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Canada’s new Conservative Party leader promises to act against antisemitism

Canada’s new Conservative Party Leader has promised to act against antisemitism.

Erin O’Toole told an online audience that the Conservative Party has “total unanimity” on its strong support for issues directly affecting the Jewish community.

The announcement follows controversy earlier this summer in which one of the Party’s MPs retweeted a video about George Soros, a financier, philanthropist and controversial political activist who is often the subject of antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Mr O’Toole subsequently stated that the Conservatives, under his leadership, would continue to be strong advocates against rising rates of prejudice in the country and reported that he has been in contact with Jewish community leaders to express solidarity in the fight against antisemitism.

Elected as Party leader in August, Mr O’Toole reportedly told the online audience that he personally finds the recent increase in antisemitism “deeply troubling” and stated that all levels of government must take action. He continued: “If we are not staying ahead of this by calling it out then we’re not doing a service to peace, order and good government.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

05/11/2020

Canada, Incidents Website

Man found guilty of promoting hate against Jews in British Columbia, Canada reportedly breaches his probation by posting offensive cartoons

A man has been found guilty of breaching his probation following his conviction for wilfully promoting hatred against Jews in 2017 in British Columbia, Canada, according to B’nai Brith Canada.

Through his website RadicalPress.com, Arthur Topham allegedly called for Jews to be forcibly sterilised and claimed that Canada was “controlled by the Zionist Jew lobby” while also describing Jewish places of worship as “synagogues of Satan”. He was first charged in 2012 over the hateful content and the website was taken down.

He was convicted by a jury in November 2015 for one count of communicating online statements that wilfully promoted hatred against Jewish people. According to evidence provided during the trial, Mr Topham’s online newspaper allegedly endorsed overt antisemitic conspiracy theories and tropes. The trial was the first hate crime prosecution in British Columbia in almost a decade.

The British Columbia Supreme Court rejected a subsequent appeal, brought on constitutional grounds, in 2017 and Mr Topham’s sentence to a six-month conditional sentence, two years probation and a curfew was brought into force. The sentence has been criticised as too lenient. Mr Topham was also ordered to abide by terms of his probation, which included a ban on all online activity that related to “any information about persons of Jewish religion or ethnic origin”.

Earlier this year, however, Mr Topham was charged with violating his probation by allegedly posting offensive cartoons across his social media platforms. The captions that accompanied the antisemitic images are alleged to have included the claims that “I’m a proud convicted criminal given the facts and who the enemy is” and “It’s time to stand up and be proud to call yourself an ‘antisemite’”.

A date for Mr Topham’s sentencing on the breach of probation charge is set to be confirmed shortly.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.Image credit: B’nai Brith Canada

30/10/2020

Canada, Incidents Website

Canada’s Prime Minister condemns antisemitic desecration of National War Memorial

The Canadian premier has condemned the desecration of the country’s National War Memorial after an antisemitic hate symbol was carved into it on 16th October.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described the “antisemitic desecration” of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Canadian capital, Ottawa, as “completely unacceptable”.

In a statement on Twitter he said: “I strongly condemn this hateful act.” He urged anyone with information to contact police.

The Hate Crimes Unit of the Ottawa Police is looking for the man suspected of carving the antisemitic symbol. The suspect is believed to have rode a bicycle to the city-centre National War Memorial – site of Canada’s annual, national Remembrance Day ceremony – and scratched hate graffiti onto the tomb before riding away.

Canada’s Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said that the “hateful” desecration of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier “with an antisemitic symbol” was “despicable,” declaring: “The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier represents the gallantry and the sacrifices of all those who fought for our freedom. Its desecration with an antisemitic symbol is despicable.”

Ottawa Police have issued a description of the suspect. A police spokesperson said that the graffiti was removed within 24 hours.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has now expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

Image credit: Ottawa Police Service

26/10/2020

Canada, Incidents Website

Swastikas and “Jews did it, 9/11” graffiti appears in Toronto area park

Police in Ontario are appealing for witnesses after antisemitic graffiti appeared in Richmond Hill.

