Toronto (July 17, 2018) - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center(FSWC) opposes the Ontario Civil Liberties Association’s (OCLA) call for Canadato end the imprisonment of Monika Schaefer, who is currently on trial inGermany for publishing videos denying the Holocaust.

In a letter to Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould and ForeignAffairs Minister Chrystia Freeland, the OCLA expressed concern about Canada’s“apparent unwillingness” to come to the aid of Schaefer, who they call aCanadian “political prisoner.”

“In Germany, there are clear laws against Holocaust denial andother forms of antisemitism, something that Schaefer should have kept in mindbefore entering the country,” said FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo.“Allowing the spread of such hate-motivated messages opens the door for othersto do the same, so the justice system in Germany is right in handling this casein a serious manner.”

Through programs such as the Tour for Humanityand diversity workshops, FSWC works daily to educate people of all ages andbackgrounds about the Holocaust, helping increase knowledge of the atrocitiesthat took place and ensure such tragedies never happen again.

Media Contact:
Avital Borisovsky
Communications Associate
(416) 864-9735 ext. 29
aborisovsky@fswc.ca