Toronto (September 10, 2019) - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) commends the University of Toronto administration for ensuring that accused terrorists do not have an open platform on campus.

Last week, FSWC immediately notified UofT administrators and brought attention to the matter after discovering that Issam Al-Yamani was scheduled to speak at UofT today as part of an event organized by Students Against Israeli Apartheid UofT. Al-Yamani has been accused by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) of being a member in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a terrorist organization that took responsibility for the murder of 19 Israelis including 4 children. CBSA called Al-Yamani a “danger to the security of Canada” and the Immigration and Refugee Board ordered his deportation in 2005, however he still remains in Canada.

“We are very pleased that the Issam Al-Yamani event will no longer be taking place on UofT campus,” said FSWC president and CEO Avi Benlolo. “Individuals connected with terrorism and violence against civilians should not benefit from an audience at our universities. We must stand up to those who promote violence, those looking to spread hate among our students.”

Al-Yamani’s talk has been re-scheduled to take place at an office of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) on Bloor St.

“We are surprised that a Canadian union representing public employees would agree to allow someone to speak at their office who is an accused terrorist, someone alleged to have been involved in terrorist operations that led to the death of children,” Benlolo said.

FSWC has contacted CUPE leadership regarding this event and demands that the union take a stand against those connected with terrorist violence by cancelling Al-Yamani’s talk.