Stephen Harper waging phony jihad on the niqab: Siddiqui – The Star. http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/09/23/stephen-harper-waging-phony-jihad-on-the-niqab-siddiqui.html I know that I am banging my head against a brick wall when I take up the cudgel against your Muslim apologist Haroon Siddiqui; whom I see you have brought back from retirement to browbeat Stephen Harper and the Conservatives –as if they need any help in that department. Mr. Siddiqui often had sensible arguments in his former station as your regular columnist and management employee; but it seems to me that as a “free-lancer” he is now showing his true colours. He is repeating the argument in favour of the silly woman, Zunera Ishaq; who, having escaped from her repressive homeland by the convenience of marriage to a Canadian; now, after a mere three years, is demanding her “rights” even as she is applying for citizenship. I have in the past voiced my contempt for this absurd affront to “old stock” Canadians, and if fact a vast majority of Canadians; including moderate Muslims and other immigrants like myself. On the immigration policy; including the recent hullabaloo regarding Syrian “refugees”; the Conservatives have a solid majority of support; and the opposition parties –one whom I support –have recently taken a beating in the polls. Thanks to the opposition, fishing for support amongst the various diasporas; Harper has now taken the lead due to the concerns of a large group of “fence sitters” and the much maligned “old stock” Canadians. This single issue is likely to sway enough voters to give Harper another term –or allow him to walk into the sunset with his head held high– Pierre Trudeau style. For this I blame people like Siddiqui and media like the Star; whose blind contempt for anything Conservative – and conservative –have open the door for the Left to turn Right. Sigmund Roseth Mississauga, ON (905) 820-6766 With just 24 days until the election, the federal Conservatives have 35.4 per cent support across the country, according to an Ekos poll conducted for La Presse newspaper.