Islam in North America > Indiana Imam prays for annihilation of enemies; Bomb Threats in Toronto Jewish school; Police evacuate Jewish students at U of C San Diego

 

Indiana: Imam prays ‘Oh Allah, bring annihilation

upon the plundering Zionists,

the hateful Crusader aggressors’

NOV 18, 2023 10:30 AM BY ROBERT SPENCER

What do you think is the likelihood that this man is impressing upon his congregation the importance of being loyal, stable, productive members of American society?

(No link)

Indiana Imam Sheikh Mongy El Quesny: "The Jews Have No Mercy, Yet They Keep Bugging Us About Six Million Jewish People Burned In The Holocaust; Oh Allah, Bring Annihilation On The Zionists, Crusaders, Treacherous Arab Leaders,” 

MEMRI, November 10, 2023:

Indiana imam Sheikh Mongy El Quesny said in a November 10, 2023 Friday sermon streamed live on the YouTube channel of North West Indiana Islamic Center that the Jews have no mercy, yet they “keep bugging us about the six million Jewish people burned in the Holocaust.” He said that the U.S. is sending special forces and agents to direct the Israeli forces, because they are “the most cowardly army on the planet,” and they run like rats from fighters in sneakers with AK-47s. El Quesny said that the treacherous Arab leaders want to Palestine off the map, but Muslims in the West have the right to say what they want. He prayed to Allah to “bring annihilation upon the plundering and criminal Zionists, the hateful Crusader aggressors, and the treacherous Arab and Muslim rulers.”

Quesny: “What is happening to Gaza is a victory. People think that victory is [when] you defeat your enemy – no.

[…]

“Victory is when people stand firm, and adhere firmly to what they believe and they die for that.

[…]

“We have here in the United States sending special forces and special agents, and they are the ones telling the Israelis what to do, because they know that the Israeli army is the most cowardly army on the planet. With all these weapons and this technology, they run away from young men, who are fighting with sneakers on their feet, AK-47s in their hands, nothing else, but they run like rats.

[…]

“They have no mercy, they know what happened to their ancestors. They keep bugging us about six million Jewish people burned in the Holocaust. What are you doing to the Palestinians? What are you doing? That is what Allah said: ‘Their heart became hardened.’

[…]

“Many of these [Arab] leaders want to see Palestine wiped off the map. Finish Hamas, [Islamic] Jihad, these people, finish all this resistance. That is what they want. Why are they waiting? But us… Inshallah the sun rises from the West, here [in Western countries]. We have to stand firm, we have all the rights to say whatever we want to say, there will be some casualties, some of us will have to sacrifice, it is ok.

[…]

“Oh Allah, bring annihilation upon Your enemies, their enemies, and our enemies. Oh Allah, count them, kill them one by one, and do not leave a single one of them alive. Oh Allah, bring annihilation upon the plundering and criminal Zionists, the hateful Crusader aggressors, and the treacherous Arab and Muslim rulers. Oh Allah, demonstrate upon them the wonders of Your might. Oh Allah, seize them with a crushing grip.” 

 

Toronto: ‘Multiple bombs have been placed

in your buildings, and in your car lot.

Many Jews will die today.’

NOV 18, 2023 12:30 PM BY ROBERT SPENCER

Could be Leftists, could be jihadis. They’re both bloodthirsty, and they both hate Jews.

Terrifying threats made against

Jewish school and daycare

by Joe Warmington, Toronto Sun, November 17, 2023:

The threat emailed anonymously to Tanenbaum Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto (CHAT) on Friday was ominous and terrifying.

“Multiple bombs have been placed in your buildings, and in your car lot. Many Jews will die today.” 

This would be taken seriously at any time. But after the Black Sabbath of Oct. 7 in which 1,400 Jews were murdered in Israel at the hands of Hamas, there isn’t a doubt in anyone’s mind that such threats could have actions behind them.

Except that if the threats were for real, they wouldn't actually issue threats. Muslim terrorists, unlike the IDF, don't issue warnings. 

So no one is taking any chances.

 

And just like that, the school’s faculty and administration began the evacuation process. It was a disturbing scene to see children scramble from the campus on Wilmington Ave. – near Dufferin St. and Sheppard Ave. W.

Dr. Jonathan Levy, Head of School at CHAT, had warned Thursday of a different threat that came earlier….

