anti-migrant policies, even the Federal Court of Canada has been left with no choice but to try and rein in some of the more odious decisions.

Columnists

Jun 20, 2014

Colliding worlds in an Ottawa courtroom highlight Canada's gender-based violence

Matthew Behrens

An Ottawa courtroom recently witnessed the rare intersection of numerous taproots of violence undergirding Canadian society, in the sentencing hearing of Ashley White.

Columnists

May 21, 2014

Productive week for Canada's desk torturers in Harkat, Diab cases

Matthew Behrens

Two judicial decisions released last week in the cases of Mohamed Harkat and Hassan Diab remind us that the concept of national security is incompatible with democracy.

Matthew Behrens

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