The West is descending into censorship, violence and authoritarianism in defence of Israel’s genocide

Western governments, from Washington to Berlin, have not only bankrolled Israel’s slaughter but have criminalized those daring to protest it, trampling free speech and assembly rights with authoritarian zeal.

By Fareed Khan 

The Western alliance, anchored by the United States and encompassing nations like the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada and their allies, has long positioned itself as a beacon of democratic values—free speech, freedom of assembly, and governmental accountability. Yet, a troubling shift has emerged, particularly since the escalation of Israel’s genocide in Gaza since October 8, 2023. 

These nations are increasingly resorting to censorship, violence, and measures more consistent with authoritarian regimes to suppress dissent against Israel’s brutal military assault against Palestinians in the enclave, which numerous human rights organizations, more than 800 genocide, human rights and Holocaust experts, and the United Nations have labeled as genocidal. Such actions not only erode the democratic principles these nations claim to uphold but also point to an alarming degree of Israeli influence over the Middle East policy of Western nations. The evidence lies in the silencing of pro-Palestinian voices, the aggressive (and at times violent) policing of protests, and the conspicuous omission of Israeli foreign interference from critical inquiries, such as Canada’s federal foreign interference inquiry.

The erosion of free speech

Across the Western alliance, the right to free expression, particularly criticism of Israel’s crimes in Gaza, is under unprecedented attack. In the United States, the return of Donald Trump to the presidency in 2025 has intensified efforts to stifle dissent. Alarmingly, American citizens and legal residents protesting Israel’s actions have faced violations of their constitutional rights, arrests and excessive use of force.

In April 2024, students at Emory University in Georgia and UCLA were arrested, tear-gassed, and hit with rubber bullets during peaceful pro-Palestinian demonstrations. In Chicago, police detained over 100 protesters in August 2024 outside the Democratic National Committee and the Israeli Consulate. According to Ben Meyer, a member of the Chicago chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, a mass arrest was declared around 30 minutes after the protest began, suggesting that it had been planned in advance, a tactic that has been deemed illegal. These incidents reflect a broader pattern of criminalizing dissent when it challenges US support for Israel.

Germany has adopted a draconian approach to Palestine solidarity demonstrations. Since the Gaza conflict escalated, the German government has banned Palestinian symbols like the keffiyeh and the Palestinian flag, as well as protests against Israel’s actions. These measures have been justified as efforts to combat antisemitism, and have disproportionately targeted pro-Palestinian voices. A Jewish Museum of Berlin employee was fired for describing Israel’s occupation of the West Bank as “apartheid,” a term supported by Amnesty International and Israeli human rights group B’Tselem. Furthermore, Germany’s continued arms exports to Israel, valued at over US$576.6 million from October 2023 to May 2025, underscoring its prioritization of geopolitical alliances over human rights.

However, Germans have boldly defied their government, joining thousands in protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza and their own government’s complicity in the crisis. Despite facing aggressive policing, including the use of tear gas and physical abuse during arrests of peaceful demonstrators, the protest, have grown despite the bans. The crackdowns have sparked widespread criticism of the German government, with the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner, Michael O’Flaherty, warning that Germany’s heavy-handed approach threatens freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. In a June 2025 letter to Germany’s Minister of the Interior, O’Flaherty urged German authorities to align their response to the protests with rights guaranteed under the European Union’s Charter of Fundamental Rights, and case-law of the European Court of Human Rights, and the Council of Europe standards on freedom of expression.

In the United Kingdom, the suppression of pro-Palestinian activism has reached disturbing lows. Earlier this month Marianne Sorrell, an 80-year-old retired teacher, had her home in Wells, Somerset, raided by police, who confiscated her possessions and detained her for 27 hours. Her offence? Holding a sign at a protest that read, “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.” This followed Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organization, criminalizing expressions of support for the group. Over 500 activists, including elderly individuals, NHS workers, and a blind man in a wheelchair, were arrested during a peaceful protest outside Parliament, holding placards with similar messages. Many reported being denied water and exposed to harsh conditions during detention, highlighting the abuse accompanying this censorship. The UK’s actions suggest a willingness to sacrifice free speech to align with Israel’s narrative, undermining its democratic credentials.

In France, the government also adopted a harsh anti-democratic approach by banning pro-Palestinian protests at the onset of the Gaza conflict, with some municipalities prohibiting the display of the Palestinian flag. These measures, enacted despite France’s constitutional commitment to free speech, reveal a selective application of democratic principles when it comes to Israel. The crackdown has included arrests for minor infractions, such as wearing pro-Palestinian symbols, further demonstrating an assault on the basic rights of French citizens.

