Montreal anti-racism commissioner will not attend pro-Palestinian rallies: B'nai Brith
After a meeting with the City of Montreal Commissioner to Fight Racism and Systemic Discrimination Bochra Manai, the Jewish advocacy organization B'nai Brith said she will no longer attend pro-Palestinian rallies in the city.
B'nai Brith said that the organization met with Manai on Tuesday.
"We appreciate Manai's willingness to meet us at our regional office to try to make amends," said B'nai Brith Canada's Quebec regional director, Henry Topas. "We are also pleased that she has committed not to attend any further anti-Israel rallies, but the damage has been done."
The city confirmed to CTV News that the meeting took place but did not provide details of what was discussed.
The city said that Manai is working to strengthen "ties of trust with the Jewish and Muslim Communities."
"The commissioner is committed to listening and hearing all voices," said city spokesperson Camille Begin. "In an open stance, the commissioner reiterated her desire that the ecosystems currently affected by the conflict between Israel and Palestine be listened to by the City of Montreal."
Begin said Manai will continue to tour communities and establish contacts and that other invitations and meetings are being prepared.
Manai faced calls to resign from her position after sharing posts in support of civilians under fire in Gaza, while not denouncing attacks on Jewish institutions in Montreal or the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in Israel.
B'nai Brith and other Jewish organizations in Montreal were particularly critical of Manai's attendance at an Oct. 28 rally where a controversial imam called for "Zionist aggressors" to be exterminated.
Quebec Premier Francois Legault asked for police to intervene after Imam Adil Charkoui made the statements, saying, "It's clear that this is incitement to hatred, to violence."
Manai acknowledged some of the violence against Montreal's Jewish community in at least one post on social media.
"Islamophobic and anti-Semitic reactions are strong, exacerbated by daily life in Palestine over the past 30 days," she wrote. "If the violence in Montreal must be condemned without any ambiguity, it is right here and now to call for an end to the offensive on Gaza."
B'nai Brith wanted her to stop attending rallies and apologize, while the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) called on her to resign.
"Her attitude thus far has been unacceptable, as well as unbecoming of someone in her role," said Topas. "The anti-racism commissioner carries significant moral authority and is supposed to be above politics. It is supposed to be a voice for unity and peace, not division and endorsement of violence, even if by silence."
B'nai Brith asked Mayor Valerie Plante's office to endorse the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) on Tuesday as a good-faith measure "to overlook Manai's past transgressions."
"While an apology would have been appreciated, she can best support the Jewish community at this point by personally pushing for the City of Montreal to adopt IHRA," said Topas.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6657932.1700765570!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
BREAKING Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
EXCLUSIVE Canadian company at the centre of alleged international pyramid scheme: authorities
Foreign governments say hundreds of thousands of people in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka lost savings to a company headquartered in Canada. This investigation from the IJF and CTV News shines a new light on how Canadian shell companies and registries were used to pull off the scheme.
Pennsylvania state police commissioner reveals stunning details about Trump shooting
A local law enforcement commissioner revealed during a House Homeland Security hearing on Tuesday stunning new details about the security failures that led to the near assassination of Donald Trump, raising more questions for the embattled U.S. Secret Service.
BREAKING Host city revealed for 2034 Winter Olympic Games
Salt Lake City was awarded the 2034 Winter Olympic Games on Wednesday following a vote of the International Olympic Committee.
Plane crashes just after takeoff from Nepal's capital, killing 18 people. Pilot is lone survivor
A plane crashed Wednesday just after taking off from Nepal’s capital, killing 18 people and injuring a pilot who was the lone survivor.
Laws that could get Canadians in trouble in tourism hotspots
There are some laws in popular tourist destinations around the world that could land Canadian travellers in mild-to-serious trouble if they're not careful. Don't let these local laws land you in hot water during your next vacation abroad.
Why Toronto is a special place for 'Deadpool & Wolverine' star Hugh Jackman
Toronto has a special place in Hugh Jackman's heart. During an exclusive interview with Etalk in front of dozens of fans gathered in the parking lot of 299 Queen Street West on Tuesday, the Australian actor shared that the city was where his Wolverine journey began.
The Old Farmers' Almanac just released Ontario's fall forecast. Here's what to expect
A 'frosty' fall is in store for Ontario, according to a newly released forecast from the Old Farmers’ Almanac.
PC Optimum customers claim they can't delete accounts; privacy commissioner probing
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada says it’s opened an investigation into allegations that some Loblaw customers have been unable to delete their PC Optimum accounts.