Canada: Toronto police charge Amir Arvahi Azar with advocating genocide against Jewish community
Mar 19, 2025 12:00 pm
By Christine Douglass-Williams
4 Comments
And since the “rare charge” of “advocating genocide” was laid against Amir Arvahi Azar, what about any follow-up from the Toronto Police regarding its “official” podcast, on which two Muslim liaison officers praised jihad savagery by saying that “the October 7 massacre brought people closer to Islam”? Doesn’t this incident deserve full acknowledgement of the inherently dangerous message that was conveyed, as well as a full investigation, consequences for those involved, and formal complaint? So far, nada. Only an apology for upsetting people.
In returning to the case of Amir Arvahi Azar, the National Post reported that “despite allegedly being caught with three loaded handguns and being accused of an eight-month antisemitic crime spree – he’s been released on bail.”
“Man faces rare charge of advocating genocide against Jewish community, Toronto police say,” by Ethan Lang, CBC News, March 17, 2025:
A Toronto man is facing the rare charge of advocating genocide, in addition to more than two dozen other offences allegedly motivated by hatred toward the Jewish community, police say.
Amir Arvahi Azar, 32, was arrested on Jan. 11 for incidents that took place between April 26, 2024 and Jan. 3, 2025, Toronto police said in a news release Monday. Police said they are unable to provide further details about the alleged crimes due to a publication ban.
Azar faces 29 charges, including wilful promotion of hatred, which together with advocating genocide, requires the consent of the Ministry of the Attorney General.
The charges have not been tested in court.
Hate crime expert Barbara Perry says law enforcement has an incredibly high bar to clear when deciding whether to lay such charges.
“These charges tend to be reserved for the most serious, the most threatening kind of crimes,” said Perry, who is director for the centre on hate, bias and extremism at Ontario Tech University.
“There are a whole array of factors that [law enforcement is] going to be looking at here,” she said…. |
