Evidence Notwithstanding...

"The attempts to have Mr. Dattani -- the first Muslim and racialized person appointed to this position -- vacate his seat without due process is deeply concerning."

"While the allegations against Mr. Dattani are concerning, this campaign against him highlights the heightened level of scrutiny he, like many Canadians, faces because of his faith and ethnic background."

"Mr. Dattani has responded comprehensively to the media about allegations related to his academic activities as a student 12 years ago."

National Union of Public and General Employees 

Canadian Association of Professional Employees 

Federation of Black Canadians

"If you have the arbiter of racism and human rights in this country, and people don't feel like they're going to get a fair hearing, then he's the wrong guy for the job."

"[The government investigation is just the federal government's way of] sweeping it under the rug."

"This is one of these egregious things that goes under the radar in the summer. They have this fake internal investigation and then it goes nowhere."

Conservative deputy leader, MP Melissa Lantsman

"The concept of terrorism, which is used at every opportunity to deprive Islam and Muslims of all kinds of legal grounds and to disguise oppression and massacres as innocent and self-defence, not only in Palestine and Afghanistan, but even in Arakan [Myanmar], comes across with a hypocritical face."

"Mujahid Dattani from the U.K. will be our guest to explain the place of this concept and the actions that fall within its scope in global legal systems."

"[Mujahid Datani discussed whether Muslims] from various geographies [deserve the label of] terrorist."

Bogazici University, Turkey ...War on Terrorism and Islamophobia (2014)

Following three Jewish groups in Canada calling for the removal of Birju Dattani's ascension as chief of Canada's federal Human Rights Commission, a human rights federation of three groups has stepped into the controversy in support of Mr. Dattani's nomination by the federal government. The group formed by the National Union of Public and General Employees, the Canadian Association of Professional Employees, and the Federation of Black Canadians cited racism in action to explain the three Jewish groups' response to the controversial comments related to Birju Dattani in an open letter forwarded to Justice Minister Arif Virani.

All three groups, interestingly enough -- and the bulk of Canada's public service unions -- have made it clear in previous statements made in the public arena -- that they are in complete sympathy with the Palestinian victimhood-resistance 'cause' against the State of Israel. Some in their leadership going so far in the immediate wake of the October 7 slaughter of Israelis in southern Israel by Hamas terrorists to characterize the atrocities of mass rape, murder and hostage-taking as a celebratory-worth event in favour of decolonization.

As for Mr. Dattani himself arguing his defence, he felt confident the investigation the federal government stated it had embarked upon into his controversial messaging in the near past, the result of which would "vindicate my long-standing commitment to human rights". The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs last week, along with the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies and B'nai Brith, expressed their opinion that Dattani be removed from the position of chief of Canadian Human Rights given his past associations with individuals linked to terror groups, along with his own statements reeking of antisemitism.

 

Mr. Dattani delivered a presentation on Terrorism and the Targeting of Civilians under International Law in 2015 to the Muslim Research Forum:

"Contrary to conventional wisdom [which is far more convention than it is wisdom], terror is not an irrational strategy pursued solely by fundamentalists with politically and psychologically warped visions of a new political, religious or ideological order."

"It is a rational and well-calculated strategy that is pursued with surprisingly high success rates."

 

In 2014 Richard Falk, former United Nations Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian Territories, recognized for his bias against Israel, drafted a letter condemning Israel's military operation in 2014 against Hamas that was sparked after Hamas kidnapped and burned alive three hitchhiking teenagers. "Please add me to the petition", Dattani added to the comments section. He then informed Democracy Now! that Hamas embodies the "spirit of resistance", stating that the group's "politics have been directed toward long-term peaceful coexistence with Israel". 

 

An instance of that peaceful coexistence demonstrated forcefully and unforgettably on October 7, 2023.

According to Mr. Dattani, the defender of human rights for whom terrorism represents a legitimate means of expression, he has become the "target of unfounded allegations" despite which he stands "resolutely behind my record." "For clarification, my recent apology was not an admission of wrong doing; rather, it was an expression of empathy for those who have been distressed by these unfounded allegations."
"Canada is a beautiful place, full of people who can see the difference between the truth and misinformation."

Among whom it should be noted, are his former colleagues with the Yukon Human Rights Commission which he had headed prior to this new upgraded commission representing the federal Human Rights Commission, who have unreservedly supported him, enthusiastically extending their congratulations on his new leadership of the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Birju Dattani has been appointed chief commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission. Photo by LinkedIn/Handout