Minister’s Remarks Spark Controversy
The University of Toronto Mississauga Muslim Students’ Association (UTM MSA) is demanding a formal apology from Ontario Energy Minister Stephen Lecce after he called campus student groups “morally degenerate” and “antisemitic” over an Oct. 7 poster. Lecce’s remarks, posted on social media Monday night, condemned the rally as glorifying terrorists responsible for the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel.
The Contested Poster and Rally
The controversial poster announced a campus rally stating it would “honour our martyrs” in Palestine, with messages such as:
“We remember the martyrs, we honour their legacy, and we continue the fight for a free Palestine.”
The rally was organized by UTM’s Students’ Union, Muslim Students’ Association, Association of Palestinian Students, and the Toronto chapter of the Palestinian Youth Movement. Lecce accused the groups of glorifying violence against Israeli civilians, calling the event “beyond appalling” and labeling it a “morally degenerate” and “antisemitic” act.
UTM MSA Responds
The UTM Muslim Students’ Association strongly rejected Lecce’s comments, calling them defamatory and false. In an Instagram statement, the group said:
“Misrepresenting our event as one that glorifies murder is dangerous. Labeling an event rooted in remembrance and solidarity as violent incites further hostility and Islamophobia.”
The association demanded a public retraction and apology, warning that failure to comply could result in legal action to defend their reputation and hold Minister Lecce accountable.
The group also noted that “reckless language painting Muslims as inherently violent fuels the climate that led to” the 2021 truck attack in London, Ont., which was deemed an act of domestic terrorism.
Government Response and Broader Context
TorontoToday reached out to Lecce’s office and Premier Doug Ford’s office, but no response was provided by publication.
Lecce also called on Ontarians to pray for the immediate release of hostages and lasting peace in the region. The remarks come amid ongoing conflict in Gaza, where over 67,000 people, including 20,000 children, have reportedly died since the October 7 attacks. International organizations including Amnesty International and the United Nations Commission of Inquiry have called the violence a genocide.
Historical Background
This incident follows past controversies involving Islamophobia in Ontario politics. Last year, Premier Doug Ford removed MPP Goldie Ghamari from the Progressive Conservative caucus after accusations related to her interactions with far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
The current dispute highlights tensions between government officials and student organizations over political expression, religious identity, and freedom of speech on campuses.
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