A Canadian extremist who has allegedly called for the “extermination” of Jews has been charged with promoting genocide, marking the first time such a case has been filed in Canada.
Salman Hossain was charged by Ontario Provincial Police following an investigation into Internet posts that advocate the mass killing of Jews in Canada and other Western countries.
At a press conference at a hotel near Pearson Airport this afternoon, out-going OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino and Deputy Commissioner Vince Hawkes announced the unprecedented charge against the Bangladeshi-Canadian, who left Mississauga for South Asia before the five-month police investigation was finished."Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms includes the right to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly,” said Commissioner Fantino. “But we must not stand idly by when these rights are used as a shield to promote hatred against in a community.”
The National Post first reported in January 2008 that police were investigating Mr. Hossain after he allegedly posted messages online saying he enjoyed “watching the blood flow from the western troops” and allegedly said “the Jews are literally the most treacherous nation on the face of the Earth.”
He is now facing charges of willfully promoting hatred and advocating or promoting genocide against an identifiable group.
“I think it is the beginning of the end of political correctness,” said Tarek Fatah, founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress. “I’m glad that more people are waking up to the realization that if you want to fight malaria, you have to drain the swamps — you can’t just shoot down mosquitos.”
Although Mr. Hossain is no longer living in Canada, Deputy Commissioner Hawkes said the OPP is “doing everything in our power to bring him to justice.”
The charges were welcomed by the Canadian Jewish Congress, which has long pressed the Ministry of the Attorney General — which must approve hate crimes charges — to streamline the process, and move forward with the case against the 25-year-old.
“Auschwitz did not begin with gas chambers, but with words,” said Bernie Farber, CEO of the Canadian Jewish Congress. “Mr. Hossain’s words and actions speak for themselves, and he must be held accountable under the law.”
Police first took an interest in Mr. Hossain after he allegedly posted messages on the Internet about the arrests of suspects accused of plotting terrorist attacks at a German military base and at Frankfurt International Airport.
“Kill as many western soldiers as well so that they think twice before entering foreign countries on behalf of their Jew masters,” he allegedly wrote in late 2007.