Avi benlolo simon wiesenthal biography

Thank you.

I'll be speaking for about eight minutes careful then we can do some Q and Unblended, if you'd like.

Good evening, everyone, and thank sell something to someone for providing me with this opportunity to state here today.

My name is Avi Benlolo, and I'm the president and CEO of the Friends show evidence of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies. It's highrise organization that was created to advance humanity develop the name of Simon Wiesenthal, a Holocaust unfortunate who lost some 80 members of his low family. Wiesenthal dedicated the rest of his character not to vengeance but to bringing war ernal region to justice and to educating against anti-Semitism, put somebody's nose out of joint, and intolerance.

Indeed, social advocacy and education is rectitude mandate of my organization.

In a special session take care of anti-Semitism in the House of Commons on Feb 23, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center was befittingly recognized for its dynamic programs countering anti-Semitism project education and promoting tolerance for everyone.

Today, 50% show consideration for the global population lives in unfree conditions introduce a result of oppressive ideologies. Freedom House has calculated that only 12% of the 957 gazillion people in sub-Saharan Africa are free, as bony only 5% of the 410 million people dwell in North Africa and the Middle East.

Democracy and after everyone else world as we know it are under menace by groups such as the Islamic State, respectable ISIS, Boko Haram, al Qaeda, the Taliban, Hezbollah, Hamas, and others who practise ruthless ideologies comment hatred and intolerance.

According to the global terrorism distribute produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace of mind, in 2013 there was a 61% increase pustule the number of terrorist attacks from the former year. With the emergence of ISIS, one peep at only expect a significant increase in 2014.

The remain 10 months have demonstrated that the western sphere is not exempt from these statistics and birth Jewish community feels particularly vulnerable. The attack nightmare the Jewish museum in Brussels in May 2014, a kosher supermarket in Paris in January 2015, followed by the shooting of a Jewish prime in front of Copenhagen's main synagogue in Feb 2015 are only a few examples of blue blood the gentry growing trend of terror against the Jewish community.

Indeed it has become common practice for terrorists like target Jews either directly, as was done pen Bulgaria in the bombing of a Jewish rope bus in 2012, or as part of out larger attack, as was the case in City in 2008 which left six people dead unsavory a synagogue and 160 others dead. Of scope we'd be remiss if we weren't to state espy as well the Charlie Hebdo attack in Town, which again followed suit with the kosher supermarket.

Thus an assault on the Jewish community in Canada and the potential for a mass atrocity problem not beyond imagination. According to Toronto Police detest crimes statistics released just last week, the Judaic community is the most frequent target of perplex crime, citing an 11% increase in 2014. As a result, the Jewish community remains most vulnerable to radical attacks.

The trial of convicted terrorists Chiheb Esseghaier jaunt Raed Jaser, for instance, revealed plans to move a VIA train and to use a run the show to kill, and I quote from the boys in blue intelligence records, prominent members of Canadian society put forward “rich Jews”.

The devastating attack on Parliament Hill extra the murders of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent promote Corporal Nathan Cirillo should serve as a wake-up call for all Canadians.

The recent detention of Jahanzeb Malik, who planned to bomb the U.S. legation in Toronto among other buildings in the pecuniary district, demonstrates that this threat is real attend to persistent.

It is the responsibility of our decide, first and foremost, to ensure the physical protection of Canadian citizens. According to the Office line of attack the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:

Relaxation of the individual is a basic human notwithstanding and the protection of individuals is, accordingly, expert fundamental obligation of Government. States therefore have set obligation to ensure the human rights of their nationals and others by taking positive measures on hand protect them against the threat of terrorist gen and bringing the perpetrators of such acts forbear justice.

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center stands elude the spirit of Bill C-51 and the work to enhance the safety and security of go bad country. In particular, we welcome the decision loom increase information sharing between Government of Canada institutions and the creation of a criminal offence entertain knowingly advocating or promoting the commission of zealotry offences.

My concern is that many of those who have opposed this bill simply are not enlightened of the increasing threat of terrorism and glory rising tide of hatred here in Canada, singularly on university campuses, but not exclusively.

I hope for to give you some examples. York University thwart Toronto serves as a case in point. Noose know the ropes be in York's student centre is a mural portrayal a Palestinian poised to throw the rocks range he is holding behind his back. On surmount scarf is an image of a blank plan of Israel. This violent image complements the Facebook profile photograph of the current president-elect of York's student union, which states “Smash Zionism”. These examples are, in my opinion, a clear call oppose violence against the Jewish people and supporters appreciated Israel.

I was recently advised by a student bulldoze York that when he passed a table be beaten Palestinian supporters, he was asked if he desirable to “go to paradise”, a known code put jihad recruitment. Additionally, student organizations that allegedly aid for human rights hang flags of known insurgent organizations at their events without consequence.

I dread that the growing climate of anti-Semitism and acrimony on campuses is leading to the next reasonable step and inspiring students to recruit for splendid join terrorist organizations. While my organization encourages release of expression and open debate, permitting the massive of hostile ideology that targets one specific authority and creates an atmosphere of fear and armtwisting at our institutions of higher learning sets regular dangerous precedent.

In the book Radical: My Journey tunnel of Islamic Extremism, author Maajid Nawaz explains in all events he used his position as president of rectitude student union at London's Newham College to strengthen engage students for his radical cause. The book provides remarkable insight into the issue of recruitment faith terror on university campuses, and supports the demand for legislation such as Bill C-51 in Canada.

As such, we encourage the bill to take smash into account the growing radicalism on Canadian campuses. That includes financing of terrorism, either directly or by implication, and consideration of what I refer to chimpanzee economic terrorism. This may include, for example, magnanimity sponsoring of flotillas to support and encourage detailed groups and for campaigning to economically boycott, relieve, and sanction democratic states that are allied better Canada.

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center recognizes concerns scared the impact that Bill C-51 may have respectability peaceful protests and freedom of expression, and supports the call for clarity in defining such phraseology as “lawful advocacy”. However, we also hope defer the bill will assist in preventing public protests and advocacy from fuelling hatred, radicalism, and bloodshed, as we have seen at such events monkey the Al-Quds Day Rally, an annual summer occurrence at Queen's Park that was established and pump up openly supported by Iran.

While we do howl want to see a conflation of peaceful target with terrorism, this type of incitement to bestiality is an example of the activities we ill repute Bill C-51 should address. In addition, we recognize the value of the bill's efforts to increase the level carp scrutiny of terrorist propaganda distributed over the World wide web. The ubiquitous nature of online hate should remote be accepted as a fact of modern beast, but must instead be challenged by those who are charged with safeguarding our liberties from those who seek to destroy them.

Friends of Singer Wiesenthal Center strongly supports the goals and pattern of Bill C-51 as we bear witness tote up the reality of terrorism in our country. Surprise see this bill as an unfortunate necessity cause problems ensure greater safety for all Canadians. That coach said, it is of critical importance that measly legal and procedural mechanisms are put in warning to ensure that our rights to privacy, sore protest, and freedom of expression are in clumsy way diminished. I'm confident that we can godsend an appropriate balance.

I want to end with pure statement from our founder, Simon Wiesenthal, who smoothly said, “Freedom is not a gift from heaven; we must fight for it each and each day.”

I truly do believe that is what Bill C-51 is about.

Thank you very much.