This week, we urged the government to improve its immigration screening and encouraged widespread participation in our demand to government to pass legislation banning the glorification of terrorism. We submitted amicus curiae observations to the International Court of Justice regarding the specious arrest warrants issued against Israeli leaders, and we supported the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Ottawa faced with an egregious stance taken by Capital Pride.

Read on to learn more.

CIJA

This week, almost 9,000 Canadians sent an email to our Prime Minister asking him to take immediate steps to criminalize the glorification of terror. Since we launched our action alert, pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Toronto called for intifada – death to Jews – while displaying signs with red triangles, used by Hamas to mark targets – right in front of City Hall. In Montreal, a Gaza “Night of Rage” featured glorification of violence and overt support for Hamas. And, in Coquitlam, BC, a Canadian Imam preached Jihad – war against non-Muslims – as the “pinnacle of Islam” and called on the “Jews – may Allah curse them."  It was also discovered that the father of the duo arrested in July in Richmond Hill for planning a mass casualty event inspired by ISIS had a history of terrorist activity prior to immigrating to Canada. 

It is the responsibility of our politicians to ensure the safety of all Canadians. One step the government can take immediately is to make it illegal to glorify terrorism and use symbols of terrorist organizations. If you have not done so yet, please take action today.  

In May, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) sought arrest warrants against Israeli and Hamas leaders, a decision we called “morally outrageous, legally flawed, factually absurd, and dangerous to the cause of justice and peace in international affairs.” In the disappointing and condemnable absence of action by the Government of Canada, CIJA determined we would apply to submit amicus curiae observations to the court to represent and safeguard the interests of the Canadian Jewish community and the integrity of the international legal system in this critical international legal matter. The ICC granted CIJA permission to submit amicus curiae observations on the application for those arrest warrants. You can read our observations here.

‍🌈 CIJA stands with the Jewish Federation of Ottawa and our community partners who are shocked and hurt by Capital Pride’s recent statement, which sows division and polarization and fails to uphold any degree of inclusivity for Queer and Transgender Jewish and Israeli-Canadians in the nation's capital. By making anti-Israel policy a centrepiece of Pride, Capital Pride creates a climate where Jews are targeted, unwelcome, and unsafe. Pride is intended to embrace the diverse backgrounds of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and should not ask anyone to abandon part of their cultural, ancestral, heritage, or religious identity to feel secure, upheld, protected, and included. Read our full statement on our socials.  

Join us Wednesday, August 14 at noon ET for a community security update about the Toronto Police Services Board consultation on Public Order, where members of the public are encouraged to respond before August 30th. During this lunchtime webinar, CIJA will provide a perspective on public safety and order priorities that are relevant to the TPSB’s consultation. At the webinar, we will cover the following updates and information including: an introduction to CIJA’s public safety policy team; a Toronto security update; an update on CIJA’s policy priorities related to public safety and order; and tips for community members to respond to public consultations. Click here to register.

Take Action

It’s time to make terrorist symbols illegal! 
It’s time to condemn Hezbollah!

Community Calendar

August 12 |Tisha B’av (Starts at sunset)
August 14 | Toronto Community Security Update
September 2 | Labour Day
October 2 | Rosh Hashanah (Starts at sunset)
October 11 | Yom Kippur (Starts at sunset)

CIJA in the News  

Toronto police seek Scream mask vandal for anti-Israel graffiti at Jewish sites (The Jerusalem Post) 

Nommé par le gouvernement Trudeau, il est hanté par un ancien alias sur Twitter (ICI Radio-Canada Ottawa-Gatineau) 

Pour le Québec, contre la haine (La Presse) 

Activists praise Ismail Haniyeh at Montreal, Toronto rallies (The Jerusalem Post) 

New human rights commissioner on leave after review, minister says (CBC News) 

New human rights commissioner agrees to 'take leave' as independent review concludes (National Post, + Postmedia Syndication) 

Embattled human-rights commissioner Birju Dattani starts his new job by being on leave, Ottawa says (The Canadian Jewish News) 

Canada must reconsider UNRWA funding after employee firings, observers say (Toronto Sun, + Postmedia Syndication) 

Le nouveau commissaire aux droits de l’homme accepte de « prendre congé » à la fin d’un examen indépendant (Actual News Magazine) 

Jewish advocates demand feds criminalize terror symbols, signs (True North) 

Liberal appointed human rights commissioner on leave following antisemitism accusations (True North) 

Une déclaration de Fierté dans la Capitale en soutien à la Palestine dénoncée (ICI Radio-Canada Ottawa-Gatineau) 

New human rights commissioner on leave after review of online comments - Vassy Kapelos Show (iHeart Radio) 

Community Careers

Staff Lawyer, CIJA Legal Task Force (LTF)
Content Creator (CIJA)
Copywriter (CIJA)
Media Relations Associate (CIJA)
Manager, Communications, Ontario (CIJA)
Hillel Director (Jewish Federation of Edmonton)
Vice President/Director of Development (Jewish Federation of Ottawa/Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation)
Communications and Social Media Officer (Jewish Federation of Ottawa)