The commissioner for the fight against racism and systemic discrimination of the City of Montreal, Bochra Manaï, was called to order by Mayor Valérie Plante on Wednesday after The duty revealed that she had shown her support for Palestine on social media and participated in protests in recent weeks.
Mme Manaï thus failed in his duty of reserve. “Municipal officials and commissioners have a duty of confidentiality and we expect it to be respected. This message was delivered to Mrs. Manaï. Madame Manaï will meet all the communities affected by the conflict. There is clearly a bond of trust that needs to be strengthened,” he said by email to Duty the mayor’s office via press secretary Catherine Cadotte.
Since October 7, Mme Manaï has taken numerous positions in favor of the Palestinian people, according to the ten publications of the latter obtained by Le Devoir. On her Instagram account, she notably published messages calling for a ceasefire and an end to the “genocide in Gaza” as well as a poster promoting the demonstration of October 22.
Sweater in the colors of Palestine on his back, Bochra Manaï also appears in a photo published on Facebook taken during a demonstration in support of Palestine which was held on October 28 in Montreal.
Bochra Manaï sent the Dutya letter of opinion in which she considers having fulfilled “a duty of humanity”. She indicates in particular that, as a civil servant, her role “concerns internal change”, and that she “does not have a role of public representation”.
The Advisory Center for Jewish and Israeli Relations (CIJA), which on Tuesday called for the resignation of the commissioner, said it was dissatisfied with the mayor’s response.
“This is not the kind of problem that a meeting can solve. The silence of Mme Manaï and his conduct on social media are sufficiently damaging that it is unrealistic to expect an employee of the City of Montreal, especially if he is Jewish, to have confidence in his ability to fulfill his duties at the within the city,” said Duty the president of the Advisory Center for Jewish and Israeli Relations, Eta Yudin.
Contacted by The dutyAref Salem, leader of the official opposition at Montreal City Hall, believes that Mme Manaï should have abstained. “After the recent public positions taken by Mr.me Manaï, the administration must ask itself the question of whether it still has the legitimacy and moral authority to occupy this function,” declared Mr. Salem.