In July, May came under fire after a 2009 book review he wrote resurfaced that critics said highlighted Islamophobic ideas. In response, May said in a statement that he pledged to meet with Alberta’s Muslim community “to learn more about their experiences in Alberta and work to overcome discrimination against the Islamic community.” But an open letter signed by 28 Alberta-based Muslim organizations published Monday claims May has failed to meet with Muslim leaders. “After receiving the letter, Minister Shandro sought an explanation from Mr. May,” Shandro spokesman Joseph Dow said in an emailed statement. “After considering the explanation, Minister Shandro has called for Mr May’s resignation.” The CBC requested an interview with May or a representative of the Alberta Human Rights Commission on Monday, but did not receive a response. The commission told the CBC in July that its political mandate prevents a leader from giving media interviews in order to maintain neutrality. National Council of Muslim Canadians spokesman Saeed Omar said that after May pledged to work with the community, Muslim leaders proposed meeting dates with May, which she declined. May never responded to their request to suggest dates that worked for him, Omar said. After the initial row, the NCCM also became aware that May had sent letters threatening legal action, Omar said. Omar declined to share who has received legal letters since May, but confirmed that neither the NCCM nor any of the open letter signatories have. The CBC received a letter threatening legal action from May regarding an article published on July 16 about the book review controversy. The open letter calls May’s actions “simply unacceptable”.

  1. Today, more than 22 leading Alberta Muslim organizations and mosques sent a letter to the Minister pic.twitter.com/4rSmUF6FOe —@nccm “At a time when brazen attacks on Muslims in Alberta are on the rise, especially targeting black Muslim women who wear the hijab, Mr. May’s decision to threaten to sue his critics while at the same time offering to reach out to Alberta’s Muslim communities was extraordinary and shocking”. the letter states. May, a lawyer in Calgary, began his new five-year term as chief in July after serving on the commission since 2019. Shortly thereafter, he received criticism for a review of Islamic Imperialism: A History by the Israeli-British historian Efraim Karsh. In the review, May highlighted Kars’ Islamophobic position that Islam is inherently militaristic. “[Karsh] it defies the multicultural illusion about peaceful Islam and goes to the heart of the matter. Islam is not a peaceful religion abused by radicals. On the contrary, it is one of the most militaristic religions known to man, and it is precisely this militaristic legacy that informs the actions of radicals across the Muslim world,” May wrote in his 2009 review. In an interview in July, Omar explained that his understanding of Islam is flawed and not a view held by most, if any, Muslims. The Alberta Human Rights Commission is an independent commission created by the Government of Alberta. The director and his staff handle complaints made under the Alberta Human Rights Act. May’s role, as head of the commission, is to review appeals against the director’s decisions and appoint commission members to serve on human rights tribunals. The leader is also responsible for briefing the minister of justice on human rights issues and providing guidance to the director and other committee members.