In Canada, the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) has documented “systemic suppression” of Palestinian solidarity, including “bubble zone” municipal bylaws restricting protests near Israeli consulates and Jewish institutions. The Canadian government’s decision to blacklist Samidoun, a pro-Palestinian advocacy group, as a terrorist organization has further criminalized support for Palestinian causes. These actions align with a broader effort to silence and persecute voices critical of Israel, often under the guise of national security or preventing “antisemitism”.

Violence and authoritarian tactics

The use of excessive force to suppress pro-Palestinian protests is a hallmark of this authoritarian shift in Western societies. In the US, the deployment of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to New York and other states to quell anti-genocide protests, and singling out visa students and legal residents signals a readiness to use overwhelming federal resources against citizens exercising their constitutional rights. In Austin, Texas, police used pepper spray and tasers on students protesting at the University of Texas in April 2024, with over 50 arrests reported.

In the UK, the mass arrests of peaceful protesters in August 2025, many of whom were elderly or vulnerable, indicate a disregard for basic human rights. Detainees reported being denied basic necessities and held in harsh conditions, a tactic designed to deter future protests. In Germany, police have repeatedly used violence against pro-Palestinian demonstrators, with reports of injuries among peaceful protesters in Berlin. France’s response has been similarly heavy-handed, with police using tear gas and making arrests for minor infractions like displaying Palestinian flags. In Canada, the use of “bubble zone” bylaws has been accompanied by reports of police intimidating protesters, including those holding silent vigils for Gaza victims.

Israeli influence and unchecked interference

Perhaps the most insidious aspect of this suppression of legal protests is the apparent influence of Israel on the Middle East policies of Western governments, coupled with a refusal of these governments to investigate this influence, which can be deemed as foreign interference. In Canada, the federal foreign interference inquiry, launched to examine foreign influence in Canadian politics, conspicuously excluded Israel from its scope. A report by Justice for All Canada documents Israel’s efforts to shape Canadian policy through funding political campaigns, intimidating parliamentarians, and threatening media outlets that are critical of Israel.

In the US, pro-Israel lobbying groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) have spent hundreds of millions of dollars since 2020 to influence congressional elections, ensuring that candidates critical of Israel don’t get elected. In 2023 and 2024 AIPAC’s funding was instrumental in defeating progressive candidates who called for a Gaza ceasefire, such as Representatives Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush.

The UK has seen similar patterns, with groups like the Board of Deputies of British Jews and Conservative Friends of Israel pressuring policymakers to adopt pro-Israel stances regardless of that nation’s violation of international human rights laws. A 2025 report revealed that over 80% of Conservative MPs received funding or trips from pro-Israel groups, raising concerns about Israeli manipulation and undue influence.

In Germany, the close relationship between the government and Israel has led to policies prioritizing Israel’s security narrative over free expression and justice for Palestinians. The German government’s refusal to halt arms exports to Israel, even as the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, underscores this alignment.

In France, former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has criticized the lack of condemnation or action of governments surrounding Israel’s actions, calling it a “historic scandal.” In a recent op-ed published in Le Monde, Villepin said, “I am forced to confront a tragic reality: A crime is taking place in Gaza, a crime of genocide. More and more voices, including among historians and Israeli NGOs, have risen to call it such, and I recognize and admire the courage it takes to do so, as seen in the examples of Omer Bartov, Amos Goldberg, B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights.”

The descent into censorship, violence, and repression in Western countries in defence of Israel’s genocidal actions represents a profound betrayal of democratic values. The silencing of pro-Palestinian voices undermines free speech, while the use of excessive force against protesters erodes their fundamental rights despite protections entrenched in law. Meanwhile the refusal to investigate Israeli foreign interference in Western governments raises serious questions not just about the sovereignty of Western democracies, but also whether a foreign power is in control of policies related to the Middle-East and the diaspora communities living in those Western nations. The actions of Western governments not only harms targeted individuals and communities, but also erodes public trust in institutions meant to protect everyone’s democratic freedoms.

The international community is increasingly acknowledging Israel’s actions as crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide, as evidenced by reports from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, in addition to statements by hundreds of genocide and human rights scholars, underscoring the urgency of this issue. The International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Israeli leaders further highlight the need for accountability. Yet, Western nations continue to shield Israel, often at the expense of their own citizens’ rights and their standing in the global community. This complicity risks normalizing repressive tactics, as Western governments prioritize their relationship with a genocidal regime over democratic principles, to which they claim they are committed.

