Jewish groups in Canada are decrying an Arabic-language magazine and human-rights organization for two separate incidents of anti-Israel activity.
B’nai Brith Canada has called for the Canadian government to “dissolve” the not-for-profit corporation “Canadian Defenders for Human Rights” after that group’s leader, Firas al-Najim, was caught on film in Arabic praising the terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah, and chanting “Death to America.”
Al-Najim made his remarks during a small rally outside the U.S. consulate in Toronto on Jan. 2 to mark the anniversary of the death of Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, who was assassinated last year in a U.S. drone strike.
According to a translation provided by B’nai Brith, al-Najim said in Arabic: “We will continue fighting alongside … Hamas in Palestine and Hezbollah in Lebanon … . ” He also went on to praise Iran.
Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran’s Al-Quds Force are all listed as terrorist entities in Canada.
“The Government of Canada must act against anti-Semitism and the promotion of terrorist groups,” said Michael Mostyn, CEO of B’nai Brith Canada. “Corporate status bestowed by the government cannot be allowed to serve as a vehicle for such nefarious ends.”
In a separate incident, HonestReporting Canada, which seeks to provide fair and accurate coverage of Israel in the Canadian media, reported that an Arabic magazine published a column that called for the destruction of the Jewish state.
The Dec. 31 edition of Meshwar Media included an Arabic column by a writer named Kamal Khalaf that, according to a translation provided to HonestReporting, saying, in part: “In Gaza, the Al-Qassam Brigades defend the defenseless and besieged people, with all their capabilities” and that “We must actually start working to end the project of the State of Israel on Palestinian land and build our historic national home one every inch of it.”
