Intelligence Brief
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1. FSWC Monitoring Charges Laid Against 'Your Ward News' Publisher
Criminal charges were reportedly laid today against the editor and publisher of "Your Ward News." Toronto residents - Warren and Lisa Kinsella - filed a criminal complaint against two men behind the publication after the editor is believed to have encouraged supporters to "bludgeon the Kinsellas to death."
2. Thunder Bay MP Appalled by City's Hate Crime Rate
As we celebrate National Aboriginal Day today, we are still reminded of the reality indigenous people face in communities across Canada. When discussing Canada's recent hate crimes report - which states 29 per cent of anti-aboriginal hate crimes in 2015 occurred in Thunder Bay - Thunder Bay MP Patty Hajdu said she's appalled but not surprised by the numbers.
3. More Terror in Europe: Attacks Prevented in Brussels and Paris
Europe was once again targeted by radical Islamic extremists earlier this week, as potential terror attacks were rendered impotent by security forces in Paris on Monday and in Brussels yesterday. In Paris, a car-ramming attack failed when the impact of the crash killed the driver, without triggering the explosives in the vehicle. In Brussels, a man was shot by police officers inside a subway station after his suicide bomb failed to properly detonate.
4. Canadian Holocaust Scholar Targeted by Polish 'Campaign of Hate'
Jan Grabowski - a University of Ottawa professor - says he's being attacked with death threats for what some people believe to be slandering Poland's reputation. After spending years studying the Holocaust in Poland, he has stated that many Poles who killed Jews were not simply forced to collaborate with Nazis, but were realizing a "dream of a Jew-free Poland." He has since been defended by dozens of historians.
5. Students at San Francisco State University Sue School for Fostering Antisemitism on Campus
Students at San Francisco State University in California have filed a lawsuit against their school which alleges that the university has fostered a climate of antisemitism on campus that puts Jewish, and pro-Israel students, at risk. The lawsuit states that the administration at SFSU has created an atmosphere of antisemitism, which is "marked by violent threats to the safety of Jewish students on campus."
6. Vast Collection of Nazi Artifacts Found in Argentina
Interpol discovered one of the worlds largest, and most disturbing, trove of Nazi-era artifacts in Argentina earlier this month in Buenos Aires. Officials believe that the artifacts are authentic, and were likely brought to Argentina by high-ranking members of the Nazi regime, who infamously fled to the South American nation following the end of World War Two. The artifacts are now on display at the Delegation of Argentine Israeli Associations in Buenos Aires.
7. Ontario Hockey Player Heading to Maccabiah Games in Israel
Aaron Berisha - a former player for the London Knights, a junior ice hockey team - will soon be heading to the Maccabiah Games in Israel to represent team Canada. The Toronto native will play alongside his brother as they represent their country and family's Jewish heritage. The Canadian hockey team won the gold medal at the last Maccabiah Games and will open the hockey tournament on July 5 with a rematch against the US.
From the Arab World
An Iranian-made drone -which was thought to be armed - wasshot down by a US jet onMonday. The drone was operated by forces backing the Syrian government. InMosul, Iraqi military is stating that ISIS fighters have blown up the famous Grand al-NuriMosque. Iraqi forces have continued to advance through Mosul'sOld City - rescuing escaping civilians who have been trapped behind ISIS lines.According to a senior commander in the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), therehas been a fierce battle against ISIS and progress has been slow. Tensioncontinues to heighten between Iran and Saudi Arabia after Saudi Arabia intercepted a boat loaded with weapons anddetained three members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Iranian officialshave denied this information, stating the vessels were fishing boats.
FSWC at Work
Earlier this week, FSWC'sstate-of-the-art, award-winning mobile learning classroom, the Tour for Humanity, visited public schools in the city of Toronto, and welcomed students in grades 4 through 7. The students had many interesting questions for our FSWC educators, including one curious fourth grader who inquired as to why the Nazi Germans conquered much of Europe in the early years of WWII - but left Switzerland unoccupied. FSWC educators took the question as an opportunity to teach the students about the value of speaking up in the face of injustice - even when that injustice may not affect you directly. FSWC takes great pride in being at the forefront of bringing Holocaust and tolerance education to classrooms across Canada, and helping to provide young Canadians with the tools needed to build the accepting communities of tomorrow.
PHILANTHROPY CORNER
FSWC is a designated Canadian charitable organization that provides tax receipts for charitable contributions. A donation to FSWC is tax deductible and provides an incredible footprint of direct action in our community. If you want to change lives and provide for positive community development, consider extending your philanthropy to Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center this summer.
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