Media complicity and public perception

The mainstream media in Western nations has often played a complicit role in this authoritarian drift by framing pro-Palestinian activism as inherently antisemitic or threatening. In the US, major outlets like CNN and The New York Times have been criticized for downplaying Israel’s actions in Gaza while amplifying narratives that justify crackdowns on pro-Palestinian protests. In Canada, the Globe and Mail and the Postmedia chain of newspapers have been shown to be inherently anti-Palestinian. 

 

Coverage of the 2024 student protests on university campuses was heavily critical of the protesters, repeating accusations of antisemitism,  overshadowing the broader demand for a ceasefire and accountability for Israel’s criminal actions. In the UK, tabloids sensationalized pro-Palestinian protests to justify police crackdowns, further eroding public support for free expression. In Canada this media bias distorts public perception and emboldens governments to escalate censorship and repression without fear of widespread backlash.

The chilling effect on civil society

The crackdowns on pro-Palestinian activism have created a chilling effect on civil society, intimidating individuals and organizations to prevent them from speaking out. In Canada, grassroots groups advocating for Palestinian rights have reported increased harassment, including doxxing and threats, often amplified by Zionist and pro-Israel advocacy groups. In Germany, cultural institutions and universities have cancelled events featuring Palestinian speakers, citing concerns about “antisemitism,” effectively silencing critical voices. This climate of repression stifles open debate, a cornerstone of democratic societies, and signals to citizens that dissent on the issue of Israel comes at a high personal cost.

Israel’s influence extends beyond lobbying to economic and diplomatic leverage. In the US, defence contractors like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, which supply weapons to Israel, have significant sway over policy decisions, as their contracts are tied to US military aid to Israel, exceeding US$3.8 billion annually. In Germany, Israel’s role as a key partner in intelligence-sharing and counter-terrorism has solidified its influence, with German officials citing “historical responsibility” to justify unwavering support. In Canada, trade agreements and investments with Israel, particularly in technology and cybersecurity, have created a dependency that discourages scrutiny of Israeli influence.

The Western alliance’s selective outrage over human rights abuses in other nations exposes its hypocrisy. While nations like China and Russia face sanctions for their authoritarian practices, Israel’s actions in Gaza—documented as causing over 70,000 civilian deaths by July 2025—receive minimal criticism from Western leaders. Additionally, the US has consistently vetoed multiple UN Security Council resolutions calling for a Gaza ceasefire, and shielded Israel from accountability. This double standard undermines the West’s moral credibility and fuels global perceptions of complicity in Israel’s actions, further eroding trust.

The path forward

The West’s unwavering support for Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza stands as the moral catastrophe of our era, echoing the shameful lack of action by the US and Europe when Nazi Germany began committing atrocities against Jews and other German minorities in the 1930s. This complicity—marked by billions in arms sales, diplomatic cover, and suppression of dissent—exposes a grotesque betrayal of democratic principles. Western governments, from Washington to Berlin, have not only bankrolled Israel’s slaughter but have criminalized those daring to protest it, trampling free speech and assembly rights with authoritarian zeal.

To halt this descent into tyranny, Western leaders must unequivocally condemn Israel’s war crimes, dismantle draconian bans on pro-Palestinian symbols and protests, and end the brutal policing of demonstrators. They must also investigate Israeli foreign interference, including its documented influence over Western policies, as seen in lobbying scandals reported by Al Jazeera in 2024.

Civil society is rising, with groups like Defend Our Juries in the UK and the BCCLA in Canada spearheading campaigns to overturn unjust laws. Citizens must demand accountability, forcing foreign policy to reflect justice, not geopolitical cowardice. The West’s alignment with Israel’s carnage—over 70,000 Palestinian deaths by mid-2025—has gutted its moral credibility. To redeem itself, the West must confront its complicity, halt arms shipments, and restore the democratic values it hypocritically claims to champion, lest history judge it as it does those who appeased the Nazis in 1930s.

© 2025 The View From Here. © 2025 Fareed Khan. All Rights Reserved.

Are we living in a post-human rights world?

Western hypocrisy around human rights extends beyond doing nothing to halt Israel’s genocide in Gaza. They’ve also done little to stop atrocities against the Rohingya, Uyghurs, Darfuris and others.

 

By Fareed Khan 
  
The world seems to be heading towards a precipice, towards a dangerous descent into a reality where human rights are no longer a universal guarantee but a privilege for the select few. The infrastructure of human rights, painstakingly built after the horrors of World War II, is under relentless assault—both at home and abroad. Our political leaders, entrusted with safeguarding these sacred principles, are complicit in their erosion, either through inaction, selective outrage, or outright suppression.

 

The hypocrisy of Western nations, the very architects of the post-war international legal order, is glaring. From being complicit in the ongoing genocide in Gaza to the silencing of dissent in democratic countries like the United States, the evidence is unmistakable. We are perilously close to a post-human rights world, and the vast majority of the public don't even realize the danger this poses. If we fail to defend the domestic and international human rights framework now, we risk a future where no one’s rights are secure, and the term will become meaningless in international law.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948, was a beacon of hope, a promise that the atrocities of global conflict and the Holocaust would never be repeated. Eleanor Roosevelt, a champion of this cause, declared, “People who continue to be denied the respect to which they are entitled as human beings will not acquiesce forever in such denial." And we see that today in the oppression of Palestinians by Israel, of Uyghurs by China, of the Rohingya by Myanmar, of Muslims by India, of illegal migrants by the US, and the violation of the rights of people who are LGBTQ2 by Russia. Every assault against the fundamental rights of minority populations is an assault on the human rights of all people, wherever they may be.

Western nations, which claim to uphold the international legal order, display a galling double standard on how they address the matter of violating fundamental rights. When Russia invaded Ukraine, the West mobilized swiftly, condemning Vladimir Putin’s war crimes, talking about how the rights of Ukrainians were violated, and even invoking the term “genocide” to describe Russian actions. Billions of dollars in economic aid and military assistance flowed to Ukraine, a testament to the West’s capacity to act when it feels its interests are under threat. But when Israel’s 20-month campaign of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians in Gaza unfolded—killing over 63,000 to date, displacing millions, and destroying an entire society—the response is tepid political platitudes and empty calls for restraint. There have been no broad sanctions against Israel as punishment for its crimes, no arms embargoes, no accountability compared to the West’s reaction to Russia’s war in Ukraine. This selective defence of human rights exposes a chilling truth: for the West, some lives are of lesser value, particularly if they happen to be brown or black, and especially if they are Muslim.

Western hypocrisy around human rights extends beyond Palestine. The Rohingya, the Uyghurs, the Kashmiris under Indian rule, and the Darfuris in Sudan face persecution, violence, and erasure, yet Western capitals remain largely silent. Where is the political will to address these crises? As Nelson Mandela once said, “To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.” By ignoring these atrocities, Western leaders are not just failing to act—they are denying the humanity of millions. The Centre for Civil and Political Rights notes a “degradation in cooperation” with UN Treaty Bodies, with states like Sri Lanka, Somalia, and Haiti skipping scheduled human rights reviews, and others, like Burundi, openly defying scrutiny. This disengagement signals a broader contempt for the mechanisms designed to protect human rights globally.

 

Closer to home, the democratic West is no bastion of freedom either. In the United States, the Trump administration has targeted pro-Palestinian protesters with chilling precision. There is the case of Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil, a legal resident of the US married to an American, who was whisked off by Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agents to a Louisiana prison, and held for months without being allowed easy access to his lawyer. And then there is the case of Turkish graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk at Tufts University, who was arrested by masked Department of Homeland Security agents and sent to the same Louisiana prison as Khalil. Their “crimes” were that Khalil was a leading voice in anti-genocide protests at Columbia, while Öztürk co-wrote an op-ed in her campus newspaper about Israel committing genocide in Gaza. Hundreds of protesters opposing the Gaza genocide across the US have faced arbitrary arrests and jail time, their right to free speech trampled under the very questionable justification of “national security.”

Meanwhile in Canada, the passage in Parliament of Bill C-5 (“Building Canada Act”) grants the federal government sweeping powers to fast-track infrastructure projects, and ignore Indigenous treaty rights despite widespread opposition from first nations. Indigenous leaders have vowed that major civil unrest by Indigenous people will occur if their views are ignored and their rights violated when the federal and provincial governments move forward on major projects.

Across the Atlantic, Germany has banned the display of the Palestinian flag, while France has moved to suppress pro-Palestinian protests, effectively criminalizing solidarity with a people enduring genocide. These actions are not isolated but reflect a broader surge in authoritarian politics in Western democracies, reminiscent of the 1930s when fascist ideologies stifled dissent, marginalized minorities, and fuelled racist and political violence.

This suppression of free expression extends beyond governments. In the US, Canada and parts of Europe employers are disciplining or even firing workers who publicly criticize Israel’s genocidal crimes. In Canada, major news outlets—CBC, CTV, Global, National Post, and the Globe and Mail—consistently frame stories about Israel and Palestine through an anti-Palestinian, pro-Israel lens, perpetuating racism and curbing the rights of Palestinians to be heard, and tell stories of their persecution.

Compounding this crisis is the severe defunding of UN human rights mechanisms. Critical UN agencies, vital for protecting millions of vulnerable people worldwide, face crippling budget shortfalls due to funding cuts from the United States and other nations. The UN Human Rights Committee, responsible for monitoring compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, has had to scale back its work, including indefinitely postponing Canada’s first review in a decade. At a time when state-sanctioned violence, inequality, and repression are escalating, weakening these institutions undermines accountability, enables further persecution of minorities, and destabilizes societies.

This assault on human rights is not just an international failure—it’s a domestic concern in the West as well. The rise of fascist elements in the West, often cloaked in populist rhetoric, threatens the rights of anyone who doesn’t conform to the dominant majority. In the US (with its MAGA cult), Canada, and Europe, we are seeing a growing intolerance for dissent, particularly when it challenges powerful interests. The suppression of pro-Palestinian voices, being pushed by Zionist groups and their allies, the erosion of Indigenous rights, and the targeting of minority communities signals a dangerous trend. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” So if we allow these violations to persist unchecked, we pave the way for a world where no one’s rights are safe.

Politicians and the public must wake up and smell the coffee. The global human rights infrastructure is not a luxury we can ignore, it’s the bedrock of a just society and it is under assault like never before. By comparison nations have no qualms about funnelling tens of billions of dollars into military budgets, yet they balk at funding the UN’s human rights mechanisms adequately, which cost a fraction of those sums.

This is not a question of resources but of priorities. The CCPR Centre’s 2023 Annual Report highlights the increasing hostility toward human rights defenders, with some states obstructing dialogue and withdrawing from reviews altogether. Western leaders claiming to defend human rights, but only selectively, enables this backsliding. Canada, the US, and European democracies which repeatedly claim to be upholders of human rights must reinvest in the UN, strengthen treaty bodies, and hold all states—friends and foes alike—accountable for their obligations under international law.

What kind of world awaits us if the powerful and privileged disregard human rights? The result would be a dystopian nightmare. In a world without human rights, dissent against governments and elites would be criminalized, and free speech would be reserved for those aligned with ruling powers, echoing eras when such rights were nonexistent. Protesters, like Palestinian solidarity activists in the US, could face mass detentions without due process, reminiscent of how political dissenters were dealt with in the former Soviet Union. In Canada, Indigenous communities might see their lands exploited for mega-projects without consultation, their treaty rights violated and reduced to hollow words in historical documents. Across Europe, minority groups—whether ethnic, religious, or political—could face unchecked discrimination, their voices stifled by state-sanctioned bans. Globally, atrocities in places like the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Myanmar, or Sudan would multiply, with no international body empowered to take action. The powerless would be left defenceless, their suffering ignored by a world indifferent to their humanity.

This is not exaggeration—it’s a warning of what lies ahead if the silent majority remains passive. Without a robust human rights enforcement framework, the rule of law collapses, replaced by the dominance of powerful and wealthy elites who would be free to violate human rights if it served their interests. Palestinians, Rohingya, Uyghurs, and others would not be the only victims. Everyone, everywhere, would be vulnerable to unchecked authority and power.

Power itself does not always corrupt, but the fear of losing it often does, as seen in nations like China, Russia, North Korea, and El Salvador. The refusal of Western leaders to punish human rights abusing allies like Israel or challenge powerful domestic lobbies that support it, erodes the very principles they claim to champion.

The time for empty promises about upholding human rights is over. Leaders must act decisively, equipping international human rights organizations and UN bodies with the resources to enforce global standards consistently, while safeguarding freedom of expression home by upholding the principles of national foundational documents like Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. If we fail to protect the human rights framework we have now, we risk waking up to a world where those rights have been severely weakened or eliminated. The future of our fundamental human rights is in our hands. It is within our power to protect the rights we take for granted or let governments and powerful interests destroy them bit by bit, and return to a darker era, before the concept of human rights existed.

  
© 2025 The View From Here. © 2025 Fareed Khan. All Rights Reserved.

