CENSORSHIP CANADA/QUEBEC
Yves Engler Arrested for Criticizing Israel
Speaks to Media before Detention
On Thursday morning, as scheduled, author and activist Yves Engler was arrested by the Montreal police for his social media posts criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza. Before turning himself in to Montreal Police at 980 Guy Street, Engler addressed the media, denouncing the politically motivated charges against him and the broader crackdown on those speaking out against Israeli violence.
Surrounded by supporters, Engler reaffirmed his commitment to freedom of expression and criticized the Montreal police’s collaboration with anti-Palestinian figures. He highlighted the absurdity of the new charges, which claim he harassed the police simply by writing about the accusations already brought against him.
This arrest follows a campaign led by anti-Palestinian media personality Dahlia Kurtz, who lobbied for Engler to be charged after he called out her pro-Israel rhetoric. Over 2,500 people have emailed the Montreal police, demanding they drop the charges.
Watch Engler’s final words before entering police custody.
Antisemite
The first was from a chapter 27 member who hollered in the street during a parade in Minneapolis that one of our other members was an antisemite. He gave no explanation and was kicked out of our group a couple years ago by the VFP Board for misconduct.
The second was an activist who wrote on the FP page of another chapter 27 member, (who was a TIME magazine Person of the Year) that she was “being undercover and paid to work for RT” (a Russian-sponsored news network that broadcasts globally 24/7.) This activist also accused our chapter president of being an antisemite after he mentioned that the seven VFP members who hooked up with Palestinians for an annual peace march in Hebron were given “a typical Israeli welcome” when Israeli security forces fired gas canisters at them. All the members ducked repeatedly to avoid serious injury or death. According to an article in Mondoweiss by former Marine Captain and VFP member Mathew Hoh who was there, “Each year the peaceful march is stopped violently by the Israeli military and police forces, as similar non-violent resistance is violently met by the Israeli military and police forces throughout all of occupied Palestine.”
Then there was bigmouth me. Things did not go well during a heated discussion between me and an activist who singled herself out as a “Jewish-Queer-Communist” at an academic conference in the Twin Cities. I believed my question to her about what she thought about local Jews who weren’t speaking out against the war in Gaza was reasonable, and more specifically — how that community felt about the 34 rabbis in Minnesota who voted against a Minneapolis city council ceasefire resolution in Gaza. It was my understanding rabbis are religious and spiritual leaders.
Instead, I got a short history lesson from her on the 19th century Zionist kingpin Theodor Herzl. She also dodged my concern about her statement that “Jews are always on the frontlines during battles for equal rights.” Did she not know that most of world Jewry still support the apartheid, Jewish nation-state? Shortly after, she went on a rant that implied I was antisemitic. Twice I asked her if she was calling me an antisemite, but she said nothing. The tenor and tone of my voice was already elevated and my blood pressure had skyrocketed so I decided to leave after letting her know in two words, what I thought. While leaving the auditorium I apologized to everyone for my outburst, but before I could get out the door a woman in the audience screamed “antisemite.”
For all I know, the cat-caller based her blurt on non-legally binding International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definitions of antisemitism that include holding Jews responsible for the actions of the Israeli government. I was simply curious about what she thought about Jews who didn’t speak up during the genocidal slaughter in Gaza. Perhaps one day, a case for antisemitism will be made after someone has the temerity to ask rabbis what they think about the numerous Jews who don’t believe Israel is a legitimate country. According to another IHRA tenet — it is antisemitic to not recognize Israel’s right to exist.
What I know from my experience, is that those who sling accusations of antisemitism tend to identify as Jews, and don’t bother to explain their allegations. This leaves people like me shocked, scratching our heads and wondering if there will be damage to our reputations, organization or work life.
Israeli historian, author and Associate Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies and Endowed Professor in the Study of Modern Genocide at Stockton University, Raz Segal knows first hand what can happen if even prominent Jews like himself allege that the Israeli government is committing genocide. His offer to lead the Center for Holocaust and Genocidal Studies at the University of Minnesota was rescinded last year after the pro-Israel Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, organized a campaign to oppose his appointment.
Even though efforts to include the IHRA definition of antisemitism in federal government fizzled in the Senate last December, citizens need to remain vigilant of all accusations of antisemitism and insist that those claims be explained. It seems to me, that those who are publicly condemned by the horrific A-word, should be given a chance to find out why their words were out of line, or defend them — that’s how it works in democracies anyway.
