CIJA Disappointed by Sentencing in Holocaust Monument Desecration Case

Ottawa, ON – January 7, 2026 – Today, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice handed down the sentence in the case of Iain Aspenlieder who, in July, pleaded guilty to a charge of mischief relating to a war memorial. In response, Richard Marceau, Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, and General Counsel, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, issued the following statement:

“It’s said that the Holocaust did not begin with gas chambers or death marches; it began with hateful propaganda, dehumanization, and violent mobs on the streets. Today, the National Holocaust Monument in Ottawa stands as a sacred space of public memory – a place where Canadians honour the millions of victims, teach future generations, and renew the promise of Never Again. Yet this deliberate act of desecration reminds us that the same forces of rhetoric, radicalization, and violent extremism are resurfacing, and we must confront them with vigilance and resolve”

“We are deeply disappointed that today’s sentence, delivered just three weeks before International Holocaust Remembrance Day, does not reflect the gravity of what is indeed a hateful act and its impact on the Jewish community, not only in Ottawa but across Canada. The National Holocaust Monument stands as a solemn reminder of the consequences of unchecked hatred. Holding perpetrators accountable is essential to protecting the dignity of victims and safeguarding the values that unite us as Canadians.”

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Additional Background

• CIJA’s Community Impact Statement – R. v. Aspenlieder delivered on December 1, 2025 at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice