The new chair of the Human
Rights Commission resigns
OTTAWA — Birju Dattani, who was appointed chief commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission in June, said he agreed to resign Monday following an investigation into comments he made in the past about Israel.
Dattani had previously denied allegations that he had made anti-Israel statements in the past, including what the Conservatives in Ottawa called "justification of terrorism."
When Canadian Jewish organizations raised concerns about Dattani's past activities, the federal justice minister asked a law firm to conduct an investigation. However, after having "carefully examined the independent report" as well as the response submitted by Mr. Dattani, Minister Arif Virani now believes that "the conclusions are clear".
"I have accepted Mr. Dattani's decision to resign from his position as president of the Commission," the minister wrote in a statement on Monday. As I have stated before, my highest priority is to maintain the confidence of the Canadian public in the Canadian Human Rights Commission."
The external law firm's lengthy report details 14 allegations against Dattani, including comments he had posted on social media and elsewhere under the name "Mujahid" Dattani — a "mujahid" being a fighter for the Islamic faith who engages in jihad.
The law firm team that conducted the investigation, however, found nothing to indicate that Dattani harbored "beliefs that would qualify as anti-Semitic or that he demonstrated prejudice (conscious or unconscious) toward Jews or Israelis."
On the other hand, the firm Filion Wakely Thorup Angelett concludes that its explanation for not mentioning the name "Mujahid Dattani" throughout the application and background check process lacked "credibility."
Instead, he provided the name "Birju Mujahid Dattani," although he appeared on several panels and introduced himself on social media under the sole name "Mujahid."
"On a balance of probabilities and based on the totality of the evidence, we conclude that Mr. Dattani intentionally omitted the reference to 'Mujahid Dattani' on the Background Check Consent Form (and elsewhere) and that at no time during the application or interview process did he disclose that he had used the name 'Mujahid Dattani' in the past," reads the investigation report, made public by the minister on Monday.
After receiving these findings, Mr. Virani warned Mr. Dattani, in a letter dated July 31, that the results of the investigation raised serious concerns about his honesty and candor during the application process.
Dattani was scheduled to assume his new role as of last Thursday, but he agreed to take a leave of absence while Minister Virani pondered what to do next after the investigation.
The resignation wrote Monday that he remains "a strong supporter of the commission's work,
its mandate and its importance to our democracy."
Conservatives delighted
The deputy leader of the Conservatives in Ottawa, Melissa Lantsman, who called for his dismissal, welcomed the news, which came a little late. "Dattani's past writings were easily detectable with a simple Google search," Ms. Lantsman wrote on X.
"Either the Trudeau government's political staff did not conduct such a rudimentary search, or they found this material and considered the comments to be non-problematic," she wrote, calling for a "full, free and fair investigation" into the entire process of her appointment.
B'Nai Brith Canada is also calling for a "thorough investigation" to avoid these "critical flaws in the selection process, which must be corrected (...) in order to protect the integrity of our democracy," the Jewish organization wrote on X.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs also welcomed Monday "that the Government of Canada has taken seriously the concerns of the Jewish community and launched an investigation into Birju Dattani's ability to lead the commission," given "revelations about his associations with individuals and groups linked to listed terrorist entities and his troubling record of anti-Semitic statements."
But Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East said the team that investigated Dattani could not conclude that he held "beliefs that would qualify as anti-Semitic or that he has demonstrated prejudice (conscious or unconscious) against Jews or Israelis."
The minister also assured on Monday that the new process for appointing the chair of the commission would begin "as soon as possible."
"I am grateful to the interim president, Charlotte-Anne Malischewski, for her continued service to Canadians in the interim."
Dattani had previously denied allegations that he had made anti-Israel statements in the past, including what the Conservatives in Ottawa called "justification of terrorism."
When Canadian Jewish organizations raised concerns about Dattani's past activities, the federal justice minister asked a law firm to conduct an investigation. However, after having "carefully examined the independent report" as well as the response submitted by Mr. Dattani, Minister Arif Virani now believes that "the conclusions are clear".
"I have accepted Mr. Dattani's decision to resign from his position as president of the Commission," the minister wrote in a statement on Monday. As I have stated before, my highest priority is to maintain the confidence of the Canadian public in the Canadian Human Rights Commission."
The external law firm's lengthy report details 14 allegations against Dattani, including comments he had posted on social media and elsewhere under the name "Mujahid" Dattani — a "mujahid" being a fighter for the Islamic faith who engages in jihad.
The law firm team that conducted the investigation, however, found nothing to indicate that Dattani harbored "beliefs that would qualify as anti-Semitic or that he demonstrated prejudice (conscious or unconscious) toward Jews or Israelis."
On the other hand, the firm Filion Wakely Thorup Angelett concludes that its explanation for not mentioning the name "Mujahid Dattani" throughout the application and background check process lacked "credibility."
Instead, he provided the name "Birju Mujahid Dattani," although he appeared on several panels and introduced himself on social media under the sole name "Mujahid."
"On a balance of probabilities and based on the totality of the evidence, we conclude that Mr. Dattani intentionally omitted the reference to 'Mujahid Dattani' on the Background Check Consent Form (and elsewhere) and that at no time during the application or interview process did he disclose that he had used the name 'Mujahid Dattani' in the past," reads the investigation report, made public by the minister on Monday.
After receiving these findings, Mr. Virani warned Mr. Dattani, in a letter dated July 31, that the results of the investigation raised serious concerns about his honesty and candor during the application process.
Dattani was scheduled to assume his new role as of last Thursday, but he agreed to take a leave of absence while Minister Virani pondered what to do next after the investigation.
The resignation wrote Monday that he remains "a strong supporter of the commission's work,
its mandate and its importance to our democracy."
Conservatives delighted
The deputy leader of the Conservatives in Ottawa, Melissa Lantsman, who called for his dismissal, welcomed the news, which came a little late. "Dattani's past writings were easily detectable with a simple Google search," Ms. Lantsman wrote on X.
"Either the Trudeau government's political staff did not conduct such a rudimentary search, or they found this material and considered the comments to be non-problematic," she wrote, calling for a "full, free and fair investigation" into the entire process of her appointment.
B'Nai Brith Canada is also calling for a "thorough investigation" to avoid these "critical flaws in the selection process, which must be corrected (...) in order to protect the integrity of our democracy," the Jewish organization wrote on X.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs also welcomed Monday "that the Government of Canada has taken seriously the concerns of the Jewish community and launched an investigation into Birju Dattani's ability to lead the commission," given "revelations about his associations with individuals and groups linked to listed terrorist entities and his troubling record of anti-Semitic statements."
But Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East said the team that investigated Dattani could not conclude that he held "beliefs that would qualify as anti-Semitic or that he has demonstrated prejudice (conscious or unconscious) against Jews or Israelis."
The minister also assured on Monday that the new process for appointing the chair of the commission would begin "as soon as possible."
"I am grateful to the interim president, Charlotte-Anne Malischewski, for her continued service to Canadians in the interim."
