TORONTO — In response to a National Post article in which an Islamic fundamentalist called for the murder of Zionists and moderate Muslims, the Canadian Jewish Congress is urging Toronto police to investigate whether he should be charged with hate speech and incitement to genocide under the Criminal Code.
CJC wants police to investigate 23-year-old Toronto resident Naeem Muhammad Khan – who considers Osama bin Laden a “hero” and a “champion of Islam” – based on an April 25 article in the Post.
The article referred to Khan’s online postings that said moderate Muslims are “apostates,” and under Islamic law, the punishment for apostasy is death.
He also wrote that “Jews who support Zionism and Israel… since they are killing Palestinians… killing them is not bad… they deserve to die.”
Congress CEO Bernie Farber, TOP RIGHT, said he’s been in touch with Toronto police and expressed his concerns about Khan’s message.
“They will determine whether or not there is enough information for there to be a charge laid,” Farber said.
In a statement, CJC co-president Sylvain Abitbol said he expects Toronto police to launch an investigation immediately.
“Calling for the murder of an identifiable group of people may well constitute the promotion of genocide under the laws of this country,” Abitbol said.
Farber said he was stunned by Khan’s willingness to share his extreme views with the media.
“I guess in this day and age, nothing should surprise us anymore, but he felt so comfortable saying that… Jews who support the State of Israel – and that is the vast majority of Jews around the world – should be killed,” he said.
“This to me, is in my view, as close to a call to genocide as anything I’ve seen. It is certainly hugely troubling.”
CJC co-president Rabbi Reuven P. Bulka said in the statement that he was shocked and horrified by the comments.
“Promoting violence towards members of the Jewish community and those whose practise of Islam is deemed to be inferior is an affront to all Canadians. There is no room for this kind of blatant hatred in our society.”
Toronto police spokesperson Mark Pugash said that although he is unable to discuss specific investigations, he said police are interested in looking at anyone or anything that has the potential to present a risk to public safety.
“What I can tell you is that our highest and most important concern is protecting public safety and we will look closely at anyone we believe has the potential to affect public safety, but I’m not prepared to discuss specifics of cases or individuals.”
