Share
Email
PrintHate-crimes trial opens for aboriginal leader
TORONTO (JTA) -- A second hate-crimes trial has begun in Canada for an aboriginal leader accused of willfully promoting hatred against Jews.
The case against David Ahenakew opened Monday in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
In 2002, Ahenakew, 75, told a reporter that Jews were a "disease" and Adolf Hitler was trying to "clean up the world" when he "fried" 6 million of the "guys" during World War II. Ahenakew was convicted of the rare crime of willfully promoting hatred against an identifiable group and fined $1,000. He apologized and was stripped of his Order of Canada.
The conviction was overturned on appeal -- a ruling that was appealed by the prosecution.
Earlier this year, the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, ruling that while Ahenakew's remarks about Jews were "shocking, brutal and hurtful," they were not illegal.
The trial is expected to test the limits of what constitutes a private conversation.
Ahenakew's lawyer, Doug Christie, has represented Holocaust deniers James Keegstra and Ernst Zundel.
Click to login and write a letter to the editor or sign up for the Daily Briefing.
This article was made possible by the support of readers like you. Donate to JTA now.
Featured Content
Need to know? Get JTA's free e-newsletters!
- Poll: Half of U.S. voters back strike on nuclear Iran
- Reform leader Rabbi Gunther Plaut dies
- D.C. Hebrew-language charter school accepted for review
- Op-Ed: Kick the reaction addiction on campus
- Berman moves to grant investor visas to Israelis
- Holy cow! Calves hijacked into Palestinian territory
- Report: Israeli journalist also works for prime minister
- Larry Greenfield tapped to lead JINSA
