For Immediate Release
Toronto, June 14, 2002…B’nai Brith Canada’s national office has applauded the efforts of Alberta’s Crown Prosecutor David Marriott, who has launched an appeal of the sentence handed down to the perpetrator of a synagogue firebombing in Edmonton last year. 21-year-old Yousef (Joe) Sandouga, who was convicted of arson and sentenced to a one year prison term, told police that he wanted to get back at the Jewish community here in Canada because of his rage over the violence in the Middle East which he blamed on Israel. This attack is one of a rash of such incidents against synagogues, as reported to the Anti-Hate Hotline of B’nai Brith’s League for Human Rights.
Professor Stephen Scheinberg, National Chair of the League, stated: “Attacks against houses of worship cannot be allowed. We commend the Crown Prosecutor’s move, which sends a powerful warning to perpetrators of such hate crimes and a strong condemnation of acts of antisemitism, including crimes such as these which are clearly based on anti-Zionism. Differences of opinion or even anger over events in the Middle East do not excuse acts of virulent antisemitism.”
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For additional information contact:
Professor Stephen Scheinberg (514) 696-5991
Ruth Klein (416) 346-0114
B’nai Brith has been active in Canada since 1875 as the community’s foremost advocacy and volunteer organization.
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