TORONTO (September 14, 2017) – Friends ofSimon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) has expressed deep concern on learning that yetanother investigation involving complaints of  incitement of hate andviolence against the Jewish community has closed without charges. Montreal Police have informed FSWC that aninvestigation against two imams whowere captured on video preaching hatred and violence against Jews at a Montrealmosque in 2014 has been closed without charges. 

Montreal Policespokespeople have indicated that the Quebec Crown Attorney believed that toomuch time had passed since the sermons were given. An arrest warrantissued in July of this year against another Imam whodelivered a speech at another Montreal mosque in December 2016 calling the Jewsas “the most evil of mankind” is still outstanding.

"Each of these speeches was anopportunity to spread hate into the hearts of minds of young people andothers. Given these times of rising strife and division, it is crucialthat a clear message be sent by authorities that hate in any form and coming fromany community will not be tolerated. As we noted in our recent petitiondirected to the Ontario Attorney General, an inadequate response to hate onlyemboldens white supremacist groups and Islamic groups who have both called forthe annihilation of the Jewish community," said Avi Benlolo, FSWCPresident and CEO.

The petition STAND UP TO HATE by FSWC was launched todraw attention to the rising tide of hate and intolerance across communitiesafter its complaint to Toronto Police regarding a speech by a Pickering-based Imam - who stated that Jews and Israelis need to be eliminated at the antisemitical-Quds rally in Toronto in June ofthis year.  The complaint is still being investigated.

‍

To arrange an interview with Avi Benlolo, please contact:

Atara Cadesky  
Communications Associate  
416.864.9735 x 30 
acadesky@fswc.ca

Avital Borisovsky
Communications Associate    
416.864.9735 x 30
aborisovsky@fswc.ca

Follow us on Twitter at @CanadianFSWC for latest news and organization updates.

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) is a top Jewish human rights foundation in Canada's organized Jewish community. It directly impacts over 100,000 people each year and 500,000+ peripherally. FSWC is committed to countering racism and antisemitism and to promoting the principles of tolerance, social justice and Canadian democratic values through advocacy and educational programs including workshops, Freedom Day, Spirit of Hope Benefit, Tools for Tolerance and the widely acclaimed Tour for Humanity. FSWC is affiliated with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international Jewish human rights organization headquartered in Los Angeles which has won two Academy Awards, has built two Museums of Tolerance (with a third being built in Jerusalem) and is an NGO at the United Nations, UNESCO, OAS, OSCE, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament. Visit us at www.fswc.ca.