Canada Stands with Ukraine. Now Ukrainians Stand with Canada.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Canadians have stood with Ukraine in extraordinary ways. Together, CUF and UCC, through the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal (UHA), have raised and committed over $95 million in aid, impacting the lives of more than 6 million Ukrainians. Much of that support has come from communities now facing their own crisis.
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National Post
3 hours ago
- National Post
Man planning to bomb Toronto synagogues 'to kill as many Jews as possible' gets house arrest as punishment
A man who said he planned on bombing every synagogue in Toronto to 'to kill as many Jews as possible' was sentenced to house arrest Monday after a sentencing hearing that heard of the terror and fear his vivid threats caused. Article content Waisuddin Akbari, 41, was ordered to stay at home for 60 days, followed by three years of probation, after voicing clear, hate-filled threats last year. Article content Article content The 'light sentence' shows the urgent need to reform Canada's hate crime laws, said Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, a director with the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies. Article content 'At a time of rampant antisemitism in Canada and elsewhere, it sends an alarming message that threats to slaughter Jews and bomb synagogues may be met with leniency. That is extremely disappointing and profoundly unsettling for our community,' Kirzner-Roberts said after Akbari's sentencing. Article content The court heard community impact statements from five Jewish community groups that outlined a deep sense of fear and despair as news of the threats spread. Article content 'The result of the unprecedented rise in antisemitism has left a palpable dread hanging over the community. This atmosphere of despair is only amplified by the actions of Mr. Akbari,' Richard Robertson, a director with B'nai Brith Canada told court at the sentencing hearing. Article content 'Jewish Canadians did not and do not feel safe in their own communities. The constant threat of attack has left members of the community in perpetual fear for their wellbeing and has led to members of the community questioning their future as Canadians.' Article content Article content Edward Prutsch, judge at the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket, north of Toronto, defended his decision in his reasons for sentencing. Article content Article content 'It is important to be clear about what Mr. Akbari is — and is not — being sentenced for. He is not being sentenced for taking any material steps to act on the threats he made. There is no evidence before me of the collection of weapons, explosives, maps, planning or coordination. Article content 'Indeed, following his arrest, police conducted extensive checks and searches on Mr. Akbari to ensure the safety of the community was not still at risk. Mr. Akbari's guilt is based on empty threats he communicated to a stranger, mistakenly assuming (he) would be sympathetic to Akbari's own warped and hateful worldview. There was no effort to publicize his threats beyond the conversation,' Prutschi wrote. Article content 'That is not to say that the threats were harmless. Mr. Akbari's threats were clearly motivated by bias, prejudice and hate towards Israelis and Jews. … Hate-based threats are not just words, they are the gasoline upon which even more serious offences burn. Where hate is normalized, harm follows.'
Vancouver Sun
3 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Man planning to bomb Toronto synagogues 'to kill as many Jews as possible' gets house arrest as punishment
A man who said he planned on bombing every synagogue in Toronto to 'to kill as many Jews as possible' was sentenced to house arrest Monday after a sentencing hearing that heard of the terror and fear his vivid threats caused. Waisuddin Akbari, 41, was ordered to stay at home for 60 days, followed by three years of probation, after voicing clear, hate-filled threats last year. The 'light sentence' shows the urgent need to reform Canada's hate crime laws, said Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, a director with the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'At a time of rampant antisemitism in Canada and elsewhere, it sends an alarming message that threats to slaughter Jews and bomb synagogues may be met with leniency. That is extremely disappointing and profoundly unsettling for our community,' Kirzner-Roberts said after Akbari's sentencing. That is extremely disappointing and profoundly unsettling for our community The court heard community impact statements from five Jewish community groups that outlined a deep sense of fear and despair as news of the threats spread. 'The result of the unprecedented rise in antisemitism has left a palpable dread hanging over the community. This atmosphere of despair is only amplified by the actions of Mr. Akbari,' Richard Robertson, a director with B'nai Brith Canada told court at the sentencing hearing. 'Jewish Canadians did not and do not feel safe in their own communities. The constant threat of attack has left members of the community in perpetual fear for their wellbeing and has led to members of the community questioning their future as Canadians.' Edward Prutsch, judge at the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket, north of Toronto, defended his decision in his reasons for sentencing. 'It is important to be clear about what Mr. Akbari is — and is not — being sentenced for. He is not being sentenced for taking any material steps to act on the threats he made. There is no evidence before me of the collection of weapons, explosives, maps, planning or coordination. 'Indeed, following his arrest, police conducted extensive checks and searches on Mr. Akbari to ensure the safety of the community was not still at risk. Mr. Akbari's guilt is based on empty threats he communicated to a stranger, mistakenly assuming (he) would be sympathetic to Akbari's own warped and hateful worldview. There was no effort to publicize his threats beyond the conversation,' Prutschi wrote. 'That is not to say that the threats were harmless. Mr. Akbari's threats were clearly motivated by bias, prejudice and hate towards Israelis and Jews. … Hate-based threats are not just words, they are the gasoline upon which even more serious offences burn. Where hate is normalized, harm follows.' Prutschi acknowledge 'anxiety and concern' Akbari caused, writing: 'It is impossible to overstate the sense of fear, anger, and frustration Mr. Akbari's words have instilled in the broader Jewish community.' The case began in March 2024. Akbari was talking with a salesman at his BMW dealership while waiting for an oil change. He said he did not want to lease or finance a new car because he believed that Israel and the Jews controlled world events and benefited from interest payments on all car loans. He went on to outline his belief that Israel was plotting to exterminate anyone who was not Jewish. He said they deserve deadly punishment. 