Latest news with #TareqHadhad
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legal group apologizes after cancellation of noted Syrian Canadian speech sparks 'profound' reaction
A prominent Canadian legal association is apologizing after it cancelled a keynote speech by Syrian Canadian humanitarian advocate Tareq Hadhad, prompting sharp criticism from many of its members. Last Friday, CBC News was first to report that The Advocates' Society rescinded an invitation for Hadhad, founder of Peace by Chocolate, to deliver a keynote speech, saying some members expressed concerns about his position on Israel's war in Gaza. Now, the organization says it's acknowledging the "profound reactions" surrounding its decision. "Our members have expressed deep concerns with the way our decisions were made, the basis for them and with the lack of diverse consultation in our deliberations," it said in a statement Friday. "We hear you. We are sorry and regret the harm we have caused," it said, adding "through these decisions and related communications we have not fully lived up to our mission and core values." CBC News has asked The Advocates' Society if it now plans to reverse its decision and is awaiting a response. The statement comes after a wave of lawyers resigned from the legal organization including high profile criminal lawyer Marie Henein, who served as president of TAS from 2010 to 2011. Litigator Danielle Robitaille also confirmed she cancelled her membership and an upcoming speaking engagement over the move. "Personally, it is very difficult for me to align myself with an advocates' organization that cancels speakers because we may disagree with them," Robitaille wrote in a social media post this week. "I continue to engage with leadership and membership at the TAS to see if there is a path forward for the organization. In the meantime, I am out." Employment and human rights lawyer Arleen Huggins cancelled her membership as well. "Rather than engaging in dialogue, there are those who, in the Trumpian manner, want to cancel and stifle free thought and speech, and wish to use associations such as the Advocates' Society to do so," wrote Huggins in a letter to TAS. As CBC News reported last week, TAS, which says on its website that it was "established to ensure the presence of a courageous and independent bar," rescinded Hadhad's speaking invitation at its upcoming end-of-term dinner in Toronto after it said some members had raised concerns about his "public posts on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East." The message did not point to any specific posts made by Hadhad or elaborate on what about them raised concerns. The Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association (CMLA) previously told CBC News that when it pressed the organization for specifics, it was told the concerns stemmed from complaints about Hadhad's use of the term "genocide" on social media, adding he had not provided what they deemed "equal comment" on other impacted groups. TAS would not confirm those details to CBC News. Lawyer flagged 'one-sided view' of war in Gaza On Oct. 19, 2023, amid Israeli air raids in Gaza following the attacks by Hamas days earlier, Hadhad wrote on X, calling for humanitarian aid to be allowed into the enclave and for an end of the fighting. "Our Canadian government needs to not only call, but to pressure for an immediate ceasefire and save civilians' lives. All human lives have equal weight and peace should prevail," Hadhad wrote. In another X post on Oct. 30, 2023, he wrote in part: "A child in Gaza is being killed every 15 minutes ... How many are enough? Stop the killing. Stop the war." On May 27, 2024, Hadhad wrote in reference to the children of Gaza: "This genocide must be stopped. Children should wake up to the sound of birds, not the sound of bombs." Lawyer Jonathan Lisus was among those who wrote to the organization to flag what he described as Hadhad's "one-sided view" of the conflict, noting Hadhad did not appear to have posted in solidarity with the Israeli victims of Hamas's Oct. 7 attack or the hostages taken that day. "I appreciate and advocate for the distinction between bona fide criticism of Israel and its policies on one hand and ill will towards the Jewish people on the other," he said in a letter dated March 15. "Sadly, Mr. Hadhad's record of public statements makes a strong case that while expressing understandable concern for civilian deaths in Gaza he is unsympathetic, and certainly indifferent, to the harm and suffering of Jewish people and the Jewish state." 