Concordia Moratorium fails to Prevent Violence Against Jewish Student

Montreal, September 13, 2002

For Immediate Release

Montreal, September 13th, 2002 — B’nai Brith’s League for Human Rights has expressed outrage at an attack on a Jewish student at Concordia University. This assault follows on the heels of the recent riots at Concordia by pro-Palestinian sympathizers.

Reports confirm that a Jewish student was bloodied after being hit on the head with an unidentified object and then kicked. The student sought refuge at the security desk of the Hall Building until Urgence Santé and the police arrived and made an arrest. B’nai Brith has credible information suggesting that the alleged attacker is the President of the Muslim Students Association. Prof. Scheinberg, national chair of League for Human Rights added that “we are not in the wild west of the Arab Middle East, we are in Canada where there are laws to uphold and respect. These thugs may feel they are empowered by Monday’s riot, however, Concordia must make sure that there will be zero tolerance for those who want to make a mockery of Canadian democracy.”

B’nai Brith was pleased to discover that the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Concordia University will hold an emergency meeting to determine how best to respond to the current wave of violence campus. Maître Steven Slimovitch, National Legal Counsel for B’nai Brith and a criminal lawyer noted that “some students at Concordia apparently believe that their emotions justify lawlessness. They must be strongly reminded that Canadians will not tolerate anarchy and violence.”

B’nai Brith is urging the police and the Crown to press criminal charges in each and every case of violence and is calling on Concordia to expel those perpetrators who are registered students.

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For more information:
Prof. Stephen Scheinberg, National Chair League for Human Rights: (514) 696-5991
Maître Steven Slimovitch, National Legal Counsel, B’nai Brith Canada: (514) 871-8971

B’nai Brith has been active in Canada since 1875 as the community’s foremost advocacy and volunteer organization.