B’nai Brith

Group sounds alarm on plight of Christians targeted by Islamists

TORONTO, – B’nai Brith Canada has decried the recent wave of attacks against Christians around the world, most recently in Lahore, Pakistan, and warned about the vulnerability of this religious minority as Easter approaches. The persecution of Christians is a serious and growing trend according to the Jewish human rights group, which questions the silence of Church Establishment groups in Canada on the plight of their coreligionists.

Postal Workers distort union mandate in anti-Israel tirade

Toronto, – B’nai Brith Canada has called the latest tirade of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) against the Jewish state a distortion of the union’s core mandate. In its March newsletter, CUPW accused Israel of a list of alleged misdeeds, while berating the government of Canada for its ongoing support of its ally and sister democracy.

Supreme Court Strikes Balance

Toronto, February 27, 201 -- B’nai Brith Canada and its League for Human Rights today welcomed the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission v. Whatcott. The League, represented by its national legal counsel Marvin Kurz, was an intervenor before the Court.

B’nai Brith Canada urges UN to mark Holocaust memorial day by putting its own house in order

TORONTO - B’nai Brith Canada is calling on the United Nations (UN) to mark this Sunday's International Holocaust Remembrance Day by taking concrete action to counter antisemitism in all its forms. The UN designated January 27 as a day that commemorates the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis, but the Jewish human rights organization is pointing out the glaring contradiction between the UN honouring Holocaust victims and yet allowing rhetoric at its meetings that actually fuels hatred against Jews.

Canada’s Jewish Community Congratulates Benjamin Netanyahu on Election Victory

TORONTO, – B’nai Brith Canada, on behalf of the Canadian Jewish Community, has extended congratulations to Benjamin Netanyahu on his election victory. Netanyahu’s joint Likud/Beytenu party is expected to win a combined 31 seats in the 120 seat Knesset, according to the exit polls.

CUPW Goes Postal with Taxpayer Dollars

B’nai Brith Canada is outraged by the Canadian Postal Workers Union (CUPW) misusing taxpayer dollars to single out the Jewish state of Israel for contempt and hatred. The Jewish human rights organization decried the abuse of taxpayer funds to send CUPW members to an anti-Israel propaganda forum in Brazil focusing on boycotting the Jewish state. The union has indicated that it is using money given to it as part of its collective agreement with Canada Post which was earmarked exclusively for solidarity projects with other postal unions.

Facebook and the War

As a recent convert to the world of Facebook, I am overwhelmed by its content and the extent to which individuals reveal their innermost emotions via the social media.

Human Rights Organization welcomes sentencing of Internet Hate Messenger Terry Tremaine

TORONTO, – The League for Human Rights of B'nai Brith Canada welcomes the sentencing decision by the Federal Court in contempt proceedings brought against Terry Tremaine. The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal had found that Mr. Tremaine posted hateful messages against Jews, Blacks and others on the Internet in violation of section 13 (1) of the Canadian Human Rights Act. Tremaine continued to post such messages despite the Tribunal's order to cease and desist. A finding of contempt was subsequently confirmed by the Federal Court of Appeal. Mr. Tremaine was ordered to remove the offending material from the Internet and to cease such discriminatory practice. Mr. Tremaine was also ordered to serve 30 days in jail as well as a further period of up to six months until he complies.

Jewish Community Concerned Over Targeting of Coptic Church

B’nai Brith Canada is expressing concern following a fire at a Brampton Coptic Orthodox Church early this morning that is being treated by police as “suspicious”. Earlier this year a Catholic Church in a nearby area was targeted as well.

Jewish Community Mourns Death of Lincoln Alexander

Toronto, B’nai Brith has extended condolences to the family of Lincoln Alexander and paid tribute to his many accomplishments.

B’nai Brith questions Rwanda’s UN Security Council Seat

Toronto, -- B’nai Brith Canada has questioned a UN system that has enabled the election of Rwanda to the Security Council. This country has been accused of numerous human rights abuses and is charged with supplying arms which fuel conflicts in neighboring countries. The Jewish human rights organization expressed dismay that a country which cannot support internal democracy, freedom of speech and human rights would be selected to deal with the problems of the world.