 

University of California San Diego:

Police evacuate Jewish students

 threatened by slavering pro-Hamas mob

NOV 18, 2023 4:30 PM BY ROBERT SPENCER

Police in San Diego have now had to evacuate Jewish students at University of California San Diego@ucsandiego after they held a meeting to discuss antisemitic threats. The pro-Hamas crowd heard about it and organized a mob in front of the building.

This is not a reality any… pic.twitter.com/usefZMAX0F

— Emily Schrader – אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر (@emilykschrader) November 18, 2023

 

Bits and Bites from around the World > Ukrainian soldiers' pet something to crow about; Boring machine stuck under Toronto street

..

From: Agence France Presse

Who said Toronto is boring?

Boring machine rescue nearly triples in price, according to new city report

Cost to remove trapped equipment from below Old Mill Drive now up to $25 million

Shawn Jeffords · CBC News · Posted: Jul 07, 2023 1:00 AM PDT | Last Updated: July 7

Aerial shots of boring holes on Old Mill Drive and construction. They're to be used to rescue a tunnel boring machine

that is stuck beneath the surface, wrapped in steel tiebacks from the condo buildings. (Patrick Morrell/CBC News)

The cost to rescue a multimillion-dollar boring machine trapped beneath a west end street has nearly tripled in just months, with city staff saying the work to unearth the device is more complicated than first anticipated.

The updated cost estimates and timeline come to Toronto's General Government committee next week. Documents show work to free a $3 million micro-tunnelling boring machine trapped under Old Mill Drive since last spring has jumped to $25 million — up from the approximately $9 million price tag in March. 

City staff say additional groundwater infiltration at the site and the need for more soil stabilization have contributed to the soaring price and delayed the project. The machine remains trapped and work has taken about six months longer than first anticipated.

The latest delay isn't sitting well with residents who say they've struggled with a steady stream of heavy-equipment, dirt and vibrations from construction for years. The price escalation is the latest unpleasant surprise, said Tanya Boswick who lives on the street.

"I think every taxpayer in this city should be furious about the amount of money being spent on this project," she said. "There are lots of other communities and causes and needs that our city has to contend with."

Boswick said the community has been dealing with dust, noise and a constant flow of construction vehicles now for years. They want the project done, she said.

"It's really just the constant noise, constant vibration," she said. "And not to mention all the dust and dirt that's going around on top of the poor air quality. It has made this summer truly a nightmare for the people in this community."

Pylons and gating block off a portion of Old Mill Drive where work continues to rescue a multi-million dollar boring machine trapped below the surface. (Patrick Morrell/CBC News)

Iain Downie lives in a condominium building next to the job site. His apartment looks out over the work.

"We can't sit outside on our balconies," he said. "We're cleaning everything constantly because of the dust. We're changing indoor air filters regularly because it's just coming right in."

"And we're just having to hear everyone in the neighbourhood be really miserable, that's really not fun."

The work to dig a new storm sewer on Old Mill Drive began in March 2022. The project was designed to address chronic basement flooding in the area. City staff opted to use a remote controlled micro-tunnelling boring machine, which is 1.5 metres wide and five metres long to create the new sewer tunnel.

The plan was for the machine to be placed 18 metres below ground and have it travel 282 metres to a pre-constructed exit shaft on Bloor Street West. Workers needed to place it deep underground to avoid coming into contact with the nearby Bloor-Danforth subway line.

But with just seven metres left to go on its route, the machine hit 14 underground steel tiebacks which had been part of the construction of a nearby condo building. It became ensnared in them, and is now twisted and turned off course.

Steel tiebacks hang from the face of a micro-tunnelling boring machine which was being used by the city to create a new storm sewer on Old Mill Drive. This picture was taken underground shortly after contractors working on the project discovered that the vehicle was struck. The operation to remove it has been complicated by mud and water. (City of Toronto)

Cost to rescue machine jumps by an additional $16 million

The initial work to dig the new sewer tunnel was budgeted at $7.2 million. In March, the city signed off on a sole-source deal to extract the machine for an estimated $9 million. 

The new report says costs have jumped by an additional $16 million to $25 million.

The city says the latest figures are based on estimates and represent "the possible costs required to complete the emergency work." 

