Vancouver Police last week arrested a woman for praising the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks. The woman, who multiple reports say is Charlotte Kates, a leader in a group called Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, was later released as police develop their case to present to the Crown for possible charges.<\/p>\n
News of the arrest was met with a level of satisfaction among Jewish community organizations. Kates and Samidoun have been sources of outrage and concern for years. The group is routinely described as having \u201cdirect ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP),\u201d which is designated as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code of Canada. Canadian Jewish organizations have called for Samidoun to receive a similar censure \u2013 as it has in Germany, where it is a banned organization, and in Israel, where it is designated as a terrorist entity.<\/p>\n
Kates, a British Columbia woman who is married to Khaled Barakat, a senior member of the PFLP, was arrested in relation to recorded statements made outside the Vancouver Art Gallery last month. There, she referred to several terrorist organizations as heroes and described the Oct. 7 attacks as \u201cthe beautiful, brave and heroic resistance of the Palestinian people.\u201d She led a crowd of hundreds in chants of \u201clong live Oct. 7.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emergence of the video led to absolute condemnation from BC Premier David Eby.<\/p>\n
\u201cCelebrating the murder, the rape of innocent people attending a music festival, it\u2019s awful,\u201d said the premier. \u201cIt\u2019s reprehensible, and it shouldn\u2019t take place in British Columbia. There is clearly an element of some individuals using an international tragedy to promote hate that\u2019s completely unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kates is banned from participating in public protests for five months, according to a statement released by Samidoun. An investigation is underway and it will be up to Crown prosecutors to determine whether charges are laid and the case goes to trial.<\/p>\n
In announcing the arrest, Vancouver police spokesperson Sgt. Steve Addison explained the line police walk.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe defend everyone\u2019s right to gather and express their opinions, even when those opinions are unpopular or controversial,\u201d said Addison. \u201cWe also have a responsibility to ensure public comments don\u2019t promote or incite hatred, encourage violence, or make people feel unsafe. We will continue to thoroughly investigate every hate incident and will pursue criminal charges whenever there is evidence of a hate crime.\u201d<\/p>\n
The arrest comes as the federal government begins a process of reviewing Canada\u2019s approach to hate-motivated expression. New legislation beginning its way through the wending process of Parliament is focused especially on \u201conline harms\u201d and involves a multi-pronged approach that would see amendments to the Criminal Code, the Canadian Human Rights Act and new laws addressing cyber-bullying, \u201crevenge porn,\u201d encouragement of self-harm and other actions.<\/p>\n