Dollard-des-Ormeaux adopts IHRA definition of antisemitism

At the February council meeting, Mayor Alex Bottausci and council passed the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) working definition of anti-Semitism.

“This motion is in the same spirit as an extension of what we did last spring following the death of George Floyd,” Bottausci told The Suburban.

Following the cold-blooded murder of the African American at the hands of police in Minneapolis, the DDO council “saw the entire community was sad following the injustices they were seeing unfolding, so we passed an anti-hate message. DDO stands against any form of hate or intolerance towards any group,” said Bottausci. “We are a city that welcomes all, and lives peacefully with all of our neighbours. Our goal as a municipality is to fight for all people so that we can all live safely and in harmony together.”

The IHRA working definition of anti-Semitism is defined as “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

Anti-Semitism is the targeting of the Jewish people as a whole and can be expressed in “in speech, writing, visual forms and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.” As a guideline, the IHRA definition already adopted by some 40 countries, states that, “manifestations might include the targeting of the State of Israel.”

“I encourage all West Island mayors to follow this initiative,” Bottausci said.