woensdag 19 januari 2011

Vernielingen synagoges en Joodse school in Canada


Ook in Canada slaat het antisemitisme toe. Maandag werden bij vijf synagoges en een school de ruiten ingegooid.
 
Liberal human rights critic Irwin Cotler noted the timing of the attack Monday, which coincided with Raoul Wallenberg Day in Canada — a day to remember the Swedish diplomat who rescued more than 100,000 Jews during the Holocaust.

On "a day set aside to reflect and act upon the heroism of Canada's first honorary citizen, a man who stood up, confronted and combated the worst of hatred and prevailed — these attacks should act as a call to mobilize against the forces of hatred and anti-Semitism," Cotler said in a statement.

Ik heb de indruk dat dit soort dingen in Canada (nog) een zeldzaamheid zijn en ook de Israel-haat er nog niet zover is doorgeschoten als in Nederland en andere Europese landen. Laten we hopen dat dat zo blijft, en er krachtdadig tegen antisemitisme wordt opgetreden.
 
RP
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Attacks on synagogues, Jewish school condemned
 
 
Politicians have joined a growing chorus of Jewish groups in condemnation of a spate of attacks on synagogues and a Jewish school in Montreal.

The school and five synagogues were targeted this week by vandals who smashed windows, causing thousands of dollars in damage.

Rabbi Reuben Poupko, chairman of the Jewish Community Security Co-ordinating Committee, called the crimes "an organized and systematic attack on Jewish institutional life" and vowed people who use the buildings on a regular basis would not be intimidated.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney called the attacks "disturbing" and told Montreal radio station CJAD Monday that they are linked to what he called a "new anti-Semitism," often tied to extremist politics emanating from the Middle East.

He said the wave of hatred often inspires the naive or vulnerable to adopt the same anti-Semitic ideology.

"We don't know the reason behind this particular wave of vandalism but we do know that all Canadians must join together in combating all forms of hatred and prejudice particularly the pernicious and durable form of hatred which is anti-Semitism," Kenney said.

Also on Monday, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff put out a statement calling the attacks "hateful and systematic acts" that "represent an attack on an entire religious community."

He said the federal government must do more "to provide adequate safety and security provisions for religious communities, and it must work closely with the RCMP and CSIS so hate crimes in Canada can be eradicated once and for all."

Liberal human rights critic Irwin Cotler noted the timing of the attack Monday, which coincided with Raoul Wallenberg Day in Canada — a day to remember the Swedish diplomat who rescued more than 100,000 Jews during the Holocaust.

On "a day set aside to reflect and act upon the heroism of Canada's first honorary citizen, a man who stood up, confronted and combated the worst of hatred and prevailed — these attacks should act as a call to mobilize against the forces of hatred and anti-Semitism," Cotler said in a statement.

The attacks drew statements of condemnation from the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies in Toronto and B'nai Brith Canada.

The Wiesenthal Center called upon Montreal and Quebec leaders to rally behind the Jewish community.

"The hatred displayed by these actions can be countered by a strong show of support and a determination to prevent the seeds of anti-Semitism from taking root in Quebec," said Avi Benlolo, a prominent Canadian human rights activist and president and CEO of the Wiesenthal Center.

B'nai Brith called for a strong response from police to what it said were not isolated examples of vandalism, urging an investigation into what it said were hate-motivated crimes.

"Following what appears to be an orchestrated campaign of anti-Semitic attacks, there is particular concern about the targeting of a school and daycare," the organization said.

Montreal police visited all locations targeted and will be reviewing security video recordings provided by the synagogues.

The cameras were installed over the last few years in response to attacks against Jewish buildings in Montreal and other cities.

"We felt this was a necessary investment," Poupko said. "These are not just crimes against a buildings. They're crimes against a community."

Montreal police said they believe the incidents may be linked.

—With files from Montreal Gazette

 

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