Israel, Hamas conflict causes surge of discrimination, B.C. human rights commissioner says

British Columbia's human rights commissioner says the devastating events in and around the Gaza Strip are causing a surge of discrimination and violence toward Jewish and Muslim people.

Kasari Govender said in a statement that she is deeply concerned about the rising number of hate incidents and she's calling for immediate and sustained action to address and prevent further proliferation.

Govender says Vancouver police alone have reported 18 hate incidents aimed at the Jewish community, while the National Council of Canadian Muslims has said the last few weeks have been the worst in decades for Islamophobia reports.

She says the latest surge follows a wave of discrimination this fall against trans and gender-diverse people, which came after a dramatic rise in hate during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Govender says while hate isn't new, it will rise during times of crisis in society and be amplified by the spread of misinformation if no concerted action is taken.

It's critical that those affected by discrimination have appropriate avenues for reporting incidents, Govender says — and that justice is pursued for hate crimes.

She says the dozen recommendations to counter hate that she made in a report to the B.C. government last year need to be implemented to address the rise in hate that happens during moments of societal crisis.

Hate-motivated incidents in Vancouver

The Vancouver Police Department says it is investigating several hate-motivated incidents in the past month, including racist graffiti, racial slurs and physical assaults. 

"We understand there is a heightened level of concern throughout the community," said VPD spokesperson Sgt. Steve Addison. 

The incidents include a man who was spat on, followed into a mall and threatened after a confrontation with a group of people holding flags on Oct. 9.

That same day, Addison says, a woman was followed and threatened by two men after attending a rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery. 

Addison says a few days later police arrested a man who allegedly made antisemitic comments and gestures toward a school. 

'A very important call to action'

Uthman Quick, director of communications at the National Council of Canadian Muslims, said the commissioner's statement is "incredibly important." 

"It's a very important call to action," Quick said. "We've seen so many incidents of Islamophobia coming from across the country."

Quick said he's heard from Muslim Canadians who have been harassed and assaulted on the street and at their places of employment.

Women who wear hijabs are particularly bearing the brunt of this hate, Quick said, adding that there have been incidents where they were spat on and verbally assaulted in public. 

"What we're hearing from the community is fear but also a level of being targeted that we haven't really experienced since the early 2000s," he said. 

Quick is asking leaders including teachers, university administrations, and politicians to take the report to heart and to take a more public stance in speaking out against hate, on behalf of all people who are suffering from it. 

Nico Slobinsky, vice-president Pacific region for the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), said he was very encouraged by the call to action. 

"People are really scared by what's happening right now on our streets," Slobinsky said.

"Antisemitism is a threat to democracy and we all need to work together and stand up together and call out hate anywhere and everywhere it rears its ugly head."

Slobinsky said his organization has heard about threats and calls to violence against Jewish people and businesses, both in person and online. 

The number of hate incident reports CIJA has received in the past three weeks has tripled compared to the Israel-Hamas conflict in 2021, Slobinsky said.