Canadian Jewish Organization Urges Toronto Officials To Cancel Al-Quds Day Rally
Women hold an Iranian flag during the Al-Quds Day rally outside the US Consulate in Toronto, Canada on May 1, 2019. (Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Canadian Jewish Organization Urges Toronto Officials To Cancel Al-Quds Day Rally

The Abraham Global Peace Initiative (AGPI), a Canadian Jewish advocacy organization, has called on local authorities to cancel the Al-Quds Day rally scheduled for Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Toronto. The group argues that the rally, founded by Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, promotes antisemitic rhetoric and glorifies extremist ideologies that threaten community safety and social cohesion.

AGPI praised the Toronto Police Service for its Friday press conference warning that anyone inciting hatred or violating Canadian laws at the rally would face immediate or post-event charges. The organization said it will monitor the event closely.

Al-Quds Day, which takes place annually on the final Friday of Ramadan, is officially framed as a pro-Palestinian event. But in recent years, it has become a gathering point for organizations aligned with anti-Israel agendas. In Toronto and other Western cities, past Al-Quds Day rallies have featured slogans calling for Israel’s destruction and symbols linked to designated terrorist groups.

“The promotion of extremist ideologies and open antisemitism has no place in Canada,” AGPI said in a statement, adding that it has asked Mayor Olivia Chow to take action and shut down the event.

Toronto’s Jewish community has seen a rise in antisemitic incidents over the past 18 months, including vandalism and attacks on Jewish schools and places of worship. AGPI warns that events like Al-Quds Day inflame tensions and deepen communal divides.

AGPI, founded to promote human rights and combat antisemitism, encourages Canadians to sign its Declaration Against Antisemitism and reaffirm their commitment to mutual respect and democratic values.

“Canadians must send a strong message that hate will not be tolerated,” AGPI said.

TheMediaLine
WHAT WOULD YOU GIVE TO CHANGE THE MISINFORMATION
about the
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR?
Personalize Your News
Upgrade your experience by choosing the categories that matter most to you.
Click on the icon to add the category to your Personalize news
Browse Categories and Topics