Located in the Greater Toronto Area, Richmond Hill is one of the York’s largest towns. The graffiti, which includes swastikas and blames Jews for 9/11, appeared on 13th October.

Shortly after 13:00 on that day, police were called to a neighbourhood park after antisemitic and other racist graffiti was reported. When officers arrived, they also found that a bench had been vandalised.

Investigators, including from the York Regional Police Hate Crime Unit, are asking witnesses or anyone with information or video footage to come forward.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist us with this project.

Image credit: Bnai Brith Canada

21/10/2020

Canada, Politics Website

Canadian human rights executive posts antisemitic meme of ‘Jewish’ octopus with tentacles wrapped around Congress

A Director of a Canadian human rights group has posted a virulently antisemitic meme and antisemitic text on Facebook and Twitter, according to a report.

Aliya Hasan, also known as Aliyawa Jamal Hasan, a Director of Canadian Defenders for Human Rights (CD4HR), uploaded a post to Facebook on 14th October featuring an octopus with a Star of David symbol and a letter “Z” (for Zionist) on its head and its tentacles wrapped around the Capitol building. Each tentacle bore the initials of a Jewish organisation. The caption read: “Dear Americans, Sorry to break it to you, but America is under occupation and Biden and the Democrats won’t change that. Sincerely, The rest of the sane world.”

Commenting on her own post, Ms Hasan wrote: “I’ll be getting blocked by some more diehard dems [Democrats] soon.” She accompanied her post with ‘sad-face’ and ‘crying’ emojis.

She added, “Just letting the trash take itself out,” with a series of ‘laughing’ and ‘crying with laughter’ emojis.

On October 14, 2020 Hasan tweeted: “Dear Americans, Sorry to break it to you, but America is under occupation and #Biden and the #Democrats won’t change that. Sincerely, The rest of the sane world.” She attached the same antisemitic meme of an octopus with its tentacles wrapped around America’s seat of government.

The notions of the Jews as excessively powerful – often illustrated through tentacles imagery – and parasitic are common antisemitic themes.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

Dear Americans,
Sorry to break it to you, but America is under occupation and #Biden and the #Democrats won’t change that.
Sincerely,
The rest of the sane world. pic.twitter.com/TZLHHVg5RU
— Aliya Hasan🇵🇸🇾🇪❤️✌️ (@AliyaHasan_) October 14, 2020

19/10/2020

Canada, Politics Website

Front-runner in Canada’s Green Party, dogged by allegations of antisemitism, has been defeated by a Black Jew

The frontrunner in the contest to become leader of Canada’s Green Party, who has been dogged by allegations of antisemitism, has been defeated by a Black Jewish candidate.

Dimitri Lascaris, a Montreal class-action lawyer, was one of eight candidates for the leadership of the Party, having previously being accused of “antisemitic smears” by the Canadian Prime Minister and sacked as Justice spokesperson by the Green Party Leader over his support for the Boycott Divestment Sanctions movements.

In 2018, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Mr Lascaris of “vile, antisemitic smears” after Lascaris accused two Jewish MPs from Mr Trudeau’s Liberal Party of being “loyal to apartheid Israel.” Mr Lascaris also reportedly tweeted in 2019: “When will the Palestinian people stop paying for the unspeakable atrocities of Germany against the Jewish people?”

Mr Lascaris has been defeated in the primary by Annamie Paul, who said that she has been the target of “a lot of hate” throughout the campaign, particularly antisemitic comments on social media.

The ongoing leader, Elizabeth May, who has led the Party for fourteen years, will remain its Parliamentary Leader, as Ms Paul does not have a seat in Parliament.

Campaign Against Antisemitism have expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

07/10/2020

Canada, Incidents Website

Antisemitic stickers appearing in Halifax condemned by Canadian Jewish community

Members of Halifax’s Jewish community are publicly condemning antisemitic stickers that have begun appearing around the city over recent weeks.

