A charge against a Toronto man accused of flying what police called a “terrorist flag” at a pro-Palestinian demonstration earlier this year has been withdrawn.
A 41-year-old man was charged with publicly inciting hatred after marching down Queen Street W. and Bay Street on Jan. 7, allegedly waving the flag of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
The organization is listed as a terrorist group by Public Safety Canada, which says it seeks “the destruction of the State of Israel and the establishment of a communist government in Palestine.”
Martínez says the force’s case hinged on the flag belonging to a group listed by the federal government as a terrorist group, which in and of itself isn’t enough evidence for a conviction.
“It shows that the police acted not on a legal basis but on a political basis,” he told CBC Toronto.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
A charge against a Toronto man accused of flying what police called a “terrorist flag” at a pro-Palestinian demonstration earlier this year has been withdrawn.
The organization is listed as a terrorist group by Public Safety Canada, which says it seeks “the destruction of the State of Israel and the establishment of a communist government in Palestine.”
The man’s lawyer, Shane Martínez, said the charge was withdrawn by assistant Crown Attorney Patrick Clement because there was “no reasonable prospect of conviction.”
“We will persist in enforcing hate crime laws and laying charges when justified, ensuring the safety and security of our communities.”
However, Clement did say Torontonians should be “put on notice” that flying this flag, or one of any terrorist or hate group, may “very well be met with further arrests” depending on the context.
Martínez said his client, a single father, was the subject of “racism and online abuse” as a result of the charge and police not revealing what the flag was right away, leading the public to speculate.
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