Toronto (July 2, 2019) - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is disappointed by comments made on social media last year by recently nominated – and ousted – federal NDP candidate Ms. Rana Zaman.

The organization notes a decision made by the federal NDP more than a week ago to remove Zaman – who won the NDP nomination in Dartmouth-Cole Harbour in May – as a candidate after the comments recently surfaced, including one in which she compared Israel to Nazi Germany. According to the IHRA definition of antisemitism, “drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis” is antisemitic.

“Political leadership is important, and candidates should be representative of Canadian values of tolerance and understanding,” said FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo. “In the past, we have offered candidates with opportunities to attend our tolerance training workshops and to learn more about the Holocaust and Israel. That invitation is open to Ms. Zaman.”

Every day, FSWC educates young people throughout Ontario and surrounding provinces about the Holocaust through workshops that inspire Canadians to stand up against antisemitism, hate and intolerance. Each year,the organization also provides workshops to professionals and hosts the Compassion to Action mission to Poland and Israel, educating directors of education, police chiefs and politicians about the past and empowering them to make their communities a better place.