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Victims of Communism Memorial Delayed Over Nazi Link Controversy to Open
After the unveiling of the Victims of Communism memorial was put on hold last year - due to the controversy over parliamentarians honouring a Waffen-SS soldier and potential links between the monument and Nazi collaborators - it will be officially unveiled in Ottawa on Dec. 12, with no names on the monument's wall.
Jewish groups have voiced concerns about the names of alleged Nazi collaborators and other fascists being inscribed on the memorial. "What we want is a clear commitment from the minister that the names of those who helped the Nazis or were involved in the Holocaust will not be honoured on this memorial," said Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) official Jaime Kirzner-Roberts.
Computer Game That Glorifies Hamas Pulled Offline in UK
Steam, a video game digital distribution service, rendered the game titled "Fursan al-Aqsa: The Knights of the Al-Aqsa Mosque" unavailable to users identified as being in the United Kingdom following a request by the Counter-Terrorism Internet Referral Unit. FSWC has called for the game to be removed in Canada as well, with the group's Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy Jaime Kirzner-Roberts stating, "This game glorifies horrific acts of terrorism and is rife with violent and antisemitic content, including the explicit recreation of the October 7, 2023 invasion of Israel by Hamas."
Raise a Mug to the CEO of Second Cup for Doing the Right Thing
In his latest Toronto Star article, FSWC President and CEO Michael Levitt recognizes Peter Mammas for his swift and principled action against antisemitism. The head of the company that owns Second Cup acted promptly after videos surfaced of one of his franchisees making antisemitic comments and gestures.
Toronto Synagogue Faces Ongoing Vandalism, Seventh Attack in Months
Kehillat Shaarei Torah of Toronto was vandalized for the seventh time since April on Sunday night. Large anti-Israel decals reading "genocide" were placed on the Jewish National Fund and United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto signs on the synagogue's property.
Ottawa School Board Trustee Sanctioned, to Undergo Antisemitism Training
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) trustees have sanctioned fellow Trustee Donna Blackburn for breaching the board's code of conduct policy by allegedly making "repeated discriminatory comments about the Jewish community." The trustees voted in favour of a formal censure — or public reprimand — and voted unanimously in favour of requiring Blackburn to undergo antisemitism training
Canada Lists Ansarallah, Known as the Houthis, a Terrorist Entity
On Monday, the Canadian government announced its decision to list Ansarallah, commonly known as the Houthis, as a terrorist group under the Criminal Code. Ansarallah is linked to the Iran-based Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC) and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, two other entities listed as terrorist organizations in Canada.
Antisemitic Incidents in Australia Quadruple to Record High Since Oct. 7 Attack, New Report Says
Antisemitism in Australia quadrupled to record levels since the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre in Israel, with Australian Jews experiencing a total of 2,062 antisemitic incidents, up from 495 documented incidents in the previous year, according to a new report published by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ).
In Reversal, German Court Says 100-Year-Old Nazi Guard May Go on Trial
The higher regional court in Frankfurt on Tuesday said it had overturned a decision by a lower court under which a 100-year-old former Nazi concentration camp guard had been deemed unfit to stand trial.
In a Legal First, Italy Compensates Victims of Nazi Crimes
For the first time, Italy has paid compensation to victims of Nazi war crimes, giving $840,000 to the heirs of a man killed in a 1944 civilian massacre in Tuscany. The landmark decision marks a significant shift in the Italian government's approach, potentially setting a precedent for the families of other victims of Nazi and fascist crimes.
He Wrote the History of Jews in Comics. Now He’s Making Jewish Comics History
At the annual JewCE: The Jewish Comics Experience con in Manhattan, Arie Kaplan, who exposed the industry’s Jewish roots, discusses the rise of overtly Jewish characters and what an Oct. 7 comic might look like.
Report Antisemitism and News of Concern to FSWC
If you would like to report antisemitism or news of concern to Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, please email advocacy@fswc.ca.
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