The Toronto District School Board of Canada and CNN of the U.S. stood out this month for fairness when they refused to jump on the Islamophobia wagon.

For North American Muslims, enjoying equal rights with fellow North Americans but harassed by malicious allegations, these actions reflect the decency of the Canadian and American people and offer them hope.

In the Walid Shoebat saga, CNN performed its journalistic duty. It investigated Shoebat who has been raking money, sometimes a half a million dollars a year, speaking and writing denouncing Islam and calling American Muslims a threat to the United States. He has spoken even at U.S. government institutions, basing his ''expertise'' on Islam and terrorism on his experiences as a former Muslim and terrorist.

He was born in Beit Sahour, close to Bethlehem, to a Palestinian father and an American mother. He claims that he bombed Bank Leumi's former branch in Bethlehem and was jailed by Israelis before moving to the U.S. He said he converted to Christianity in 1993.

As CNN's Anderson Cooper stated in two reports, which included interviews with  Mr. Shoebat, the so-called ex-terrorist's claims are dubious. CNN found no evidence of the bombing of Bank Leumi's former branch in Bethlehem or of  Mr.Shoebat being a former Palestinian terrorist or ever being in Israeli jails. His relatives in his village denied his having ever being an activist.

Hopefully, Americans will now see Mr. Shoebat as a self-serving Islam basher whose words are not to be trusted.

In the Canadian case, the Muslims' right to worship was challenged.

For three years Muslim students of the Valley Park Middle School in Toronto have prayed the Friday midday prayer in congregation.  Canadian schools, universities, private offices and government institutions routinely make "reasonable accommodation" to meet the religious obligations of all Canadians.  Sikhs, for example, are allowed to wear the kirpan. Prayer and/or meditation rooms are also provided at Canadian airports.

But now, out of the blue it would seem, the Canadian Hindu Advocacy objected to the use of school premises for prayers. A Jewish Defence League spokesperson called for monitoring the prayers to ensure that the imam conducting such services doesn't preach intolerance. The president of Canadian Muslim Congress, a fringe group claiming to represent Muslims, expressed concern that Ismailis and Ahmadis might not be invited to such prayers because they are not viewed as Muslims while another CMC official objected to girls praying in the back rows.  CMC has said it might sue the school board.

The International Campaign against Sharia Courts leader called the service a "political statement" by Muslim. A Canadian Council of Muslim Women official also called for monitoring the prayers.

Friday congregation prayers are obligatory on Muslims. All that the school did was to enable Muslim students to follow their faith. This is no more a political statement than are services at synagogues, churches or temples. As for "monitoring," media, students and politicians of different faiths often attend Muslim Friday prayers at mosques to listen, exchange views or to just meet Muslims. No Muslim objects.

There is no evidence that Ismaili or Ahmadi students at the Toronto school, if any, wanted to join the prayers and were refused. Ismailis pray at their own jamaatkhanas and their prayer services are reserved only for Ismailis.

Ahmadis do attend Islamic funeral services for their friends. However, they never pray behind Muslim imams. They pray only behind an Ahmadi who owes allegiance to Ahmadi prophets and caliphs.

Muslims, Ismailis and Ahmadis maintain friendly relations in Canada. But they pray among people of their own faiths and, like Canadians of other religions, neither join nor invite others for prayers.

Most Canadians cherish freedom and do not want agitators to sow divisions and acrimony. Christian groups, the Hindu Canadian Alliance, the World Sikh Organization and Jewish Community Council support the right of Muslims, and all other Canadians, to freedom of religion. In many cities Muslims prayed at churches, at their invitation, before their mosques were built.

The Toronto District School Board has stood firm and reiterated that it upholds the religious freedom of all students and will continue to provide them with reasonable accommodation without discrimination or favor. It said Muslim students will continue to pray as they wish.

So Canada remains a model of mutual respect despite occasional efforts to sow dissension. Muslims are grateful for this blessing but they and all Canadians have to remain vigilant to safeguard their freedom and harmony.

Mohammed Azhar Ali Khan is a former Canadian journalist, civil servant and refugee judge. He has received the Order of Canada, the Order of Ontario and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for his work as a journalist, leadership of Ottawa's Muslims and efforts to enhance understanding between Canadians of diverse backgrounds.