The newly appointed head of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, Birju Dattani, has taken a leave of absence the day before starting his new job following an investigation into his past anti-Israel activism.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General Arif Virani announced the leave on Wednesday.
“I have received the independent review of issues surrounding the appointment of Birju Dattani as Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission,” said Virani. “While I carefully consider this matter, Mr. Dattani has agreed to take leave at this time and will not begin work at the CHRC on August 8, 2024. I will have more to say in the coming days.”
Virani added that his top priority remains maintaining Canadians’ confidence in the Canadian Human Rights Commission and its commissioner.
Shimon Koffler Fogel, President and CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs told True North, “We are pleased the minister attaches primacy to the integrity of the office and look forward to him sharing the findings of the investigation.”
Following Dattani’s appointment, various examples of his involvement in anti-Israel protests and causes came to light. One example was when he protested outside the Israeli embassy in London in 2012 as crowds reportedly chanted, “Zionism is terrorism” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called on other parties to recall a House of Commons committee to investigate the “grotesque appointment.” His counterparts did not join his calls.
Following the widespread backlash, the Liberals said that Dattani had disclosed information about his past. Initially, they had claimed that they did not know about the social media posts made under the name “Mujahid Dattani.” Following that, the Liberals said he was clear about his past but hadn’t disclosed everything.
Conservative Deputy Leader Melissa Lantsman said a “simple Google search” would have done the trick.
In 2015, Dattani, the former head of Yukon’s human rights commission, participated in a panel with a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamic fundamentalist group advocating for a new caliphate and opposing Israel’s existence.
He also spoke at several “Israel Apartheid Week” events at British universities, supporting the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement against Israel.
According to News Line, a Marxist outlet, Dattani was quoted as saying, “Workers should boycott Israel and Israeli goods.”
True North contacted the Canadian Human Rights Commission for comment but received no reply.