Author jailed in Canada after criticizing a Zionist, with Yves Engler

Author Yves Engler was released on Monday after spending five days in a Montreal jail.

Engler’s arrest and detention was “a shocking attack on free expression and democratic rights and criticism of Israel in Canada – a country that’s supposed to be a free, democratic society,” according to Alex Tyrrell, leader of the Green Party of Quebec.

Engler was initially charged with “harassment” in connection with social media posts criticizing Dahlia Kurtz, an influencer who uses social media to spread hatred against Palestinians and Muslims, and to disseminate debunked 7 October atrocity propaganda used to justify Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

After police called Engler and informed him of his impending arrest, he went online to refute the accusations of harassment. “On dozens of occasions I’ve responded to Kurtz’s racist, violent anti-Palestinian posts on X,” Engler wrote on his website.

Because of that post, police then claimed Engler was also harassing the police and added a series of new charges.

We are joined today by Yves Engler to talk about what he has just been through and the growing repression against supporters of Palestinian rights, as well as Canada’s role in Israel’s genocide.

This is a segment from The Electronic Intifada's livestream on day 40 of the Gaza ceasefire. Ali Abunimah, Nora Barrows-Friedman, Jon Elmer and Asa Winstanley were joined by Canadian author Yves Engler. You can watch the full show here: https://youtube.com/live/DDfgH5nSD-U