By Yves Engler
Tomorrow the Montreal police will arrest me for posting to social media against Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Today I received a phone call from a Montreal police officer by the last name of Crivello. She asked me to come to a downtown police station where I will be charged for harassment and indecent communication. Crivello said a complaint was submitted against me months ago by a legal firm on behalf of racist media personality Dahlia Kurtz. Crivello said I had described Kurtz as a “genocide” supporter and “fascist” on Twitter. Guilty as charged.
On dozens of occasions I’ve responded to Kurtz’ racist, violent anti-Palestinian posts on X. Six weeks ago I wrote an article noting:
Amidst this ever-worsening holocaust in Gaza, the media and politicians want us to believe Canadian Jews are the real victims. In an egregious example, the Winnipeg Sun just published “Dahlia Kurtz mobilizing pushback on Canada’s Jew-hate problem.” Palestinian suffering is omitted from the long profile of an unhinged Jewish supremacist. The article describes Kurtz combating “‘Free Palestine’ hatefests” and selecting Justin Trudeau “winner of my 2024 Jew-Hater of the Year Award.”
Over the past 15 months Kurtz has become a leader in Canada’s fascist movement, posting incessantly about purported Jewish victimhood and the anti-genocide “mob” who should be “deported”. A compulsive liar, Kurtz openly calls for state violence against those challenging Canadian complicity in genocide. On Friday she posted a video that appeared to show dark skinned teenagers fighting in Edmonton mockingly describing the incident as “a celebration of diversity”. A week earlier she posted a photo of neo-Nazis rallying with the statement “‘MASS DEPORTATIONS NOW’ banner at mall in London, Ontario. Who’s with them?”
A major paper profiling this fascist, Jewish supremacist, fifteen months into the holocaust in Gaza speaks volumes of the media climate.
On July 5, 2024, Kurtz quote tweeted me with the statement: Hello, @EnglerYves. I’m advising you in this one message only that you are harassing me. You’re threatening and you’re making me afraid for my safety. You must stop this harassment — and communication with me. Stop now.”
She quote tweeted a message I posted six days earlier noting “Racist Dahlia supports killing Palestinian children. 20,000 is not enough she wants even more Palestinian blood spilled.”
As an X user noted immediately and Kurtz surely knows, the platform has a mechanism for anyone who no longer wants to hear from another user. They can block that user. Kurtz has chosen not to block me but instead pursue criminal charges.
I’ve never met Kurtz. Nor have I messaged or emailed her. Nor have I threatened her. I don’t even follow her on X (Twitter’s algorithm puts her posts in my feed).
Apparently, the legal firm assisting Kurtz is that of Neil Oberman, who is running for the Conservative party in the upcoming federal election. Oberman has launched a slew of lawsuits in recent months against different institutions and individuals opposing genocide. On two occasions I’ve videoed myself questioning Oberman about his ‘lawfare’ at the service of Israel’s genocide.
As part of releasing me from detention, Crivello is seeking to have me accept conditions that stop me from any interaction with Kurtz. As the father of a two-year-old and seven-year-old and author of 13 books, it’s beyond absurd to suggest I’m a threat to Kurtz. But I am willing to sign this condition to avoid jail. On the other hand, the officer told my lawyer she wants to impose a condition for my release saying that I’m not allowed to discuss the case. That is a flagrant violation of my freedom of expression, but is presumably designed to protect the police officer, Kurtz and her legal team from embarrassment. I will refuse to sign this condition and may be detained until a judge decides if this is an acceptable condition.
Across the country advocates of genocide and apartheid have been using the legal system to protect Israel from criticism. They launch frivolous cases to suck up activists’ time and resources. Too often the police and courts participate in this abuse of their authority.
Police should not be putting their services at the disposition of those promoting Israel’s crimes against Palestinians. The charges against me for posting against Israel’s crimes should be withdrawn.
Please take a minute to email the police to drop the charges against Yves.
Yves Engler is a writer and activist in Montreal. He is author of the forthcoming book playing Left Wing: From Hockey to Politics: the making of a student activist. He’s traveled extensively in Venezuela.
No comments:
Post a Comment