Ahmadinejad Should be Prosecuted for Incitement to Genocide, not Honoured with UN Platform

TORONTO, – On the eve of Yom Kippur, when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is slated to address the United Nations General Assembly, B’nai Brith has renewed its call for the Security Council to take action on his incitement to genocide of the Jewish people.

Attack on French Jewish supermarket should heighten security awareness in Canada, say B’nai Br

TORONTO, B’nai Brith Canada today condemned the attack against a grocery store serving the orthodox Jewish community in a suburb of Paris, France. Given the current volatile political climate in the Middle East, violent riots protesting perceived anti-Muslim insults, and ongoing threats against Jewish institutions by terror groups linked to Iran, the Jewish human rights organization urged the community in Canada to exercise particular caution during this High Holiday season.

B’nai Brith Canada calls on Senator to sever all ties with Iranian Embassy

Acting on its concerns over Senator Don Meredith’s recent attendance at an event in Ottawa co-sponsored by the Iranian Embassy, B’nai Brith Canada contacted the Senator to alert him to issues raised by concerned Iranian expatriates, the Canadian government and security experts regarding activities of the Iranian regime’s diplomatic representation in this country. The Jewish human rights organization requested that the Senator review his regrettable decision to attend the event, and called on him to sever any and all ties with the Iranian Embassy and its affiliates.

Ontario’s Speaker Fails Ontarians by Allowing Hate Rally to Go Ahead

TORONTO, – B’nai Brith Canada has criticized the decision of the Speaker of Ontario’s Legislative Assembly to allow the “Al-Quds” rally to go ahead tomorrow on the grounds of Queen’s Park. The Jewish human rights agency had contacted both Premier Dalton McGuinty and Speaker Dave Levac to highlight Jewish community concerns given the promotion of hate and violence that transpired at the rally last year, and the cloak of secrecy surrounding the organizers this year. Speaker Levac was urged to overturn the Sergeant-at-Arms’ decision to grant a permit for this event.

Thousands of Syrians murdered, United Church still obsessed with Israeli cucumbers

TORONTO, – B’nai Brith Canada has condemned recommendations passed by the United Church of Canada today that lay the groundwork for the boycott of products from Jewish communities in Biblical Israel. The final vote to approve and actualize this boycott is expected on Friday.

Ontario Sgt. at Arms okays Islamist rally cloaked in secrecy

TORONTO – B’nai Brith Canada has just learned that the Ontario government’s Sergeant at Arms has agreed to issue a permit clearing the way for an “Al-Quds Rally” to take place once again on Queen’s Park grounds on Saturday August 18, 2012. The permit was granted despite concerns brought to Premier McGuinty’s attention by a number of groups including B’nai Brith Canada.

B’nai Brith Canada calls for review of UN Special Rapporteur Richard Falk’s appointment

TORONTO, – B’nai Brith Canada has called for an immediate review of Richard Falk’s position as UN Special Rapporteur on “the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories” following his recent comments to a Palestinian news outlet accusing “the organized Jewish community” of being responsible for the “confiscation” of Palestinian lands.

B’nai Brith Canada denounces glorification of terrorism at Gaza school

TORONTO, – B’nai Brith Canada has denounced the naming of a Gaza elementary school after a senior Hamas terrorist, Adnan al-Ghoul. This school was built with funds from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Terrorist attack against Israelis timed to coincide with AMIA bombing, says Jewish community

TORONTO, – Canada’s Jewish community has condemned today’s terror attack in Bulgaria targeting Israeli tourists that has already caused several deaths and many more injuries. B’nai Brith Canada has also noted the grim irony that today’s attack falls on the 18th anniversary of the Iranian regime-led terrorist bombing of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA), the Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires, which killed 85 people and wounded 300 more. Early reports are now linking Iran and Hezbollah to today’s attack as well.