OP-ED -- School board must apologize to Palestinian-Canadians

The “Free Palestine” slogan is an obvious call for freedom from oppression and brutal colonial domination, much as the “Free Ukraine” slogan is a call for freedom for the people of that nation. 

 

By Thomas Woodley and Fareed Khan 

 

https://rabble.ca/human-rights/school-board-must-apologize-to-palestinian-canadians/ 

 

In recent years there has been much public debate about fighting hate and racism in Canada, whether it is against Black people, Indigenous people, Muslims, Jews, Asians, members of the LGBTQ2 community, or other marginalized groups. However, one community that continues to be the target of racism, particularly by some public institutions and right-wing politicians, is Palestinians.

 

    Street art promoting a free Palestine. Credit: Duncan Cumming / Flickr

The latest public incident took place recently in London, Ontario when the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) issued its school dress code. In the online FAQ (frequently asked questions) section which explained the policy, a “Free Palestine” t-shirt was used as an example of attire which “promotes or incites violence”. Unfortunately, despite calls by Palestinian advocacy and anti-racism organizations for the TVDSB to issue a public apology for this racist incident on its Website, it has yet to do so.

 

Reacting to complaints from Palestinian-Canadian and Muslim organizations, the School Board did quietly remove the image from its website about a week after it first went up. However, this removal cannot take the place of a public apology to the affected students who attend TDVSB schools, nor does it explain why the TVDSB would attack the freedom of expression rights of their students or the broader Palestinian-Canadian community.

 

Many Palestinians came to Canada as immigrants and refugees, fleeing Israeli oppression and brutality in historic Palestine, and later from Israeli occupied territories. The TVDSB’s actions are notable for their disregard of this history, and for their insensitivity to decades of suffering that Palestinians have endured at the hands of their Israeli oppressor.

 

The “Free Palestine” slogan is an obvious call for freedom from oppression and brutal colonial domination, much as the “Free Ukraine” slogan is a call for freedom for the people of that nation. The TVDSB’s use of the “Free Palestine” message in its FAQ as one that would incite violence is clearly racist and offensive to the district’s Palestine-Canadian students and community, as well to those who sympathize with the Palestinian struggle for justice.

 

This is the most recent example of anti-Palestinian racism by an Ontario school board. Last year, Canadian journalist Desmond Cole wrote about a series of anti-Palestinian racist incidents at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) – from a Black student suspended for saying “Free Palestine” during morning announcements, to the banning of a book from school libraries which included journal entries by Palestinian children, to a student being told by a teacher to remove a keffiyeh (a traditional Palestinian scarf) or leave the classroom. One incident which caught the attention of the Washington Post was that of a TDSB educator sharing anti-oppression resources on Palestine with colleagues, who was suspended, investigated, and publicly accused of anti-Semitism for simply doing his job. He was later fully exonerated and restored to his position.

 

The Arab-Canadian Lawyers Association published a report earlier this year in which they defined anti-Palestinian racism as a form of racism that silences, excludes, erases, stereotypes, defames or dehumanizes Palestinians and their narratives. Sadly, anti-Palestinian racism in Canada has become far too common, with those who call for freedom and justice for Palestinians, or criticize Israel’s brutal oppression of the Palestinian people, attacked with defamatory accusations of antisemitism by powerful pro-Israel lobby groups.

 

The TDVSB should also note that well respected international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Israel-based B’Tselem, have recently issued reports detailing how Israel is practicing Apartheid against Palestinians, a crime under international law. Even former Israeli attorney general Michael Ben-Yair says his country is an “Apartheid regime.”

Since the incident, the TVDSB has apologized privately to groups and individuals who have contacted the Board directly. However, such instances of racism are not properly dealt with through private exchanges behind closed doors. When racism in our institutions occurs we need to discuss it publicly, understand its origins, and collectively implement mechanisms to prevent it from occurring in the future.

 

The TVDSB needs to explain publicly how and why this incident occurred, and what it will do to ensure it does not happen again. It also needs to incorporate zero-tolerance for anti-Palestinian racism into its equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) frameworks. Otherwise, without collective accountability, hurtful and offensive incidents like this are bound to happen again.

Thomas Woodley is the president of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME).  Tom has a BS EE from Carnegie-Mellon University and an MS EE from Stevens Institute... More by Thomas Woodley

 

Fareed Khan is the founder of Canadians United Against Hate / Canadiens Unis Contre la Haine... More by Fareed Khan

 

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© 2022 The View From Here.  © 2022 Fareed Khan.  All Rights Reserved.

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