TORONTO, June 7, 2011:
B’nai Brith Canada is calling for action following the findings of a Stats Canada study based on police reports that documents a 42% increase in hate crimes overall in 2009 compared to 2008, with a particularly significant spike (71%) in crimes motivated by religion targeting the Jewish community.
“We are very disturbed by the findings of this study,” said Frank Dimant, CEO of B’nai Brith Canada. “Not only did the number of hate crimes rise in general, but the role of religion as a motivating factor has become more pronounced, which is a threat to all religious minorities. This is a direct challenge to the values of our multicultural society.
“The 71% increase in religiously-motivated hate crimes that specifically target the Jewish community should be a cause for alarm. These findings are consistent with our League for Human Right’s annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, which has tracked sustained year-on-year increases in antisemitic activity in Canada over the past decade.
“As the organization on the frontlines of combating antisemitism in Canada , we call on all levels of government, as well as law enforcement agencies, to dedicate further resources to combatting antisemitism and hate crimes of all kinds.
The professionals at B’nai Brith are ready to assist the community and the police in every way possible. Our Anti-Hate Hotline (1-800-892-2624) is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week, to provide assistance to victims of antisemitism.”
