TORONTO, B’nai Brith has challenged Calgary Imam Syed Soharwardy over comments he made comparing government plans to ban veils at citizenship ceremonies to discrimination against Jews in Nazi Germany.
”This type of comparison is factually false, as well as acutely insensitive to those who suffered the brutal repression of the Nazi-era,” said Frank Dimant, CEO of B'nai Brith Canada. “In the past, we have noted cases of inappropriate use of Holocaust trivialization to further positions on completely unrelated issues. Whether it is political or religious leaders, whoever uses such tactics is unfortunately manipulating the history of Jewish suffering in the Holocaust.
“On the most basic level, Jews subject to the iron fist of Nazi Germany were trapped in Europe; no country would accept them and they had no homeland of their own. Today, prospective Canadians of all religious persuasions have plenty of options if they disagree with the customs and values of Canadian citizenship.
“However individuals wish to express their disagreement with government policy, using Holocaust trivialization in this fashion is ethically irresponsible, as well as morally objectionable.”
"We call on all public figures to exercise restraint in how they debate their political differences and to refrain from resorting to Holocaust trivialization to make their case."
