In the heart of Toronto, a dangerous event is set to unfold once again: Al-Quds Day, an annual rally held on the last Friday of Ramadan rooted in the extremist ideology of Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which calls for the destruction of Israel. What might appear to some as a political demonstration is, in reality, an event driven by a foreign terrorist entity — the Iranian regime, a state sponsor of terrorism that bankrolls groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. This rally does not promote peace or dialogue. It is a direct attack on Jewish people, their right to self-determination, and ultimately, on Canadian values.
The event’s organizers openly state that “Palestine resists; Zionism ceases to exist” — a blatant call for the eradication of Israel and, by extension, the Jewish people’s national homeland. According to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which Canada has adopted, denying Israel’s right to exist is inherently antisemitic.
Already, Jewish neighbourhoods and events are being targeted directly by pro-Hamas activists in Toronto and across the country. If you are not Jewish and your home was blocked by jihadists, how would you feel? It is often said that Jews are the canary in the coal mine. Well, this is a great example of what is happening right here in our country. If Canadians continue allowing this behaviour and do not demand immediate action, they too will be impacted.
The greater danger is that events like this are being given an umbrella of legitimacy under the guise of so-called “anti-Palestinian racism” policies being pushed by certain activists. This Orwellian effort is not about protecting Palestinians from discrimination; rather, it is a calculated strategy to criminalize criticism of anti-Israel extremism. If these government guidelines are allowed to take root, Al-Quds Day and similar rallies will not only be tolerated but actively shielded under the false pretence of fighting racism.
This is a direct threat to public safety. We are already seeing the consequences of unchecked extremism in Europe, where police forces are struggling to regain control of their streets after years of inaction against radical Islamist demonstrations. Every week, new reports emerge of attacks on Jewish citizens and non-Muslim communities and growing no-go zones where authorities fear to tread. Canada must not follow this path.
As jihadist sentiments take free rein in Canada, the government must take urgent action to strengthen hate speech laws and enforce them without political bias. Hate speech is not free speech. It is incitement to violence, and when it goes unpunished, it emboldens extremists who seek to impose their ideology through fear and intimidation. We must categorically reject the notion that those who glorify terrorism, call for the destruction of Israel and target Jewish communities should be allowed to march freely through our streets. The message from our leaders must be clear: there is no place in Canada for those who promote terror, incite hatred and undermine the safety of our citizens.
Our neighbours to the south are already taking steps to curb radicalism on their campuses and in their streets. This week, when asked about the arrest and impending deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a radical Palestinian activist at Columbia University, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson did not mince words.
“If you are on a student visa, and you’re in America, and you’re an aspiring young terrorist who wants to prey upon your Jewish classmates, you’re going home,” Johnson said. “We’re going to arrest your tail and we’re going to send you home where you belong…. I appreciate free speech, I used to defend it in court, but this is far beyond the pale of that; you are threatening your classmates and spewing antisemitism and spewing all this hatred. It’s enough.”
Leaving our economic anger at America aside, this is the kind of attitude Canada desperately needs. Instead, our government is cowering in fear of pro-Hamas activists, refusing to crack down on those who glorify terrorism while silencing those who stand up for Israel and the Jewish community. If our federal, provincial and municipal governments refuse to take action, then it is time to let the Canadian public decide. A national referendum — or province-by-province referendums — should be held to determine whether Canadians want to allow terrorist-backed demonstrations like Al-Quds Day on our streets.
There is no doubt that Canadians are fed up. They have seen the footage of violent antisemitic mobs in London and they do not want the same happening here. They do not want their communities turned into battlegrounds for jihadist propaganda. They do not want their children growing up in a country where hatred against Jews is excused and legitimized.
If our government refuses to act, Canadians must take a stand. The time for silence is over. Canada is at a crossroads: do we stand up against extremism, or do we allow our streets to be hijacked by those who promote terror? The answer should be clear to every Canadian who values peace, democracy and security.
National Post
Avi Abraham Benlolo is the Chairman and CEO of The Abraham Global Peace Initiative.