'If lawyers are not fighting for freedom of speech then who the hell will?' Since the decision, fallout has continued, with numerous lawyers and advocacy groups, including the National GC Network (NGCN) and the South Asian Bar Association of Canada, calling on the organization to reverse course. "In cancelling Mr. Hadhad's keynote, TAS has abandoned its principle of giving a voice to all, reflecting a troubling lack of respect for the freedom of its members to hold diverse ideological perspectives. This decision has alienated many members and is plain wrong," NGCN said in its letter, dated March 31. On Thursday, 40 law professors from across the country also issued a letter containing a similar message. "Put simply, the willingness to defend pro-Palestinian expression has become the canary in the coalmine for an organization's ability to effectively foster diverse perspectives, and ultimately, to act as a meaningful force for democratic values," the lawyers' letter said. "It is disturbing to see that, faced with this test, the Advocates' Society has profoundly failed, and decided that the path of least resistance was to allow a veto over any speaker whose perspective may push members out of their comfort zone." In its letter, the South Asian Bar Association said: "Diversity and inclusion are not just words, they require action and commitment. In recent years, TAS has vocally committed to these ideals and fostered them. This decision sends that commitment stumbling backwards." And while TAS alluded to members raising concerns over Hadhad's stance on the war in Gaza, lawyer Kathryn Marshall spoke out over the decision on social media Tuesday, saying she was speaking "as a lawyer who is a staunch supporter of Israel and will fight to the end for my clients, many of whom are victims of anti-Semitism." "It is highly disturbing to me to see lawyers who claim to be top shelf litigators engaging in cancel culture," Marshall wrote. "If lawyers are not fighting for freedom of speech then who the hell will?"
CBC
04-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Legal group apologizes after cancellation of noted Syrian Canadian speech sparks 'profound' reaction
A prominent Canadian legal association is apologizing after it cancelled a keynote speech by Syrian Canadian humanitarian advocate Tareq Hadhad, prompting sharp criticism from many of its members. Last Friday, CBC News was first to report that The Advocates' Society rescinded an invitation for Hadhad, founder of Peace by Chocolate, to deliver a keynote speech, saying some members expressed concerns about his position on Israel's war in Gaza. Now, the organization says it's acknowledging the "profound reactions" surrounding its decision. "Our members have expressed deep concerns with the way our decisions were made, the basis for them and with the lack of diverse consultation in our deliberations," it said in a statement Friday. "We hear you. We are sorry and regret the harm we have caused," it said, adding "through these decisions and related communications we have not fully lived up to our mission and core values." CBC News has asked The Advocates' Society if it now plans to reverse its decision and is awaiting a response. The statement comes after a wave of lawyers resigned from the legal organization including high profile criminal lawyer Marie Henein, who served as president of TAS from 2010 to 2011. Litigator Danielle Robitaille also confirmed she cancelled her membership and an upcoming speaking engagement over the move. "Personally, it is very difficult for me to align myself with an advocates' organization that cancels speakers because we may disagree with them," Robitaille wrote in a social media post this week. "I continue to engage with leadership and membership at the TAS to see if there is a path forward for the organization. In the meantime, I am out." Employment and human rights lawyer Arleen Huggins cancelled her membership as well. "Rather than engaging in dialogue, there are those who, in the Trumpian manner, want to cancel and stifle free thought and speech, and wish to use associations such as the Advocates' Society to do so," wrote Huggins in a letter to TAS. As CBC News reported last week, TAS, which says on its website that it was "established to ensure the presence of a courageous and independent bar," rescinded Hadhad's speaking invitation at its upcoming end-of-term dinner in Toronto after it said some members had raised concerns about his "public posts on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East." The message did not point to any specific posts made by Hadhad or elaborate on what about them raised concerns. The Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association (CMLA) previously told CBC News that when it pressed the organization for specifics, it was told the concerns stemmed from complaints about Hadhad's use of the term "genocide" on social media, adding he had not provided what they deemed "equal comment" on other impacted