August 20, 2012
Selkirk, MB – James Bezan, Member of Parliament for Selkirk-Interlake, issued strong words condemning the Al-Quds Day rally held this past weekend at the Ontario Legislature at Queen’s Park. Al-Quds day, which refers to Jerusalem, is an anti-Israel event that was started in 1979 by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The core message of Al-Quds day is to call for the takeover of Jerusalem, and in turn, Israel, and to replace it with an Islamist Palestinian state. It has been documented that “Death to Israel” and “Death to America” are often chanted at Al-Quds day rallies, especially in Iran.
“Freedom of expression is a core Canadian value that we all hold dear, however, I can’t think of anything more un-Canadian than an anti-Semitic hate rally that calls for the destruction of a democratic state,” said MP Bezan. “Those who chose to attend and support the Al-Quds rally are doing the bidding of the Iranian regime. The Iranian government suppresses the rights of innocent Iranians, supports international terrorism and illegally pursues nuclear weapons. The fact that this rally was held outside the Ontario legislature is a slap in the face to the values and beliefs our country was built upon.”
At the rally this past weekend, as well at last year‘s Al-Quds Day rally in Toronto, speakers labeled Israelis as “barbarians” and “inhuman,” and Israel was described as a “cancer” that must be killed. Supporters of Hezbollah, a Lebanese terrorist organization as defined under Canadian law and banned in Canada, were present.
“The Department of Public Safety has indicated it is aware that the Iranian regime is using its embassy in Ottawa to exert influence over Iranian-Canadians,” said MP Bezan. “The fact that a Al-Quds Day rally originating from Iran is taking place in Canada is evidence that the Iranian Embassy is meddling in the affairs of Canada, and is of grave concern.”