Montreal, January 28th, 2022 — On the fifth anniversary of the Quebec City Mosque Massacre, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) commemorates and remembers the tragic events at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City on January 29, 2017 which left 6 dead and 19 injured.  The victims included Azzeddine Soufiane, 57, father of three; Khaled Belkacemi, 60; Aboubaker Thabti; Mamadou Tanou, 42, father of two; Ibrahima Barry, 39, father of four; Abdelkrim Hassane, 41, father of three.  CJPME also points out that one year ago, the federal government designated that January 29 be recognized as a “National Day of Remembrance of the Québec City Mosque Attack and Action against Islamophobia.” Continue reading

Montreal, December 16, 2021  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) welcomes Canada’s vote today in support of Palestinian self-determination at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), but expresses its strong disapproval over the continuation of Canada’s overall anti-Palestine voting pattern. Of the ten resolutions in support of Palestinian rights to be adopted by the UNGA’s plenary this year, Canada has only voted in support of one of them. The resolution on Palestinian self-determination was adopted late this afternoon with a vote of 168-5, with 10 abstentions. Continue reading

Montreal, December 13, 2021 - Below is a letter to Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, regarding recent comments on the six Palestinian civil society organizations which have been falsely designated by Israel as “terrorist organisations.” CJPME argues that Canada must end its hesitation on this matter and act immediately to protect human rights defenders in Palestine. To download a PDF version of the letter, click here. Continue reading

Montreal, November 26, 2021  — The Palestinian-Canadian Academics and Artists Network (PCAAN) applauds CAUT’s resolution opposing the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition of Antisemitism (IHRA WDA) at Canadian universities and colleges. Continue reading

Montreal, November 26, 2021 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) congratulates the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) for standing up for academic freedom on Palestine by opposing the controversial IHRA working definition of antisemitism. A resolution adopted unanimously by delegates at the CAUT’s Council Meeting takes a firm position against the IHRA definition, which conflates criticism and protest of Israel with antisemitism and is therefore widely understood as a threat to academic freedom. CAUT represents more than 70,000 faculty and academic staff in Canada. Continue reading

Montreal, November 9, 2021  — Legislators from Europe and North America came together recently to discuss the alarming recent threats to Palestinian civil society by the Israeli government, as well as initiatives that governments can take to ensure that public funding is not contributing to Israeli violations of human rights. Continue reading

Montreal, November 4, 2021  — CJPME is pleased to provide its metro Montreal supporters with an overview of key issues in advance of this weekend’s Montreal municipal elections. Montreal mayoral candidates answered questions from CJPME on IHRA and free speech on Palestine, religious discrimination, anti-Arab racism, human rights, and more. Continue reading

Montreal, October 30, 2021  — CJPME joins 234 organizations in calling on the international community to protect Palestinian civil society, and to condemn Israel's "terrorist" designation of six leading Palestinian human rights organizations as a wrongful act. Read the joint statement below. Continue reading

Montreal, October 28, 2021  — A survey of Canadian opinion conducted by EKOS Research Associates reveals a disturbing problem of racist attitudes toward Arabs in Canada. The survey found that Canadians hold more negative views towards immigration from Arab countries, compared to immigration in general, and that Canadians hold negative stereotypes about Arabs and Arab society. At the same time, the survey shows that Canadians acknowledge anti-Arab racism to be a problem, are generally opposed to racial profiling of Arabs, and recognize that various barriers can negatively affect the ability of Arab-Canadians to secure employment. Finally, the survey results show that Canadians hold Arabs less responsible than Israel for prolonging the “Arab-Israeli conflict,” and support proactive measures to hold Israel accountable. Continue reading

Montreal, October 22, 2021  — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is expressing serious alarm following a major Israeli assault against Palestinian civil society. Israel’s Minister of Defense Benny Gantz today declared six respected and credible Palestinian organizations – several of them human rights organizations - to be “terrorist organisations,” in a clear attempt to shut down their activities. CJPME warns that this designation is likely to have catastrophic financial, legal, and reputational consequences for these vulnerable organizations, putting the work and safety of their employees at risk. Continue reading