groups. TAS would not confirm those details to CBC News. Lawyer flagged 'one-sided view' of war in Gaza On Oct. 19, 2023, amid Israeli air raids in Gaza following the attacks by Hamas days earlier, Hadhad wrote on X, calling for humanitarian aid to be allowed into the enclave and for an end of the fighting. "Our Canadian government needs to not only call, but to pressure for an immediate ceasefire and save civilians' lives. All human lives have equal weight and peace should prevail," Hadhad wrote. In another X post on Oct. 30, 2023, he wrote in part: "A child in Gaza is being killed every 15 minutes ... How many are enough? Stop the killing. Stop the war." On May 27, 2024, Hadhad wrote in reference to the children of Gaza: "This genocide must be stopped. Children should wake up to the sound of birds, not the sound of bombs." Lawyer Jonathan Lisus was among those who wrote to the organization to flag what he described as Hadhad's "one-sided view" of the conflict, noting Hadhad did not appear to have posted in solidarity with the Israeli victims of Hamas's Oct. 7 attack or the hostages taken that day. "I appreciate and advocate for the distinction between bona fide criticism of Israel and its policies on one hand and ill will towards the Jewish people on the other," he said in a letter dated March 15. "Sadly, Mr. Hadhad's record of public statements makes a strong case that while expressing understandable concern for civilian deaths in Gaza he is unsympathetic, and certainly indifferent, to the harm and suffering of Jewish people and the Jewish state." 'If lawyers are not fighting for freedom of speech then who the hell will?' Since the decision, fallout has continued, with numerous lawyers and advocacy groups, including the National GC Network (NGCN) and the South Asian Bar Association of Canada, calling on the organization to reverse course. "In cancelling Mr. Hadhad's keynote, TAS has abandoned its principle of giving a voice to all, reflecting a troubling lack of respect for the freedom of its members to hold diverse ideological perspectives. This decision has alienated many members and is plain wrong," NGCN said in its letter, dated March 31. On Thursday, 40 law professors from across the country also issued a letter containing a similar message. "Put simply, the willingness to defend pro-Palestinian expression has become the canary in the coalmine for an organization's ability to effectively foster diverse perspectives, and ultimately, to act as a meaningful force for democratic values," the lawyers' letter said. "It is disturbing to see that, faced with this test, the Advocates' Society has profoundly failed, and decided that the path of least resistance was to allow a veto over any speaker whose perspective may push members out of their comfort zone." In its letter, the South Asian Bar Association said: "Diversity and inclusion are not just words, they require action and commitment. In recent years, TAS has vocally committed to these ideals and fostered them. This decision sends that commitment stumbling backwards." And while TAS alluded to members raising concerns over Hadhad's stance on the war in Gaza, lawyer Kathryn Marshall spoke out over the decision on social media Tuesday, saying she was speaking "as a lawyer who is a staunch supporter of Israel and will fight to the end for my clients, many of whom are victims of anti-Semitism." "It is highly disturbing to me to see lawyers who claim to be top shelf litigators engaging in cancel culture," Marshall wrote.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legal group draws ire for cancelling humanitarian advocate's speech over his stance on Gaza
A prominent legal organization is facing criticism for cancelling a speech by a noted entrepreneur and humanitarian advocate after, it says, some members expressed concerns about his position on Israel's war in Gaza. Tareq Hadhad, the founder of Peace by Chocolate, had been selected by the Advocates' Society, a national non-profit group made up of some 6,000 judges, lawyers and advocates, to deliver the keynote address at its highly anticipated end-of-term dinner, in Toronto in June. On its website, the organization says it was "established to ensure the presence of a courageous and independent bar." But in a message to its members on Wednesday, the group said that invitation was rescinded after some members raised concerns about his "public posts on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East." "We recognize that, by selecting Mr. Hadhad, we have harmed many of our members and made them feel unwelcome," it said. The message did not point to any specific posts made by Hadhad or elaborate on what about them raised concerns. But the Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association (CMLA) says when it pressed the society, it was told the concerns stemmed from complaints about Hadhad's use of the term "genocide" on social media, particularly in the context of human rights discussions, adding he had not provided what they deemed "equal comment" on other impacted groups. WATCH | Hadhad gets Canadian citizenship: When asked, the Advocates' Society would not confirm those specifics to CBC News. In a statement, it said the reaction "made it clear that our plans were pushing members apart, not bringing us together. With regret, we have concluded that this is not the right time or event for this speaker to address our members." "The decision was not due to any specific social media post, but rather the impact this discussion had on our members, creating division and harm for some, instead of community and collegiality." 'I stand firm on my values' Hadhad arrived in Canada as a refugee in 2015 after the war in his native Syria displaced millions, and quickly made headlines for his entrepreneurship after recreating his family's chocolate business. It's for that reason that the society chose him for its keynote, saying in its message to members Hadhad "has an inspiring personal story about his perseverance as a Syrian refugee." Hadhad said he was "honoured" by the invitation and "surprised" when it was rescinded. A man reacts as Palestinians search for casualties a day after Israeli strikes on houses in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, on Nov. 1, 2023. (Mohammed Al-Masri/Reuters) "I stand firm on my values and I am proud of who I am. My story is not political, it is personal. It is rooted in lived experience," he said in a statement to CBC News. "I will continue to use my voice to advocate for human rights and the belief that every person deserves to live in peace and with respect." Hadhad added that his speech would have focused on "values that unite" and the "dignity of every human being." Accused of 'policing views' In an open letter to the society, the CMLA noted Hadhad has earned widespread recognition for his story, including the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, in addition to being invited to speak by numerous Canadian financial institutions and consulting services. As for any concerns raised about the use of the term genocide to refer to Israel's actions in Gaza, it pointed out that top human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have already argued Israel's actions amount to genocide. The International Court of Justice has also ordered Israel to take all measures to prevent any acts contrary to the 1948 Genocide Convention in its war in Gaza, and the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for specific Israeli officials for war crimes. Israel has vehemently denied those charges. "By policing views on this issue, the Society is making it very clear that it is not committed to diversity of opinion or colour and sending a clear message to its visible minority members that they are not welcome," CMLA chair Husein Panju said in the letter. "The Society's actions show that it and its board place a higher value on appeasing certain anonymous constituencies than on promoting free speech, intercultural dialogue, inclusivity, and the open exchange of ideas. We can think of few things that are more at odds with fundamental Canadian values." In its statement to CBC News, the society said it is "committed to creating a vibrant, diverse, welcoming and inclusive environment for all advocates" and that it is "actively reaching out to members and leaders of legal organizations to listen, learn, and seek to restore the trust of our membership." But for employment and human rights lawyer Muneeza Sheikh, the society's about-face sends a different message. "The fact that someone as passionate about human rights as Mr. Hadhad can get booted off a prominent legal stage (with young, racialized lawyers watching) in this manner sends a clear message: those who stand for Human Rights are screened first as to whose Human Rights they are standing for," she wrote to CBC News. Employment and human rights lawyer Muneeza Sheikh says rescinding Hadhad's invitation was 'wrong' and has unfairly turned him into a 'divisive figure.' (Submitted by Muneeza Sheikh) "That is not OK," she continued. "My friends in the legal community are not OK. Free speech has become a casualty in the Ontario legal community, which is shocking given that it is an imperative when looking at human rights — furthermore, thought crimes are punishable in the worst way." Hadhad, meanwhile, says he will continue to do what he has done since arriving in Canada: aiming to build bridges through dialogue. "I believe in creating spaces where stories of hope and peace can be heard without fear or division."