The stickers read, “The Bug That Backfired COVID-19” in black and white print, and feature a Star of David and a symbol commonly associated with Freemasonry. Many have reportedly been seen in the downtown area of Halifax and across college campuses also around the city.

One local Jewish leader explained that the rhetoric draws inspiration from the antisemitic text ‘The Protocols of the Elders of Zion’ that outlines conspiracies surrounding Jewish domination of the world, and she voiced concerns that the COVID-19 outbreak was causing a rise in such antisemitic sentiments amongst “a very small, very radical group”, who seek to use the Jewish community as a “scapegoat”.

Her organisation insisted, however, that this line of thinking is not representative of Halifax and Nova Scotia at large, and that the Jewish community has always felt welcome and safe in the provincial capital.

The public has been encouraged to report any stickers to Jewish communal groups and to the Halifax Regional Police, in order to ensure the incidents are not “let go”.

The police confirmed that at least one report of the stickers had been received.

Far-right sticking campaigns have also been a problem in the UK.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

Image credit: Atlantic Jewish Council

06/10/2020

Canada, Incidents Website

Police name suspect wanted in connection with antisemitic incidents in Ontario, Canada

Investigators have identified an individual suspected in connection with several antisemitic incidences in Thornhill, Ontario as 43 year-old Kurt Edwards. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

On 18th September, officers responded to a report from a caller who was outside a synagogue when a male, unknown to him, began shouting antisemitic comments. The victim filmed the suspect who advanced towards the caller’s vehicle in an alleged attempt to assault the caller and his son.

In the video recording shared on social media, the suspect shouts, “Because you’re a piece of s***, you’re Jewish, you run the f****** world!”, before attempting to place his hand inside the car.

The suspect is believed to be responsible for six other related incidents which occurred over Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Private homes and garages were defaced with hateful graffiti that read, “Jews run the world” and “Jews hate blacks”. A vehicle had also been vandalised in the community of Thornhill, north of Toronto, home to Canada’s largest concentration of Jewish residents.

In Ottawa, another male reportedly spat and hurled insults towards worshippers in an outside service on the 19th September.

Investigators with the York Regional Policing Hate Crime Unit and the #4 District Criminal Investigations Bureau are now appealing to the general public in the city of Vaughan to help locate the man wanted in connection with the aforementioned hate crimes. York Regional Police have issued a statement that asks those with further information to come forward, and have emphasised a zero tolerance policy to ensure those responsible are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

Image credit: York Regional Police

02/10/2020

Canada, Media Website

Controversial Polish priest is banned by Archdiocese of Edmonton in Canada

The Archdiocese of Edmonton has denounced a priest and head of Poland’s controversial Radio Maryja, Father Tadeusz Rydzyk.

The decision came after B’nai Brith Alberta approached the Archdiocese with concerns the priest would continue to visit the region.

In 2016, Radio Maryja alleged that United State senators were critical of the Polish government because of the senators’ Jewish background. The radio station reportedly received sanctions for the broadcast.

In the following year, Father Rydzyk aired a sermon in which he criticised many of his followers for “synagogue-type behaviour”.

It has been suggested that the broadcaster has a 25-year history of airing antisemitic content to its audience, and it has been denounced by two popes in the past.

Abe Silverman, spokesperson for B’nai Brith Alberta, stated: “We are grateful to [Archbishop Richard Smith] and his diocese for taking this principled and very important step to recognise that there are just some people in this world that you want to try and avoid because they’re divisive and racist.”

Andrew Erhkamp, spokesperson for the Archdiocese, said that there has been no further request to invite Father Rydzyk, and that future requests to do so would be denied to all parishes.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has expanded our coverage of antisemitism worldwide. Please contact us if you would like to share feedback or volunteer to assist with this project.

25/09/2020

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