Court says it's okay to cut funding to antisemitic group that supports terrorism

"Pro-Palestinian" activists stop by to see neo-Nazi friends in Syria

In a victory for common sense, the courts have decided it’s okay to cut government funding to the Canadian Arab Federation because they’re antisemitic and supports terrorist groups. It would have been nice if the court had added that in any case it’s up to the government to decide who to give money to, not the courts, but basically, this is an excellent decision.

Back in 2012, the government also cut funding for Palestine House, for much the same reasons. See here.

Federal Court upholds government stopping funding to Canadian Arab Federation over concerns it appears to support terrorist organizations

 Stewart Bell | January 7, 2014 | Last Updated: Jan 7 5:25 PM ET

More from Stewart Bell | @StewartBellNP

TORONTO — A government decision to stop funding the Canadian Arab Federation over concerns it appeared to support terrorist organizations and anti-Semitism has been upheld by the Federal Court.

In dismissing an appeal launched by the Toronto-based pro-Palestinian lobby group, Justice Russel Zinn ruled the decision to not renew the $1-million in annual funding was reasonable.

“All of the statements and actions raised by the Minister can, in my view, reasonably lead one to the view that CAF appears to support organizations that Canada has declared to be terrorist organizations and which are arguably anti-Semitic,” the judge wrote.

The CAF had received 74% of its budget from a federal program that funds language training for new immigrants. But after he became Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Jason Kenney brought that to an end.

He said he wanted to ensure the government was not financing organizations that apologized for violence or terrorism. In a 2009 email, he described the CAF as “radical and anti-semitic” [Sic] and called the funding arrangement “shameful.”

The CAF, whose president had once called Mr. Kenney a “whore of war,” could not be reached for comment Tuesday. But three Jewish organizations applauded the ruling, which was released Monday night.

“It’s particularly disturbing to think that an organization that holds views so diametrically opposed to Canada’s values was given a mandate to integrate new Canadians,” said Shimon Fogel, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.

The court detailed six specific incidents behind the government’s decision, including a 2006 pamphlet that attacked Liberal MP Bob Rae and his wife for their involvement in the Jewish community.

At a 2009 rally organized by the CAF and other groups, the flag of the Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah was flown and a protester screamed, “Jewish child, you are going to f—cking die. Hamas is coming for you.”

The CAF’s website had linked to videos and images of Hamas operatives undergoing training, as well as the flags of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Palestinian terrorist groups notorious for their suicide bombing campaigns.

The CAF’s vice-president Ali Mullah also attended a conference in Cairo where Hamas and Hezbollah delegates were present. (Ali Mullah was also in Cairo on behalf of CUPE. See here) In addition, the CAF had honored Zafar Bangash, who “has referred to Canadians as ‘infidels or non-believers’ in the past and reported on the September 11 attacks in a way that was unsympathetic to the victims,” the court said.

The court rejected the argument that the Mr. Kenney had restricted free expression on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, saying there was no connection between the program funding decision and the CAF’s advocacy.

Mr. Kenney said the court judgment was “a vindication of common sense. Groups who express apparently hateful views or who defend terrorist organizations should not receive taxpayer funding, period. This is especially true for organizations charged with the integration of newcomers.”