"The final costs and actual payments will be based on substantiated and certified invoices," the city said in a statement. 

The city says the machine must be removed from the ground to finish the basement flood protection work. 

"Attempting to complete the basement flooding protection work around the machine would be cost-prohibitive, as the sewer would need to be re-designed and re-constructed," the city said in a statement.

Contractors had hoped to rescue the machine by early April. The rest of the sewer work is estimated to be completed by the fall.

It's believed that workers will be able to pull the machine from the ground by late August.

The trapped boring machine is 1.5 metres in diameter and five metres in length. City contractors will attempt to remove it in pieces from the tunnel below Old Mill Drive in the coming weeks. (City of Toronto)

The city says that as contractors were hand-digging to rescue the boring machine they encountered more water than anticipated. 

"In order to safely proceed with the removal of the machine, the water needed to be removed and the surrounding ground area stabilized," the city said in a statement. "This required an expert in ground improvement and stabilization." 

Coun. Gord Perks said the water infiltration has been a problem and wet weather hasn't helped matters. 

"When there's a big rainstorm the work that they're doing to try to get the tunnel boring machine out gets compromised," he said.

Perks said he understands residents' frustration with the project. He's arranged more frequent city meetings with the neighbourhood to keep people apprised of the situation.

"It is entirely fair for people to be upset that a project that was supposed to be over in six or eight months drags on and on and on," he said. "That's completely understandable. But there is no magic, cheap solution here. This is going to cost some money."

Coun. James Pasternak is the chair of the city's general government committee. Councillors will be asking pointed questions of city staff on Monday, he said.

"This is a shocking amount of money," he said. "Now, I do realize that the work that has to be done is extremely risky and sophisticated."

Pasternak said the work is urgent and must continue to ensure that the roadway around the site doesn't collapse. But he's hopeful lessons can be learned from this situation. 

"We're going to be asking some tough questions about why sole source, why it's so much money, and what the options are for recovering these funds through litigation," he said.

Explosive Materials, Detonator Seized from Muslim Home in Toronto's Richmond Hill

Public Safety Minister says, "no national security issue"! Really? 

Were they planning on doing something positive with those explosives?

A father and son are in custody after an explosive device was found in a Richmond Hill home.

Chris Herhalt, CP24.com 

A father and son from Richmond Hill are in police custody after York Regional Police say they seized explosives along with a detonator from their home last Friday.

York Regional Police say that on May 9, they were made aware of a suspect being investigated by both the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service and the Canadian Border Services Agency.

The next day, officers executed a search warrant on a home in the Larratt Lane area, near Canyon Hill Avenue and Bathurst Street.

Occupants of nearby homes were ordered to evacuate and an unspecified quantity of explosives and a detonator were removed by OPP and York Region officers. Everyone was then allowed to return to their homes.

On Monday evening, two men were arrested and charged with one count each of possession of an explosive device.

They were identified as Mahyar Mohammadiasl, 18, and Reza Mohammadiasl, 47.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6075.

Both men are expected to appear in court in Newmarket on Tuesday.

Federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told CTV News Tuesday that there "is no national security issue" regarding the arrests and the discovery of explosives in the home.

Seriously, US and Canadian Customs were involved, but there is no national security issue? That makes no sense.

Now, will this make mainstream news in Canada?

“I Accept You. God Loves You”: Pastor Arrested for Preaching the Gospel to LGBT Community

Canada practices freedom of religion, unless that religion is Christianity

Kelsey Straeter, FaithIt

As the mantras of “tolerance” and “inclusion” continue to ring up and down the streets of America, it seems those principles fail to apply when it comes to Christians expressing their gospel-centered views. David Lynn, a pastor for Christ Forgiveness Ministries in Toronto, was arrested on June 4 for proclaiming the Good News of Jesus on the streets of an LGBTQ-friendly community.

A portion of the incident has been posted to YouTube:

“Everybody can have dignity and respect, everybody, but do you know it’s not all the time that this is carried out,” Lynn announced on the street corner, before ‘coming out of the closet’ as a Christ follower.

“Sometimes hatred is carried out by various members of the community,” he continued. “We’re here to tell you that we hate nobody; so I’m coming out of the closet and saying ‘I’m a Christian,’ and I want to know if you would tolerate me as a Christian.”

