Innocently Barbecuing Jewish Institutions

"This wasn't the only thing that was bizarre about this hearing. Before it began, I, a videographer and another reporter waited in the hallway near the elevators and close to the courtroom, where signage expressly permits filming, hoping for an image of Akodad, who has no pictures online."

"A man approached and tried to tell us who we could film. When asked who he was,  he replied, 'Don't worry about who I am'."

"Later, I learned the man was El Amine Serhani, director of the Listening and Assistance Centre for Maghrebi People in Quebec. The same organization lists Akodad's lawyer Saaty as a 'citizen mentor' and his father Fouad Akodad as a 'human pillar'."

"All three were present in court. The scene grew even more bizarre when the court constable shook Serhani's hand after the hearing." 

Terry Newman, The National Post

The accused, Mohamed Ilyess Akodad, said he accepted a $15,000 contract to set fire to Congregation Beth Tikvah on Dec. 18, 2024. (Simon-Marc Charron/Radio-Canada)

 

On Thursday in a Montreal courtroom, Mohamed Ilyes Akodad, 21, appeared in court for his sentencing after having pleaded guilty to firebombing a synagogue and Jewish community centre. He had, he said, no idea that the two buildings had Jewish occupancy. He and his layer, Nazar Saaty, earnestly addressed the judge with the difficult-to-believe claim that Akodad was merely carrying out a business agreement, a paid contract for 'three barbecues' arranged through Signal and FaceTime for unknown locations.

 

The court was informed that the job accepted by Akodad presented when he attended a party with a friend that took place somewhere his memory failed him to identify, as a result of undue stress experienced at the time along with the desensitization of time and place due to drug use. The job for which he was to be paid a princely $15,000 entailed fire-bombing three locations. Duly early morning of December 18, 2024, Akodad smashed the windows of the Federation CJA's West Island offices in Dollard-des-Ormeaux with a hammer.

 

He followed that  up by crossing the street to Beth Tikvah synagogue to set a fire, located next to a Jewish day school awaiting the arrival of children that morning. About four months later he was arrested. While he asked for release at his first bail hearing a month later, he was denied bail, and has been in custody since that time. Pleading guilty to three of the six arson-related charges, along with the intentional or reckless damage caused by fire or explosion to property, mischief respecting property with a value exceeding $5000, and arson by negligence, the maximum sentences reflecting such offences are 14, 10 and 15 years respectively.

 

A firefighter on the scene after a firebomb was thrown at Congregation Beth Tikvah, Montreal, Dec. 18, 2024. (Credit: Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs)

 

That aside, following the hearing of last week, reporters were informed by Crown prosecutor Christopher Hadjis-Chartrand that a two-year prison sentence is sought by the Crown even as Akodad's lawyer has recommended a sentence of nine to 12 months under condition that his client enter therapy, perform community work and apologize to the community. The actual sentencing decision will not be delivered until September 10 when court reconvenes. However, taking into account time already served Akodad could be released that very day.

 

The court heard of the difficult childhood experienced by Akodad leading to low self-esteem and problems with drug addiction. There was also a complaint about "difficult conditions" his pre-trial detention had exposed him to, with limited family visits, placement with gang members, a situation  so very difficult for a man like Akodad who has been convicted of car thefts. That is another story, that criminal gangs pay young men willing to steal vehicles that are then shipped abroad with the profits realized used to buy and smuggle guns from the U.S. into Canada.

 

During his testimony, Akodad's mother wept while his father testifying in support of his son berated him in a demonstration that it could not possibly have been the way he was raised that turned him to crime. He had agreed to the offer by a stranger to commit to three criminal acts which, when videoed as proof that he had carried out the mission as per contract would net him $15,000. The 'three barbecues' mission did not go off directly as ordered, and in the end he was given a mere $2,500 for an incomplete job. 

 

Now, with Akodad claiming he had no idea that his targets had anything to do with the Jewish community, his lawyer argues the arsons were strictly a business proposition, his client earning a fee, and there was no hate motivation involved, and in the absence of proof beyond reasonable doubt, that the miscreant had any knowledge it was Jewish institutions he was to target -- for that, he should be granted "benefit of the doubt".

 

For his part, Crown prosecutor Hajis-Chartrand questioned the claims that Akodad was  unable to recall details of the events that occurred as a result of stress and drugs, suggesting he had been able to plan, recall details, carry out the acts and then film them as proof. Pressed whether he hadn't realized these were Jewish institutions Akodad lashed back that he "wasn't stupid" and could recognize what the Star of David represented. 

 

Cantor Henry Topas, centre, and Rabbi Emeritus Dr. Mordecai Zeitz, right, at the firebombed entrance to Congregation Beth Tikvah in Dollard-des-Ormeaux on Dec. 18, 2024. (John Mahoney / Montreal Gazette files)