B’nai Brith Canada, a prominent national Jewish organization, has called for hate crime charges to be filed against York University student Salman Hossain for allegedly racist comments posted on his personal website.
Hossain appeared before a disciplinary tribunal at the university March 15 to discuss his website called “Filthy Jewish Terrorists” and the potential for formal hate crime charges being laid.
Police suspect Hossain may have breached the criminal code when he called for a “genocide [to] be perpetrated against the Jewish populations of North America and Europe” on his website. However, official charges have yet to be laid.
Hossain also allegedly made additional racial comments towards Muslims, Christians and other religious groups.
B’nai Brith Canada was quick to request that charges be laid against Hossain. However, Ontario Attorney-General's office will make the final decision.
The results of the tribunal are expected shortly, but in the meantime York University has suspended Hossain from attending classes. If Hossain is found guilty of hate crimes he could be suspended further or outright expelled.
“He has reiterated his call to genocide and blamed the Jews for 9/11 right down to claims on Jewish terrorists threatening the Olympics,” said B’nai Brith Canada representative Anita Bromberg.
”On the basis from the report of allegations that he is responsible for the site and has been self-identified as the administrator and the poster, we have asked for the police to talk to the attorney general again,” Bromberg explained.
This is not the first time Hossain has been investigated for hate crimes. Three years ago Hossain was caught writing posts on his website supporting terrorist attacks in Canada and calling for the murder of Western soldiers “so that they think twice before entering foreign countries on behalf of their Jew masters.”
He also talked about wanting to shoot Jews and claimed that he knew the ringleader of the Toronto 18 bomb plot. He was brought to a tribunal at that time but was not charged because he was undergoing rehabilitation.
In self defence Hossain discussed the controversial comments in posts on his website, arguing “you can’t charge me for possessing a thought.” The fear, however, is that the remarks on Jews and other religious groups might turn into incitement. “York has taken the responsibility of ensuring that a hearing is met," Bromberg explained. "Meanwhile the police are involved and York has sent out a press release calling on the broader community to be aware of the issue.”
Hossain maintains that even though his comments may offend some people, he is protected under freedom of speech.
“Yes, I can call for the slaughter of an entire people,” Hossain posted online.