The pastor proceeded to ask if individuals within close proximity would tolerate him, as one person after another turned their backs and shut him down.

“What about acceptance? What about acceptance?” asked one irritated listener who got in Lynn’s face.

“I accept you. You’re here,” replied the pastor David Lynn as he extended his palm for a handshake.

As he continued to peacefully proclaim God’s love for all with a message about sin that was inclusive of both the heterosexual and homosexual community, various people attempted to trip and push the preacher.

“Jesus died for the sinner,” Lynn told them. “Every heterosexual has sin. Every homosexual has sin. Sin is when we violate the laws of God.”

Though Lynn remained calm and asked that people assaulting him would take their hands off of him, he was the one approached by police who accused him of being a “disturbance” and “breaching the peace.”

Though the pastor uses amplification to preach outside weekly, officers told him he needed to preach without amplification.

Lynn cooperated and continued preaching with no microphone in hand, but he was still ultimately arrested.

One of the arresting officers stated that the pastor was arrested for breaching the peace due to ‘derogatory comments’ that left bystanders ‘appalled,’ though he admittedly didn’t know what those comments were.

As Lynn was handcuffed and put in the police car, he repeated, “I was sharing the Gospel.”

“Our religious beliefs and our freedoms to exercise that belief are going to be taken away,” said one of the Christians accompanying Lynn, following the pastor’s arrest. “We didn’t form a mob today. A mob was formed against us. Assault was demonstrated against us. We were assaulted. No one who assaulted us was arrested, but the person that was speaking and freely exercising their Christian beliefs was handcuffed, and we don’t even know where he’s at right now.”

In a statement released later that day, Pastor Lynn said, “Every community in Toronto should have the same laws, and everyone should be welcome. Everyone should have rights, dignity, and respect, just like Christians should as well.”

“God loves you. There is hope for you,” he added, reiterating his earlier message. “Whatever community you are, God loves you. Jesus died for you.”

You have to admire his courage and commitment, although I wonder if there is a better way to get the message across. 

Apparently, in Canada, you are free to preach the Gospel to those who already know the Gospel, but preaching it to those who need it most is disturbing the peace.

At Least Nine Killed as Van Strikes Pedestrians in Toronto

At least nine people were killed and 16 more were injured after a white van plowed into a crowd on a Toronto sidewalk on Monday. Photo by Warren Toda/ EPA

By Sommer Brokaw and Daniel Uria

UPI -- At least nine people were killed and 16 others were injured when a white van plowed into several pedestrians in Toronto on Monday, police said.

Toronto Police Deputy Chief Peter Yuen confirmed the casualties in the crash, which occurred at 1:30 p.m. at a busy intersection.

Sunnybrook Hospital confirmed it received eight patients from the scene, including one who was declared dead upon arrival, five others in critical condition, one in serious condition and one in fair condition, CP24 reported.

"Sunnybrook's Emergency Department has been locked down as an added precaution and access to the Bayview Campus is being controlled," the hospital said in a statement.

The driver fled from the scene, but police located the vehicle several blocks away and arrested the driver, police said.

No word yet on the identity of the driver, and no-one has mentioned the word 'terrorism' as of yet.

Toronto Mayor John Tory urged citizens to stay away from the area and called for all businesses along Yonge Street to close as police investigate the scene. He added there may be several days of disruption as authorities conduct the probe.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered condolences to the victims and their families following the crash.

"Our thoughts are with all those affected by the terrible incident at Yonge and Finch in Toronto," Trudeau wrote on Twitter. "Thank you to the first responders working at the scene -- we're monitoring the situation closely."

Scissors Hijab Attack on 11yo Girl That Triggered Outcry ‘Did Not Happen’ – Canadian Police

It would be really interesting to know why the girl did this, although we are unlikely to ever really find out. I hope someone finds out, for it seems to me that there is much more to this story. Was her outcry, in fact, an cry for help?

Khawlah Noman, 11, speaks to reporters with her mother at Pauline Johnson Junior Public School, after she told police that a man cut her hijab with scissors in Toronto, Ontario, Canada January 12, 2018. Chris Helgren / Reuters

Toronto police have confirmed that an alleged scissors attack on a schoolgirl’s hijab, which sparked widespread outrage including a public condemnation by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, was a hoax.