'Before I go, I want you to remember my name and remember my face,' Akbari concluded the conversation, according to evidence in court, 'because the next time you see it, I'll be on the news.' 'I know when I'm going to die because I'm going to plant a bomb in every synagogue in Toronto and blow them up to kill as many Jews as possible.' The salesman asked if he was serious. Akbari replied, 'Yes, I'm serious. I'll make sure those attacks are filmed and posted online so the world can see what I've done.' The salesman said he was rattled and fearful. The next day, he called the police to report the conversation. Akbari was charged with threatening to damage property and threatening death. In court at Akbari's trial last year, the salesman testified: 'Based on the seriousness in his tone, I didn't think for a second he was joking.' Based on the seriousness in his tone, I didn't think for a second he was joking Akbari was found guilty after a trial. He was sentenced Monday. Akbari was born in Afghanistan and moved to Pakistan when he was around six or seven years old. He stayed in Pakistan for seven to eight years before moving to Moscow, Russia, and, in 2007, moving to Canada. He opened a shawarma restaurant and became a Canadian citizen. Both Akbari and the car salesman are Muslims who grew up in Pakistan. The judge said that Akbari thought their shared background might give him a sense of comfort with voicing his diatribe. At his trial, Akbari denied making statements about bombing synagogues or killing Jews. He said he didn't even know what Judaism or a synagogue was until after his arrest. The judge said at trial that Akbari's commentary was 'false, despicable and odious.' Threatening offences can be considered criminal if the accused intended the threat to be taken seriously; it is not necessary to prove that he intended to follow through. Crown prosecutors asked for a four-to-six-month jail sentence followed by three years of probation, DNA registration, and a weapons prohibition. Akbari's lawyer asked for a conditional discharge, meaning a finding of guilt without jail time or criminal conviction. Akbari spent four days in jail while awaiting bail after his arrest. He has a previous conviction from 2013 for impaired driving. As factors in Akbari's favour at sentencing, Prutschi spoke of his hard life before coming to Canada, his work at his restaurant to support his wife and two teenaged children, and a network within the Ismaili Muslim community who sent letters saying they do not condone the hate-filled threats but will support his rehabilitation. He also lost his shawarma franchise. Akbari continued to deny he made the threats but expressed his opposition to antisemitism and violence. 'While a custodial sentence is required, the safety of the community is not endangered if Mr. Akbari were permitted to serve his sentence under strict conditions in the community. This will send the appropriate message both to him, and to others, that hateful threats against Jews and their institutions will be met by significant sanction,' Prutschi wrote. He also ordered a 10-year weapons prohibition and that Akbari provide a sample of his DNA. Alongside B'nai Brith Canada and the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, impact statements were made in court by the Toronto Board of Rabbis, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, and the Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation. Prutschi said there was 'a terrible twist of irony' in the case. 'The attention his case has drawn has had a devastating impact on him and his family. In a terrible twist of irony, Mr. Akbari's comment during the threats that he would 'be on the news' has come true in a way he certainly did not anticipate.' • Email: ahumphreys@ | Twitter: AD_Humphreys Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Edmonton Journal
3 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
Man planning to bomb Toronto synagogues 'to kill as many Jews as possible' gets house arrest as punishment
A man who said he planned on bombing every synagogue in Toronto to 'to kill as many Jews as possible' was sentenced to house arrest Monday after a sentencing hearing that heard of the terror and fear his vivid threats caused. Article content Waisuddin Akbari, 41, was ordered to stay at home for 60 days, followed by three years of probation, after voicing clear, hate-filled threats last year. Article content Article content Article content The 'light sentence' shows the urgent need to reform Canada's hate crime laws, said Jaime Kirzner-Roberts, a director with the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies. Article content 'At a time of rampant antisemitism in Canada and elsewhere, it sends an alarming message that threats to slaughter Jews and bomb synagogues may be met with leniency. That is extremely disappointing and profoundly unsettling for our community,' Kirzner-Roberts said after Akbari's sentencing. Article content The court heard community impact statements from five Jewish community groups that outlined a deep sense of fear and despair as news of the threats spread. Article content 'The result of the unprecedented rise in antisemitism has left a palpable dread hanging over the community. This atmosphere of despair is only amplified by the actions of Mr. Akbari,' Richard Robertson, a director with B'nai Brith Canada told court at the sentencing hearing. Article content Article content 'Jewish Canadians did not and do not feel safe in their own communities. The constant threat of attack has left members of the community in perpetual fear for their wellbeing and has led to members of the community questioning their future as Canadians.' Article content Article content Edward Prutsch, judge at the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket, north of Toronto, defended his decision in his reasons for sentencing. Article content 'It is important to be clear about what Mr. Akbari is — and is not — being sentenced for. He is not being sentenced for taking any material steps to act on the threats he made. There is no evidence before me of the collection of weapons, explosives, maps, planning or coordination. Article content 'Indeed, following his arrest, police conducted extensive checks and searches on Mr. Akbari to ensure the safety of the community was not still at risk. Mr. Akbari's guilt is based on empty threats he communicated to a stranger, mistakenly assuming (he) would be sympathetic to Akbari's own warped and hateful worldview. There was no effort to publicize his threats beyond the conversation,' Prutschi wrote.
