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May 12, 2015       Share:    

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ottawa-cites-hate-crime-laws-when-asked-about-its-zero-tolerance-for-israel-boycotters-1.3067497?cmp=rss

Canada Threatens Hate Crime Charges Against Those Who Boycott Israel

(CBC News-Canada) Neil Macdonald - The Canadian government is signaling its intention to use hate crime laws against advocacy groups that encourage boycotts of Israel. At the UN, Canadian Public Security Minister Steven Blaney conflated boycotts of Israel with anti-Semitic hate speech and violence, saying the government is taking a "zero tolerance" approach to BDS (Boycott, Divest and Sanction Israel). Asked what "zero tolerance" of BDS means, Blaney aide Josee Sirois told CBC, "Canada has one of the most comprehensive sets of laws against hate crime anywhere in the world." She highlighted what she termed "hate propaganda" provisions in the Criminal Code criminalizing the promotion of hatred against an identifiable group, and further noted that "identifiable group" now includes any section of the public distinguished by, "among other characteristics, religion or national or ethnic origin....We will not allow hate crimes to undermine our way of life, which is based on diversity and inclusion." In France, the law has for years criminalized hate speech based on national origin, and authorities there have in recent years been using it to prosecute BDS advocates. To date, more than 20 have been convicted.

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