An 11-year-old girl claimed on Friday that a man twice tried to cut off her hijab as she walked to school with her brother. Police say the investigation is now concluded and “the events described in the original news release did not happen.” It’s still not clear why the girl reported the false incident.

The story captured national attention and was denounced by Prime Minister Trudeau, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne on Twitter.

@JustinTrudeau

My heart goes out to Khawlah Noman following this morning’s cowardly attack on her in Toronto. Canada is an open and welcoming country, and incidents like this cannot be tolerated.

@Kathleen_Wynne

This is a cowardly act of hatred, and it has no place in Ontario. This does not represent who we are. We must stand firm in our support of this young girl who was assaulted simply for wearing a hijab.

Mayor John Tory responded to the clarification that the event never happened by saying: “It is good to know that this event didn’t happen. We all must remain vigilant in the fight against hate, racism, bigotry, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia to make sure our city remains an inclusive place.”

In this case, Toronto Police have investigated and determined that the events described did not happen.

Police told CBC News that the girl who reported the incident will not face any legal consequences.

“These allegations were extremely serious and, not surprisingly, they received national and international attention,” police spokesman Mark Pugash said in an interview.

He added that it is “very unusual” for someone to make false allegations of this type and said he hopes it will not discourage others from coming forward.

The girl’s school, Pauline Johnson Junior Public School in Scarborough, contacted police after she told them about the incident. The Toronto District School Board then put her before the media on Friday to recount the matter.

The school board issued a release, Monday, saying it was happy the incident did not really happen, adding it would not be commenting further.

Stolen Donations, Tax Fraud, Abusive Priests: Lawsuit Alleges Corruption Among Greek Orthodox Church Leaders

Corruption is Everywhere

 - even the Greek Orthodox Church in Toronto?

By Lauren Pelley, CBC News 

Sotirios Athanassoulas has been Metropolitan, or archbishop, of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto since 1996.

(Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto website)

A civil lawsuit filed against some of the most powerful members of Canada's Greek Orthodox community includes allegations of verbal and physical abuse by priests, money for a sick baby stolen from a church fundraiser, and sex offenders placed in Toronto churches — a controversy some say is part of an ongoing Greek "turf war."

The board of directors for the Greek Community of Toronto (GCT), a non-profit charity representing more than 150,000 Greek Canadians, filed the lawsuit against the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto, its metropolitan — the Greek Orthodox equivalent of an archbishop — as well as four priests, several members of one priest's family, and other individuals connected with the church community.

It's the latest chapter in a complicated, years-long dispute between the GCT and the four Toronto churches it owns, which are staffed by priests appointed by the metropolis.

The GCT, which has roughly 6,000 paid members, has strived to ensure financial accountability and transparency surrounding donations made at those churches "with very little success" over three years of mediation efforts, said spokesperson Gina Tassopoulos.

"That's led us to believe the funds are being misappropriated."

In the statement of claim, the GCT alleges the Greek Orthodox Metropolis and Metropolitan Sotirios Athanassoulas have personally benefited from a share of church donations, without declaring the money "as a taxable benefit or income to the Canada Revenue Agency."

The Greek Community of Toronto, which has roughly 6,000 paid members, believes church funds 'are being misappropriated,' says spokesperson Gina Tassopoulos.

(Jon Castell/CBC News)

Allegations 'wholly without merit,' says lawyer

Also in the statement, filed on Oct. 18, the GCT alleges that thousands of dollars in money raised through a 2012 fundraiser for a baby with a serious heart condition may not have reached the child's family. Donations totalled well over $50,000, the GCT alleges.

Fundraising efforts for Baby Alexander made headlines that year; the eight-month-old needed urgent transportation from Greece to Toronto for heart surgery at the Hospital for Sick Children. 

The GCT alleges the metropolis announced that $10,000 was being sent to the charity Global Angel on behalf of the child's family, without disclosing the "actual total amount of the collected donations."

"In fact, Global Angel only received the paltry sum of $1,450," continues the statement of claim, which alleges the metropolis "unlawfully and fraudulently" used the remaining portion of the donations for their personal benefit or the benefit of other charities.

But Gail Courneyea, founder of Global Angel, told CBC Toronto the charity's records show it did indeed receive $10,000 from the Metropolis. 

