[November 2, 2024, Oakville] – The Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council (CMPAC) firmly rejects the Canadian government’s release of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Handbook on Antisemitism, released yesterday. The Handbook, based on the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism, includes language that CMPAC and numerous civil liberties organizations believe dangerously conflates antisemitism with legitimate criticism of the state of Israel. CMPAC warns that the IHRA definition, as interpreted in this handbook, risks stifling free expression and human rights advocacy.

The handbook claims that it is antisemitic to oppose the ideology of Zionism, which is defined only as support for Jewish self-determination in their ancestral homeland (29) (ignoring the role of Zionism in the dispossession and oppression of Palestinians). Case studies of antisemitic incidents in the handbook include a social media post that says “you can’t be antiracist and Zionist” and that “Zionism is a racist & violent settler-colonial project (29), and a social media post that says “Israel has no right to exist” (30).

“By endorsing the IHRA Handbook, the Canadian government is undermining Canadians’ right to express critical views on foreign policy and human rights concerns, particularly pro-Palestinian views” said Yaser Hadarra, Chairman of CMPAC’s board. “We stand with civil society organizations calling for approaches that fight antisemitism without compromising freedoms essential to democracy and human rights advocacy.”

Advocating for justice in general and especially for Palestinians is also integral to the Muslim faith. For Muslims, Palestine holds profound religious and spiritual significance. It is home to Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites, and has a deep-rooted place within our religious heritage. For many in the Muslim community, advocating for the protection and rights of Palestinians is not just a political issue but a religious, spiritual and moral obligation. Silencing or stigmatizing this advocacy, disregards our community’s deeply held beliefs and limits our religious freedoms and freedom of expression.

CMPAC calls on the government to retract the IHRA handbook and consider alternative frameworks for addressing antisemitism—ones that protect freedom of speech and do not impinge on the legitimate expression of diverse viewpoints, including advocacy for Canadian and Palestinian human rights. 

For More Information:

Media Relations, CMPAC, [email protected] , 289-815-5407