Eliminating religion as a hate speech defence an idea worth exploring, says antisemitism envoy

Canada's special envoy for combating antisemitism says she's «very interested» in exploring the idea of eliminating religion as a possible defence against hate speech charges.

Deborah Lyons, whose mandate also includes preserving Holocaust remembrance, appeared Thursday before a parliamentary committee that is studying antisemitism on university campuses.

Jewish leaders, students and faculty have been voicing concerns about an increase in hate speech and violence since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war last fall.

Lyons said she believes universities' equity, diversity and inclusion strategies are «failing Jews in this country» because they don't make much mention of antisemitism specifically.

She said her office is working to develop better training to counter anti-Jewish discrimination, which she hopes institutions, including governments, will use.

Members of Parliament also asked Lyons about the role police and prosecutors play in laying hate speech related charges, and whether Criminal Code changes are needed.

They pointed to a recent decision by Quebec prosecutors not to charge Montreal imam Adil Charkaoui over comments said during a prayer — a scenario Lyons said she is discussing with the government.

The comments were delivered at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Montreal, and led to a complaint alleging threats and incitement of violence, which was investigated by the RCMP.

Leading a prayer in Arabic, Charkaoui had called on God to «take care of aggressor Zionists,» adding «O God, don't leave any of them.»

Last week the province's director of public prosecutions announced that a committee of three Crown attorneys found the evidence insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the words amounted to an