"I really don't know where the numbers are coming from ... We were surprised that was mentioned, that we didn't get it," she said.

The civil lawsuit's statement of claim alleges a priest at St. Irene Chrisovalantou Greek Orthodox Church, just north of Danforth Avenue in the heart of Toronto's Greek community, would regularly 'verbally abuse and physically assault' members of a women's group at the church.

(Jon Castell/CBC News)

The statement of claim also alleges a priest at St. Irene Chrisovalantou Greek Orthodox Church, just north of Danforth Avenue in the heart of the city's Greek community, would regularly "verbally abuse and physically assault" members of a women's group at the church. The GCT would not elaborate on the nature of the alleged abuse.

Along with St. Irene, the GCT owns the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Cathedral Church in Parkdale, St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Thorncliffe, and St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox church in Scarborough.

Within some of the churches, the GCT alleges there is a "history of inappropriate conduct by priests negligently appointed by the Metropolitan or the Metropolis."

In 2015, for instance, a priest at St. John helped place a Romanian Orthodox Priest, Ioan Pop, at the church, the statement of claim alleges. Athanassoulas knew that Pop "was a sex offender on bail, at that time," it alleges.

George Karayannides, lawyer representing Athanassoulas and the metropolis, told CBC Toronto that both are aware of the lawsuit but have yet to file a statement of defence. 

The allegations in the statement of claim are "wholly without merit and the claim will be zealously defended," Karayannides said.   

Terry Maropoulos, a staff member with the metropolis, told CBC Toronto that the organization won't comment.

None of the allegations in the lawsuit have been proven in court.

In the statement of claim, the GCT alleges that thousands of dollars collected in a 2012 fundraiser for an infant with a serious heart condition may not have reached the family of Baby Alexander. (Global Angel website)

GCT, Metropolis tension goes back 40 years

"The GCT is simply seeking to uphold the recognized principles of transparency, accountability, responsibility and governance and to ensure compliance with the Charities Act, Canada Revenue Agency regulations and other laws and regulations of Canada," reads a statement from the organization.

"This is a fair and reasonable expectation."

George Gekas — a former president of the GCT who says he left the post within weeks — feels the situation is less clear cut.

He believes the lawsuit is part of an ongoing "turf war" between the community organization and the church, two interconnected groups both woven into the fabric of Greek Orthodox life. 

"The relations between the [archbishop] and the Greek community of Toronto has been, at best, problematical at times," he said, adding the religious organization often encroaches on the community organization, and vice versa.

Tassopoulos said issues between the GCT and the metropolis go back decades, and she hopes the lawsuit leads to a settlement and "some sort of peace." 

"It would put a lot of things to rest that have happened over the last 40 years, hopefully," she said.

Muslim Woman in Full Hijab Charged with 14 Terrorism Charges in Toronto

I would like to know why a judge would allow an accused terrorist to be in his courtroom wearing a full-face veil? It's absurd! Obviously, CBC doesn't have an issue with it.

14 terrorism charges laid against woman for threatening

Canadian Tire employees with knife

Rehab Dughmosh, 32, pledged allegiance to ISIS

in a Toronto court last month

By Shanifa Nasser, CBC News 

A woman accused of assault and threatening people with a knife in a Canadian Tire store in Scarborough, Ont., appeared in court on Tuesday. This sketch made June 6 shows, left to right: the accused Rehab Dughmosh, an Arabic interpreter, Justice of the Peace Alice Napier, and Crown attorney Candice Suter. (Pam Davies/CBC)

A woman accused of threatening employees at a Canadian Tire store in Toronto with a knife last month is now charged with terrorism-related offences, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police say.

Rehab Dughmosh, 32, had previously been charged with two counts of assault with a weapon, assault, uttering threats, carrying a concealed weapon, and two counts of possession of a weapon.

Dughmosh now faces 14 terror-related charges under Section 83.2 of the Criminal Code, federal Crown prosecutor Howard Piafsky told CBC News. The section bans "terrorist activity," whether it takes place "in or outside Canada."

Most of those charges mirror the woman's earlier charges, Piafsky said, but those actions are now alleged to have been undertaken "for the benefit of, at the direction of or in association with a terrorist group." 

The charges laid Tuesday include one of participating in terrorist activity. 

