Hate crime charges for alleged Hezbollah flag wavers at Toronto anti-Israel protest
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Two GTA men face hate crime charges after allegedly waving flags belonging to a terror group at last week’s Toronto anti-Israel protest.
According to Toronto Police, two men were spotted waving flags belonging to Hezbollah, a Lebanese terror organization currently at war with Israel.
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The two men were reportedly told by officers to stop waving the flags, as they threatened to disrupt public peace, but police say the men ignored the warnings.
Concern over the size of the crowd prompted police to disengage, but the investigation apparently continued.
On Wednesday, police arrested Ahmad Sheikhani, of Oakville, and Hamad Khalid Menshed, of Mississauga, and charged them with public incitement of hatred.
Both men are 34 years old, and scheduled to next appear in court on Nov. 14.
Hezbollah is listed as a terrorist organization by the Canadian government.
“Our expanded Hate Crime Unit continues to investigate every reported instance of hate, including the presence of flags that promote terrorist organizations, as identified by Public Safety Canada,” said Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw in a statement.
“Charges can be laid at any time — whether it’s hours, days, or even weeks after an incident, including those that take place at demonstrations.”
Police have come under intense scrutiny for an ostensibly permissive atmosphere surrounding the spike in public hatred and anti-Semitism in the city since the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel. Most prominent were officers delivering coffee to anti-Israel demonstrators occupying the Avenue Rd. overpass at Hwy. 401.
As well, Demkiw said during a press conference on Wednesday that police have only made 72 protest-related arrested over the past year.
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Flags of terror organizations have made regular appearances at these protests, alongside the antisemitic and anti-Israel signs and slogans that have become commonplace.
Police used Wednesday’s press conference to outline their plans to keep Toronto’s Jewish community safe, as anti-Israel activists plan to commemorate the upcoming anniversary of the Oct. 7 terror attacks with celebrations and demonstrations.
Jaime Kirzner-Roberts of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre told the Toronto Sun she’s glad police finally took action.
“We’re really pleased to see TPS move forward and lay charges in connection with some of the outrageous events that took place over the weekend,” she said.
“We saw a flagrant celebration of a horrifically violent terror organization.”
She said she’s hopeful this will mark the beginning of Toronto Police finally cracking down.
“We all want to live in a country where we can speak what’s on our mind, and share our opinions in the public square, even if we all don’t agree,” she said.
“What we’re seeing now are organized efforts to promote terrorist rhetoric and activities. We’ve seen too many examples over the last few months of Canadians who have become radicalized.
“There needs to be a very clear line drawn.”
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