The current Canadian government intends to use hate crime laws against groups that encourage boycotts of Israel, reports the public broadcaster, CBC. “If carried out, it would be a remarkably aggressive tactic, and another measure of the Conservative government’s lockstep support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,” writes reporter Neil Macdonald. While previous Canadian governments have supported Israel, the current party in power goes much further in providing unconditional support.
Several advocacy groups are participating in a campaign called Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) which opposes the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and the expansion of Israeli illegal settlements there. Sixteen European foreign ministers spoke out against the settlements last month.
‘Zero tolerance’ for campaign
Government ministers have said that there would be a “zero tolerance” approach to groups participating in BDS. Macdonald asked for an explanation and was sent a detailed list of Canada’s hate laws.
In Canada, the federal government has the authority to assign priorities to the police and could call for a pursuit of hate speech. But such a prosecution would require assent from the attorney general at the provincial level.
Prosecuting advocacy groups for hate crimes would almost certainly be challenged in court under provisions of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, say civil liberties groups.
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