That charge relates to Dughmosh allegedly travelling to Turkey and attempting to enter Syria in April 2016.

Last month, Dughmosh appeared in a Toronto court where she pledged her allegiance to ISIS.

"I am pledged to the leaders of the believers, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi," Dughmosh said in reference to the leader of the Islamic State.

When police arrived at the Cedarbrae Mall store last month, they were told a woman had threatened employees and a customer in the paint section with a golf club and a knife. One of the employees was injured, but the injuries were non-life-threatening, Toronto police said.

Asked Tuesday why Dughmosh would not have been able to plead guilty today, Piafsky replied:

"Before she pleads guilty, she has to make an informed choice and part of that would involve being provided with some disclosure and being able to look at it and review it."

He would not confirm whether a mental health assessment will take place. 

Dughmosh continues to refuse legal counsel.

There can be little doubt that the woman is suffering from some form of mental illness. The question is which came first, the mental illness or the radicalization? There's a quote on my other blog (sidebar) that explains this: 

“I came to the absolute conviction that it is impossible…impossible…for any human being to read the biography of Mohammed and believe in it, and then emerge a psychologically and mentally healthy person.” 

- Syrian Psychiatrist Dr. Wafa Sultan

Her next court appearance is scheduled for July 21 at 10 a.m.

Scarborough, Ontario

Rogers TV Cancels Arabic-Language Program Following Complaints of Anti-Semitic Content

Nazih Khatatba. Photo: CIJnews

Ilana Shneider

Following a complaint from B’nai Brith Canada, on January 24, 2017 Rogers TV pulled the plug on AskMirna, an Arabic-language program which “gives members of the Arab community of Toronto a platform to express their opinions and showcase their cultural activities”.

One particular episode which drew B’nai Brith’s attention was dedicated to “Nakba Day” (meaning the day of “Catastrophe” in Arabic). For the Palestinians, Nakba Day is an annual day of commemoration of the displacement that preceded an attempted genocide of Jews by five invading Arab armies, whose explicit aim was to destroy the nascent state of Israel which declared its independence in 1948. It is also a day on which Palestinians and their supporters mourn the creation of the State of Israel and call for its elimination.

The episode which led to Rogers TV cancelling the show was filmed on May 15, 2016 at Mississauga’s Celebration Square during a Nakba Day rally organized by the “National Committee to commemorate the Nakba 68 – Toronto”. The highlight of the event was a display of a giant wooden “return key” and a large Palestinian flag, a gift from the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, to convey a strong message of interdependence among Palestinians in the diaspora and the demand of the descendants of the original 1948 refugees to return to what is now the State of Israel.

At the rally, Mirna Serreddine, host of AskMirna, interviewed Nazih Khatatba, then a board member of Palestine House. Palestine House was previously de-funded by the Canadian government for its “pattern of support for extremism” and which, according to former Minister of Immigration Jason Kenney “has aligned itself with terrorist causes, including celebrating the release of terrorists and honouring the founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), one of the groups that formed the Palestine Liberation Organization which in the 1960s and ’70s was responsible for numerous armed attacks and aircraft hijackings.”

When asked what Khatatba wants the Canadian society to learn from the Nakba Day gathering, he explained that he wants Canadians to know that “Palestinians are an oppressed people” and they shouldn’t believe the “fairy tales claiming that Jews have suffered oppression”.

He then claimed that the Jewish groups which suffered massacres in Europe “came to the Middle East, to Palestine, and committed the same, and even worse massacres, against the Palestinian people”.

According to B’nai Brith, to compare the systematic murder of 6 million Jewish men, women and children by the Nazis and their accomplices during the Holocaust to the displacement of 750,000 Palestinian Arabs during Israel’s defensive war against five Arab armies is an “absurd distortion of historical facts”.

Khatatba, who also edits the Mississauga-based Arabic-language Meshwar newspaper, is an open supporter of the Palestinian armed struggle against Israel and has a long and well-document history of extreme anti-Israel sentiment and support for terrorism. In March 2016, he was paid a visit by two CSIS officers who came “without notice” to his office at the Palestine House to discuss his “pro Hamas” articles and online postings.

In a November 30, 2012 op-ed, Khatatba expressed his support for Hamas and other Palestinian organizations that took part in a war with Israel during which thousands of rockets and mortar shells were launched from the Gaza strip toward Israeli communities.

