UPDATE: After writing the report below, the Montreal police claimed that Engler was victimizing the police by writing the report below. Engler wrote this update before being taken into custody. Engler says that a new investigator has told him that the Montreal police will be charging me with intimidation, harassment, harassing communication and “entrave” (interference) towards the original police investigator.
Canadian activist Yves Engler was arrested in Montreal on Thursday for pro-Palestinian posts on Twitter (X). He was charged with harassment and indecent communication on the social media platform. He will be arraigned on Friday. Thousands of people have already written to the Montreal police urging them to drop the charges. We urge our readers to do the same.
Engler has written 65 articles that have appeared on Antiwar.com here and here. He is the author of 12 books. Engler was notified in advance and wrote this on his website the day before his arrest.
Tomorrow the Montreal police will arrest me for posting to social media against Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Today I received a phone call from a Montreal police officer by the last name of Crivello. She asked me to come to a downtown police station where I will be charged for harassment and indecent communication. Crivello said a complaint was submitted against me months ago by a legal firm on behalf of racist media personality Dahlia Kurtz. Crivello said I had described Kurtz as a “genocide” supporter and “fascist” on Twitter. Guilty as charged.
On dozens of occasions I’ve responded to Kurtz’ racist, violent anti-Palestinian posts on X. Six weeks ago I wrote an article noting:
Amidst this ever-worsening holocaust in Gaza, the media and politicians want us to believe Canadian Jews are the real victims. In an egregious example, the Winnipeg Sun just published “Dahlia Kurtz mobilizing pushback on Canada’s Jew-hate problem.” Palestinian suffering is omitted from the long profile of an unhinged Jewish supremacist. The article describes Kurtz combating “‘Free Palestine’ hatefests” and selecting Justin Trudeau “winner of my 2024 Jew-Hater of the Year Award.”
Over the past 15 months Kurtz has become a leader in Canada’s fascist movement, posting incessantly about purported Jewish victimhood and the anti-genocide “mob” who should be “deported”. A compulsive liar, Kurtz openly calls for state violence against those challenging Canadian complicity in genocide. On Friday she posted a video that appeared to show dark skinned teenagers fighting in Edmonton mockingly describing the incident as “a celebration of diversity”. A week earlier she posted a photo of neo-Nazis rallying with the statement “‘MASS DEPORTATIONS NOW’ banner at mall in London, Ontario. Who’s with them?”
A major paper profiling this fascist, Jewish supremacist, fifteen months into the holocaust in Gaza speaks volumes of the media climate.
On July 5, 2024, Kurtz quote tweeted me with the statement: Hello, @EnglerYves. I’m advising you in this one message only that you are harassing me. You’re threatening and you’re making me afraid for my safety. You must stop this harassment — and communication with me. Stop now.”
She quote tweeted a message I posted six days earlier noting “Racist Dahlia supports killing Palestinian children. 20,000 is not enough she wants even more Palestinian blood spilled.”
As an X user noted immediately and Kurtz surely knows, the platform has a mechanism for anyone who no longer wants to hear from another user. They can block that user. Kurtz has chosen not to block me but instead pursue criminal charges.
I’ve never met Kurtz. Nor have I messaged or emailed her. Nor have I threatened her. I don’t even follow her on X (Twitter’s algorithm puts her posts in my feed).
Apparently, the legal firm assisting Kurtz is that of Neil Oberman, who is running for the Conservative party in the upcoming federal election. Oberman has launched a slew of lawsuits in recent months against different institutions and individuals opposing genocide. On two occasions I’ve videoed myself questioning Oberman about his ‘lawfare’ at the service of Israel’s genocide.
As part of releasing me from detention, Crivello is seeking to have me accept conditions that stop me from any interaction with Kurtz. As the father of a two-year-old and seven-year-old and author of 13 books, it’s beyond absurd to suggest I’m a threat to Kurtz. But I am willing to sign this condition to avoid jail. On the other hand, the officer told my lawyer she wants to impose a condition for my release saying that I’m not allowed to discuss the case. That is a flagrant violation of my freedom of expression, but is presumably designed to protect the police officer, Kurtz and her legal team from embarrassment. I will refuse to sign this condition and may be detained until a judge decides if this is an acceptable condition.
Across the country advocates of genocide and apartheid have been using the legal system to protect Israel from criticism. They launch frivolous cases to suck up activists’ time and resources. Too often the police and courts participate in this abuse of their authority.
Police should not be putting their services at the disposition of those promoting Israel’s crimes against Palestinians. The charges against me for posting against Israel’s crimes should be withdrawn.
Please take a minute to email the police to drop the charges against Yves.
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Reprinted with permission from Antiwar.com.
