December 23, 2025
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I – Police in the Maritimes, following B’nai Brith Canada’s advocacy, are charging a prolific neo-Nazi propagandist with wilful promotion of hatred, in addition to firearms-related offences.
Matthan Runighan, of P.E.I, administered a Facebook group called “National Socialists” and glorified Nazi Germany, B’nai Brith Canada revealed in a complaint filed with law enforcement.
On social media, he has spread vile antisemitic conspiracy theories, such as that Jews ran the slave trade and perpetrated the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In his public posts, he derides Jews as “demons,” “rats,” and “viruses” – classic tropes used to dehumanize Jewish people.
“Hate has no place anywhere in Canada,” said Henry Topas, B’nai Brith Canada’s Regional Director for Quebec and Atlantic Canada. “We are proud to say Runighan was arrested after citizens reported his hateful conduct using B’nai Brith Canada’s anti-Hate webform. We conducted a thorough investigation, as with every report we receive, and engaged police.
“We will continue to work with our partners in the Maritimes to monitor, document, and combat antisemitism and all forms of hatred.”
In August, acting on alerts from concerned citizens and B’nai Brith Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) executed a search warrant at Runighan’s property. Officers took him into custody after discovering that he had acquired firearms without a licence – he was denied a permit in part because of his concerning public statements – and stored them improperly.
On Tuesday, Runighan was charged with wilfully promoting hatred against the Jewish community, in addition to the firearms offences. He has been held in jail since October, when he was re-arrested for violating the conditions of his initial release, according to the RCMP, by continuing to post hate online.
In its Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents in Canada for the year 2024, B’nai Brith Canada noted 179 incidents in the Maritimes, a significant increase since 2022. Neo-Nazi activity is not unheard of in P.E.I, where a homeowner flew a Nazi flag in 2019, provoking nation-wide backlash.
Just this past week, B’nai Brith Canada’s efforts prompted an arrest in a similar case concerning an anti-Jewish extremist in Saskatoon, S.K., who was also charged with hate propaganda and firearms-related offences.
“The rise in armed, hate-motivated, radicalized individuals in this country should concern all Canadians,” said Richard Robertson, B’nai Brith Canada’s Director of Research and Advocacy. “The Federal Government must wake up to the existential threat of the extremism that has infected our society, which is endangering the lives of all Canadians.”