In November 2014, Khatatba portrayed the massacre by Palestinian terrorists of 4 unarmed rabbis in a Jerusalem synagogue while they were praying as a “courageous and qualitative” operation. One of the victims was Howie Rothman, an Israeli Canadian, who died of his wounds a year after he was struck on the head and neck with a meat cleaver.

In 2015, Khatatba praised Lebanese terrorist Samir Quntar for his “bold offensive operation”, referring to a 1979 attack during which Quntar murdered an Israeli civilian and smashed the head of a 4 year-old Israeli girl on beach rocks and crushed her skull with the butt of his rifle.

Following a terrorist attack in Tel Aviv on June 8, 2016 during which two Palestinians terrorists opened random fire in a restaurant, killing 4 Israeli civilians and injuring 20, Khatatba called the attack a “military” and “guerrilla” operation.

In his editorial “What will happen after the Palestinian guerrilla in Tel Aviv” Khatatba wrote among other things the following: The vast majority of the Palestinian people, except the leadership of the [Palestinian] Authority, expressed their support of the operation even though Israeli civilians were targeted… These operations are a result of [Israel’s] continuing occupation and [building of] settlements without any regional or international deterrence to bring it to an end… The leaders of the Israeli occupation, headed by [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and Minister of Defence Avigdor Lieberman are responsible for the bloodshed in the Holy Land and the evolution of the popular struggle and the stabbing operations into military operations inside the heart of the cities of the state of the Israeli occupation.”

On May 15, 2016, Khatatba described Israel as the “first enemy of the Arab nation.” He also slammed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for continuing the security coordination with Israel.

In 2014, The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) submitted to Peel Region Police several complaints of possible hate crimes allegedly committed by Khatatba’s newspaper Meshwar. The complaints documented several instances of anti Jewish rhetoric including sympathizing with a terrorist attack, posting an article questioning the veracity of the Holocaust and a cartoon that depicted the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu drinking the blood of Palestinian children. No charges have been laid against the Palestine House at that time.

There might be an 'h' on the end of Khatatba's first name, but it seems a thin disguise.

Following the cancellation of AskMirna show, Colette Watson, Senior Vice-President of Television and Broadcast Operations for Rogers Communications, told B’nai Brith that “…there is no room on Rogers TV, community television or anywhere in Canadian media for hate of any kind.”

For over 30 years, B’nai Brith Canada’s Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents has shown that anti-Israel sentiment, as exemplified by events such as Nakba Day, lead to manifestations of anti-Semitism Canada.

Model X Ford, The Prodigal Beebs, No Wonder Canadians are Humble, eh

Ever wonder why Canadians are so humble? Could it be because the best of us often turn out to be the worst of us?

Justin Bieber, the most popular musician in the world right now, was someone who many Canadians were proud of. But several embarrassing incidents have occurred in the past several months to temper that pride including today's arrest for DUI, drag racing, etc., in Florida.

Last year, the Beebs got off-track and on drugs and followed in the footsteps of those prodigal daughters Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus.

Once proud examples of Christianity, all three have taken their God-given talents and ventured far and wide from Christian virtues. 

Britney may be on her way back 'home', I don't know, but the other two haven't realized that they are heading straight for the pig pen. Let's hope and pray that when they get there they will wake up before the pigs trample them.

I can't think of any other Canadian rock-star who embarrassed himself publicly, although the Beebs is undoubtedly the youngest. 

Rob Ford

Not so with the other object of Canadian embarrassment, Rob Ford, rock-star mayor of Toronto, Canada's biggest city. He gets more attention on American late-night talk shows than the President.

Mel Lastman

He was back in the news yesterday after apparently falling off the wagon and delivering a vulgar and absurd performance at a fast-food joint where he was visiting with his mobster buddy. What could possibly be wrong with that?

While Ford has contributed greatly to the great Canadian humility, he, unlike the Beebs is not without precedent. A former mayor of Toronto, Mel Lastman, didn't have a problem with alcohol or drugs (that I know of), but managed to embarrass Torontonians and Canadians with remarkable ingenuity.

You can read his antics at: http://northwoodsministries.blogspot.ca/2013/11/forget-rob-ford-remember-mel-lastman.html

Hope you enjoyed this. If not, sorry.