Canada Raises Concerns with Israel Over Anti-Muslim Misinformation Campaign: Report

IQNA – The Canadian government has reportedly reached out to the Israeli regime to address concerns about a coordinated and Islamophobic misinformation campaign that has been targeting Canadian citizens online amid the war on Gaza.

This development follows a report by the Toronto Star, which cited allegations from the Israeli newspaper Haaretz claiming that an Israeli state branch hired a private firm to sway public opinion in Canada and the United States regarding the regime’s actions in Gaza, where Israeli attacks have killed more than 37,000 Palestinians.

James Emmanuel Wanki, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada, confirmed to the Toronto Star that the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM), which tracks foreign state-sponsored misinformation, is actively investigating these allegations and has substantiated certain aspects of the report.

"Global Affairs is concerned by reports of a divisive, coordinated, Islamophobic, and inauthentic information campaign targeting Canadians on social media platforms," Wanki stated, highlighting that the Canadian authorities have directly communicated their concerns to the Israeli government.

The Israeli Embassy in Ottawa has not issued a response to the Toronto Star's inquiries.

Amira Elghawaby, Canada's official tasked with combating Islamophobia, labeled the allegations as "extremely disturbing."

She underscored the necessity for the federal government to address such issues promptly to prevent the vilification and marginalization of minority groups in Canada, which she believes could undermine the nation's social cohesion.

The report coincides with a significant spike in Islamophobic incidents in Canada, which the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) reports has increased by 1300% following the escalation of the conflict in Gaza.

Stephen Brown, CEO of NCCM, disclosed this alarming statistic during a committee session dedicated to examining Islamophobia and antisemitism. In his testimony before the Commons justice committee, Brown characterized Islamophobia as a "dangerous form of hate" that has experienced a marked increase in recent times.

The committee also received information regarding the role of social media algorithms in promoting anti-Muslim content, which has translated into tangible acts of hate and violence. Brown conveyed that Muslim communities are facing an unprecedented surge in hostility and aggression "from every level of society."

Source: Agencies