August 12, 2024
OTTAWA – The Department of Justice on Monday announced the resignation of Birju Dattani from the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) following an independent inquiry demanded by B’nai Brith Canada.
“Dattani’s departure is a major relief for the Jewish community,” said David Granovsky, B’nai Brith Canada’s Director of Government Relations. “Considering his track record, serious questions were raised about his ability to perform the functions of chief commissioner of the CHRC in an objective and unbiased manner.”
B’nai Brith expressed alarm over Dattani’s selection after it was revealed that he had repeatedly expressed antisemitic views on social media, including in a post comparing Palestinians in Gaza to Jewish prisoners in the Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust. The Government’s investigation has substantiated several reports about Dattani’s past activities – including that he participated in a panel alongside an individual associated with Hizb ut-Tahrir, a radical Islamist organization listed by the United Kingdom, for one, as a terrorist entity.
“The Dattani saga highlights critical flaws in the Government’s process for vetting candidates,” said Richard Robertson, B’nai Brith Canada’s Director of Research and Advocacy. “We call for a thorough investigation to ensure such oversights are prevented in the future.”
