Documenting the “Palestine Exception": An Overview of Trends in Islamophobia, Anti-Palestinian and Anti-Arab Racism in Canada in the aftermath of October 7, 2023.
In the aftermath of October 7, 2023, Canada saw a rise in anti-Palestinian racism (APR), Islamophobia, anti-Arab racism (AAR) and antisemitism that affects many areas of life and work for Canadians. Findings:
1. “Palestine exception” to democratic rights and freedoms: Incidents involving censorship, discipline and punishment of those speaking out against Israeli state violence and for Palestinian human rights indicate the further shrinking of civic space, intellectual curiosity and critical thinking, especially as it relates to Israel and Palestine.
2. Vilifying and targeting youth in Canada: Young people in our education systems, on post-secondary campuses, and young professionals are facing Islamophobia, APR and AAR across a range of experiences. These include employment discrimination, doxing, hate-motivated violence, bullying, discipline and suppression of democratic rights and freedoms based on their identities or their support for Palestinian human rights.
3. Elusive justice for hate-motivated crimes: Many victims across different jurisdictions are facing challenges to reporting and obtaining justice for hate-motivated crimes and threats, raising concerns about underreporting, and perceptions of futility and biases in law enforcement.
4. Complicity and shortcomings of political leadership and governments: In addition to the frustrations with reporting hate-motivated crimes, many political leaders failed to denounce Islamophobia, APR and AAR and stand up for democratic rights and freedoms.
5. Systemic biases in media: Reports of biased silencing and censorship of reporters, producers, guests and other staff in Canadia news media production call attention to the threat of a deteriorating “free press” as a key pillar of Canada’s democracy.
6. Gendered dimensions of discrimination: Many of the incidents of hate and discrimination outlined in this report exemplify gendered dimensions of Islamophobia, APR and AAR.
7. Far-reaching impacts: The incidents included in this report raise concerns about the impact of Islamophobia, APR and AAR on building a fair, equitable and free society.
Recommendations:
1. Recognition and adoption of a definition of Anti-Palestinian Racism at all levels of government alongside related curriculum development, training and education.
2. Clear denunciation of APR, AAR and Islamophobia by political and institutional leaders and strengthening commitments to the rights and freedoms of impacted individuals and communities.
3. Address foreign interference and political disinformation by the Israeli government.
4. The Office of the Ethics Commissioner should develop a clear and enforceable policy on how parliamentarians are to be held accountable when they disseminate disinformation targeting marginalized communities.
5. Establish APR Advisory Tables at university and college campuses.
6. Independent reviews of post-secondary institutional responses to APR.
7. Initiate proceedings for the extradition of the London, Ontario arson suspect currently believed to be in Israel.
8. Create a National Victims of Hate Support Fund to provide emergency support for victims of hate-motivated crimes.
9. Establish hate crime accountability units to provide an avenue for complainants who believe that law enforcement agencies have mishandled their cases. Establish a dedicated, independent Hate Crime Accountability Unit across provinces to which complainants can report directly about the mishandling of hate-motivated crime cases by law enforcement agencies.
10. Implement recommendations from Patrick Case’s “Final report on the review of the Toronto District School Board’s excursions policy and procedure” related to the TDSB’s Grassy Narrows field trip.
11. Province-wide reviews of how schools and school boards have handled reports of APR in schools.
12. Affirm Palestinian identities and histories by recognizing May 15 as “Nakba Day” at all levels of government.
13. Independent review of implementation of Canadian Broadcasting Company’s journalistic standards as they relate to coverage of Palestinian perspectives.
14. Develop tort to protect against doxing.
15. Canada must keep its promises to Gazan refugees.
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