VANCOUVER – The lawyer for an Islamic man says an article published in Maclean's magazine was hateful and contemptful of Muslims.

Faisal Joseph told a B.C. Human Rights Tribunal panel that the article by Mark Steyn failed to show the vulnerability of the group it focused on – Muslims – failed to show alternative points of view and presented its argument as fact.

Joseph was making his closing submission to the panel.

Two members of the Canadian Islamic Congress filed the complaint with the rights tribunal over the excerpt of Steyn's book, published by Maclean's in October 2006.

They say the article, titled "The future belongs to Islam," is "flagrantly anti-Muslim" but the magazine has said the complaint infringes on freedom of the press.

The tribunal hearing is expected to wrap up Friday after hearing from the lawyer for the magazine.

http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/438853