The Toronto Police Service (TPS) Hate Crimes Unit arrested and charged Ahmad Hassan Hajahmad with “participation or contribution to activities of a terrorist group”—namely Hamas.
Supporting Hamas and contacting Hamas is a totally different thing than merely supporting Palestinian rights. You can will and should cop a charge for the former but of course not the latter.
But what is “contacting Hamas”? They’re still an administrative body. Did he contact the fire brigade? The health ministry? The law enforcement? The militant wing?
That’s part of the smoke screen that Israel has thrown up when defining what Hamas is. It’s not just a paramilitary organization, it was the actual governing body of Gaza with several divisions that are far removed from the actual fighting.
So when Israel says it’s killed 5 Hamas members, it actually killed traffic cops.
Edit: Regardless, to keep in line with actual info from the article and the legal proceedings - the TPS basically followed him around due to his involvement in anti-genocide protests and supposed “hate speech” but wasn’t charged with that.
They then contacted the counter terrorism office to conduct a raid on his home (mind you, still no charge) which they claim they found details of communication with a sanctioned group, which then applied the terrorism charge.
I completely and utterly disagree. Both the notion of “supporting” and “terrorist” are so malleable and vague that legislation in this direction can be used to charge anyone for pretty much anything. As such, it has no place in a free and democratic society.
First, the label “terrorist”. It should be obvious that terrorism is in the eye of the beholder. Were the resistance movements in WWII terrorists? Depends on who you ask. If you ask me, no. If you ask the nazis, obviously yes. Were the ANC freedom fighters defending themselves against the oppressive system of apartheid, or terrorists disrupting order? How about the folks at euromaidan? How about the elected government of Gazans that runs hospitals and food banks there (as governments do)? Terrorists, apparently.
Then, there’s “support”. It conjures this image of shady people supplying scary men with crates of AK47s, or sending millions to swiss bank accounts which are then used to buy and develop dirty bombs. And then sure, that sounds like something that should be illegal. But what about treating a wounded “terrorist” in a hospital? Is that support? What about saying you agree with “terrorists”? (For example, I support the Warsaw uprising, I think they did the right thing) According to the UK, that counts! Saying you believe that Palestine action is doing the right thing is an act that is punishable by law there.
The idea that “supporting” “terrorists” should be illegal is an absolutely indefensible position in a free society.
Supporting Hamas and contacting Hamas is a totally different thing than merely supporting Palestinian rights. You can will and should cop a charge for the former but of course not the latter.
But what is “contacting Hamas”? They’re still an administrative body. Did he contact the fire brigade? The health ministry? The law enforcement? The militant wing?
That’s part of the smoke screen that Israel has thrown up when defining what Hamas is. It’s not just a paramilitary organization, it was the actual governing body of Gaza with several divisions that are far removed from the actual fighting.
So when Israel says it’s killed 5 Hamas members, it actually killed traffic cops.
Edit: Regardless, to keep in line with actual info from the article and the legal proceedings - the TPS basically followed him around due to his involvement in anti-genocide protests and supposed “hate speech” but wasn’t charged with that.
They then contacted the counter terrorism office to conduct a raid on his home (mind you, still no charge) which they claim they found details of communication with a sanctioned group, which then applied the terrorism charge.
I completely and utterly disagree. Both the notion of “supporting” and “terrorist” are so malleable and vague that legislation in this direction can be used to charge anyone for pretty much anything. As such, it has no place in a free and democratic society.
First, the label “terrorist”. It should be obvious that terrorism is in the eye of the beholder. Were the resistance movements in WWII terrorists? Depends on who you ask. If you ask me, no. If you ask the nazis, obviously yes. Were the ANC freedom fighters defending themselves against the oppressive system of apartheid, or terrorists disrupting order? How about the folks at euromaidan? How about the elected government of Gazans that runs hospitals and food banks there (as governments do)? Terrorists, apparently.
Then, there’s “support”. It conjures this image of shady people supplying scary men with crates of AK47s, or sending millions to swiss bank accounts which are then used to buy and develop dirty bombs. And then sure, that sounds like something that should be illegal. But what about treating a wounded “terrorist” in a hospital? Is that support? What about saying you agree with “terrorists”? (For example, I support the Warsaw uprising, I think they did the right thing) According to the UK, that counts! Saying you believe that Palestine action is doing the right thing is an act that is punishable by law there.
The idea that “supporting” “terrorists” should be illegal is an absolutely indefensible position in a free society.
Comparing Hamas to the ANC? Yeah ok we’re done here.
Go back to blasting Kneecap in your rainbow keffiyeh.
Way to be on the wrong side of history you fucking nazi
Fuck Hamas. Free Palestine - without Hamas. What a vile troll you are.