13 Facts About Monia Mazigh

Monia Mazigh has a PhD in financial economics from McGill University and speaks Arabic, English and French fluently.

Monia Mazigh has stated that until 2002, her goal was to become a professor instead of a politician.

Monia Mazigh first entered the public spotlight when her husband was deported to Syria in 2002 by the US government, on suspicion of terrorist links.

Monia Mazigh was tortured and held without charge for over a year before being returned to Canada.

Monia Mazigh joined with a number of human rights groups to press the government for his release.

Monia Mazigh appeared frequently in the media and was widely respected for her tireless efforts.

Monia Mazigh was courted by the Liberal Party, but chose to stand as a candidate for the NDP.

Monia Mazigh had reportedly grown personally close with NDP foreign affairs critic, and former federal leader, Alexa McDonough, and she perceived the NDP as having been more emphatic than the other parties in calling for her husband's release.

However, Monia Mazigh's candidacy was unusual in that Monia Mazigh personally does not support same-sex marriage; had she been elected she would have been the only NDP MP, alongside Desmond McGrath, NDP candidate in the riding of Random-Burin-St George's in Newfoundland and Labrador, to oppose same-sex marriage by abstaining from a vote.

Monia Mazigh joined several individuals and groups in criticizing the NDP's more friendly attitude to Israel following the departure of Svend Robinson from the role of foreign affairs critic.

Monia Mazigh ran against but lost to Liberal candidate David McGuinty, the brother of Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty.

Monia Mazigh was employed as a professor of finance, at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia for about one year until spring 2007.

In 2011, Monia Mazigh endorsed the Canadian Boat to Gaza, part of the Freedom Flotilla 2 which aims to end the Israeli blockade imposed on the 1.6 million Palestinian civilians living in the Gaza Strip.