Independent review sees minister delay appoitment of new human rights commissioner
By The Canadian Press on August 7, 2024.
OTTAWA – Justice Minister Arif Virani says that after an independent review Birju Dattani has agreed not to begin his appointment as chief commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission on Thursday as planned. Virani launched the investigation after Canadian Jewish organizations raised concerns about allegations surrounding Dattani’s past activities. Dattani, the first Muslim and racialized person to be appointed to the role, has previously denied allegations that he made anti-Israel statements, including what Conservatives characterize as a “justification of terrorism.” In a statement, Virani says he will carefully consider the matter, and that maintaining Canadians’ confidence in the commission is his top priority. He promised to have more to say in coming days. The concerns stem from now-deleted posts Dattani made online under a different name while he was a graduate student in London almost a decade ago, and a panel appearance he made around the same time alongside a member of the Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamic fundamentalist group. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 7, 2024. 8-7
