Hate crimes and incidents against Jews have doubled in Montreal over the past year, a finding that concerns the Advisory Center for Jewish and Israeli Relations (CIJA). “This type of action cannot be tolerated,” deplores Eta Yudin, vice-president of the organization in Quebec.
No fewer than 212 hate crimes and incidents against Jewish communities have been reported since October 7, 2023, according to data from the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM). The previous year, this figure stood at 92.
“What we are experiencing now is unacceptable. We need concrete actions to stop this scourge of hatred,” said Eta Yudin during a press conference on Tuesday noon.
The Jewish community’s sense of security has deteriorated since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, according to Steve Sebag, president of the board of directors of Federation CJA.
PHOTO PATRICK SANFAÇON, THE PRESS
Steve Sebag, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Federation CJA
No matter what happens in the Middle East, I, like Dad, should never have to explain to my daughters why there is a bullet lodged in the school they go to.
Steve Sebag, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Federation CJA
Steve Sebag and Eta Yudin also deplored that “October 7 celebrations” took place on Monday in the streets of Montreal, a year after the Hamas attacks in Israel which sparked the war in Gaza. “It’s absolutely disgusting,” Steve Sebag said.
“Concrete actions”
Hate crimes and incidents against the Arab-Muslim community have also doubled in the last year, going from 28 to 75 cases, according to SPVM data.
“We condemn all forms of hatred, whether it is Islamophobia or anti-Semitism,” commented Samer Majzoub, president of the Canadian Muslim Forum, according to whom too many victims of hateful acts are afraid to file a complaint.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Samer Majzoub, president of the Canadian Muslim Forum
Samer Majzoub, however, affirms that the demonstrators who took to the streets on October 7 were not celebrating the attacks committed by Hamas.
Rather, they were trying to oppose the killing of innocent Palestinians. It is in our values, as Quebecers, to express ourselves freely, as long as we do not cause trouble.
Samer Majzoub, president of the Canadian Muslim Forum
Montreal must be firmer in the fight against hatred, according to Eta Yudin, who affirmed that Bochra Manaï, the city’s commissioner for the fight against racism and discrimination, “is not up to the task” .
“I will defend freedom of expression to the end,” she added. That said, we have no obligation to provide a platform for hatred and anti-Semitism. »