They allow freedom of speech in Toronto. Groups who participate in “Al-Quds Day” indulge.
Al-Quds Day, for the uninitiated, is a contrivance of Iran, which, back at the beginning of its Islamic revolution in 1979, decided to honor Jerusalem (“Al-Quds”) by denouncing its sovereignty under Israel and by denouncing Israel generally. The purpose of Al-Quds Day is to galvanize hatred of Israel, not praise of Jerusalem.
The success rate is high, certainly judging by the results in the free city of Toronto, under the free legislature of Ontario. In 2011, speakers at the Al Quds Day rally accused Israelis of being “racist,” “inhuman” and “barbarians” who “suck the resources and blood from people all around the world.” That’s free speech in Toronto.
As it happened, somebody recorded that. Whereupon the tape was provided to the authorities in Toronto. Happily, this year, in advance of the Aug. 3, 2013 Al-Quds Day rally in Toronto, the permit for it was refused for reasons of “public safety.”
As a result, citizens of the fair city of Toronto were spared the likes of the statements quoted above, and the likes of other, similar statements from 2011, such as: Israel is a cancer that must be killed. Also cancelled by virtue of the cancellation of the permit were such spectacles as the flag of Hezbollah, which is banned in Canada as a terrorist organization.
Frank Dimant, CEO of B’nai B’rith Canada said, according to JTA: “This rally must be seen for what it truly is, an Iranian-sponsored hate-fest used for the express purpose of blaming Jews worldwide for problems across the globe.”
Thank you, Mr. Dimant. Thank-you, Ontario Legislature.
Copyright © 2013 by the Intermountain Jewish News