CBC
28-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Legal group draws ire for cancelling humanitarian advocate's speech over his stance on Gaza
A prominent legal organization is facing criticism for cancelling a speech by a noted entrepreneur and humanitarian advocate after, it says, some members expressed concerns about his position on Israel's war in Gaza. Tareq Hadhad, the founder of Peace by Chocolate, had been selected by the Advocates' Society, a national non-profit group made up of some 6,000 judges, lawyers and advocates, to deliver the keynote address at its highly anticipated end-of-term dinner, in Toronto in June. On its website, the organization says it was "established to ensure the presence of a courageous and independent bar." But in a message to its members on Wednesday, the group said that invitation was rescinded after some members raised concerns about his "public posts on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East." "We recognize that, by selecting Mr. Hadhad, we have harmed many of our members and made them feel unwelcome," it said. The message did not point to any specific posts made by Hadhad or elaborate on what about them raised concerns. But the Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association (CMLA) says when it pressed the society, it was told the concerns stemmed from complaints about Hadhad's use of the term "genocide" on social media, particularly in the context of human rights discussions, adding he had not provided what they deemed "equal comment" on other impacted groups. WATCH | Hadhad gets Canadian citizenship: Peace by Chocolate founder gets Canadian citizenship 5 years ago Duration 1:49 When asked, the Advocates' Society would not confirm those specifics to CBC News. In a statement, it said the reaction "made it clear that our plans were pushing members apart, not bringing us together. With regret, we have concluded that this is not the right time or event for this speaker to address our members." "The decision was not due to any specific social media post, but rather the impact this discussion had on our members, creating division and harm for some, instead of community and collegiality." 'I stand firm on my values' Hadhad arrived in Canada as a refugee in 2015 after the war in his native Syria displaced millions, and quickly made headlines for his entrepreneurship after recreating his family's chocolate business. It's for that reason that the society chose him for its keynote, saying in its message to members Hadhad "has an inspiring personal story about his perseverance as a Syrian refugee." Hadhad said he was "honoured" by the invitation and "surprised" when it was rescinded. "I stand firm on my values and I am proud of who I am. My story is not political, it is personal. It is rooted in lived experience," he said in a statement to CBC News. "I will continue to use my voice to advocate for human rights and the belief that every person deserves to live in peace and with respect." Hadhad added that his speech would have focused on "values that unite" and the "dignity of every human being." Accused of 'policing views' In an open letter to the society, the CMLA noted Hadhad has earned widespread recognition for his story, including the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, in addition to being invited to speak by numerous Canadian financial institutions and consulting services. As for any concerns raised about the use of the term genocide to refer to Israel's actions in Gaza, it pointed out that top human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have already argued Israel's actions amount to genocide. The International Court of Justice has also ordered Israel to take all measures to prevent any acts contrary to the 1948 Genocide Convention in its war in Gaza, and the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for specific Israeli officials for war crimes. Israel has vehemently denied those charges. "By policing views on this issue, the Society is making it very clear that it is not committed to diversity of opinion or colour and sending a clear message to its visible minority members that they are not welcome," CMLA chair Husein Panju said in the letter. "The Society's actions show that it and its board place a higher value on appeasing certain anonymous constituencies than on promoting free speech, intercultural dialogue, inclusivity, and the open exchange of ideas. We can think of few things that are more at odds with fundamental Canadian values." In its statement to CBC News, the society said it is "committed to creating a vibrant, diverse, welcoming and inclusive environment for all advocates" and that it is "actively reaching out to members and leaders of legal organizations to listen, learn, and seek to restore the trust of our membership." But for employment and human rights lawyer Muneeza Sheikh, the society's about-face sends a different message. "The fact that someone as passionate about human rights as Mr. Hadhad can get booted off a prominent legal stage (with young, racialized lawyers watching) in this manner sends a clear message: those who stand for Human Rights are screened first as to whose Human Rights they are standing for," she wrote to CBC News. "That is not OK," she continued. "My friends in the legal community are not OK. Free speech has become a casualty in the Ontario legal community, which is shocking given that it is an imperative when looking at human rights — furthermore, thought crimes are punishable in the worst way." Hadhad, meanwhile, says he will continue to do what he has done since arriving in Canada: aiming to build bridges through dialogue.
