Latest news with #TheAdvocates'Society
CBC
05-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Cancelled speech by Peace by Chocolate founder sparks resignation by legal group's incoming president
Social Sharing The incoming president of one of Canada's most high-profile legal organizations has resigned amid an "existential crisis" at The Advocates' Society over its decision to cancel a Syrian Canadian entrepreneur and peace advocate's upcoming speech, after some members raised concerns over his views on Gaza. Sheree Conlon was set to step into the role of president at the organization's upcoming end-of-term event in Toronto this June. Instead, on Saturday, she stepped down from the executive and board of directors after it cancelled Peace by Chocolate founder Tareq Hadhad's invitation to deliver the keynote speech at the event. The resignation comes one day after TAS apologized for its handling of the decision, which prompted sharp criticism from its members, with several cancelling their memberships as a result. The organization did not say if it would consider reversing course. "I have never agreed that TAS should have responded by cancelling Mr. Hadhad's invitation. I believe that by doing so, we abandoned our values and purposes, rather than promoting civility, respectful discussion and collegiality," Conlon wrote in her resignation letter, dated April 5. "I also knew we were holding Mr. Hadhad to a standard that we have not applied to other speakers, leaders and award recipients," said the letter obtained by CBC News. Conlon did not respond to a request for comment. However, her website's professional profile, which previously said her term as TAS president would commence in 2025, now lists her as a "past member of the Board and Executive of The Advocates' Society." 'Immense pressure' to cancel speech In her letter, Conlon, who would have been the organization's first president from Atlantic Canada, said it was her proposal to have Hadhad speak at the event. Hadhad and his family arrived as refugees in Conlon's home province of Nova Scotia in 2015 amid the war in his native Syria and quickly made headlines for his entrepreneurship and message of hope in creating his family's chocolate business. "Their story is one of perseverance and hope, which celebrates the joys and challenges of building a life in rural Nova Scotia," she said. WATCH | Peace by Chocolate founder gets Canadian citizenship: Peace by Chocolate founder gets Canadian citizenship 5 years ago Duration 1:49 Almost immediately after announcing Hadhad as the keynote on March 10, Conlon's letter says, "We began to receive messages from some Jewish lawyers that he was not an appropriate speaker because of posts he has made on social media regarding Gaza." "We heard that TAS would lose memberships, sponsorships, attendance at [the event] and that there may be protests at the event itself … As you know, Executive members faced immense pressure to cancel Mr. Hadhad's appearance, and do so quickly," Conlon wrote. Lawyer Jonathan Lisus was among those who wrote to the organization to flag what he described as Hadhad's "one-sided view" of the conflict, noting Hadhad did not appear to have posted in solidarity with the Israeli victims of Hamas's Oct. 7 attack or the hostages taken that day. "Sadly, Mr. Hadhad's record of public statements makes a strong case that while expressing understandable concern for civilian deaths in Gaza he is unsympathetic, and certainly indifferent, to the harm and suffering of Jewish people and the Jewish state," he wrote in a letter dated March 15. The Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association (CMLA) previously told CBC News that TAS told it the concerns stemmed from complaints about Hadhad's use of the term "genocide" on social media, adding he had not provided what they deemed "equal comment" on other impacted groups. TAS would not confirm those details to CBC News. Hadhad previously told CBC News in a statement he intended to speak "solely on the values that unite." "I was going to speak on the dignity of every human being and building inclusive communities," he said. "I will continue to use my voice to advocate for human rights and the belief that every person deserves to live in peace and with respect. 'Signaling to racialized lawyers that their voices do not belong' Conlon added that she values the personal experiences and accounts of members who expressed that the choice of speaker would cause them "harm and exclusion," but said she felt the organization could have found a path forward without cancelling Hadhad's invitation. "My deepest personal conflict came from knowing we were signaling to racialized lawyers that their voices do not belong at TAS," she wrote. "By silencing a Muslim man's voice for expressing an opinion that is frequently shared and expressed in the Canadian mainstream, they told me they also felt silenced by our decision, and not a welcome part of our organization or profession." Conlon said that as incoming president, she knew she would be asked to explain or justify a decision "not aligned" with her own ethics and values, which she believed she shared with TAS. "That was impossible for me to do." The letter goes on to call on TAS to cancel its upcoming event, develop an equal policy on speakers and publicly acknowledge that its decision departed from its core values. CBC News has contacted TAS for reaction to Conlon's letter. Calls for change at the top As previously reported, the organization issued an apology Friday following the "profound reactions" surrounding its decision. "Our members have expressed deep concerns with the way our decisions were made, the basis for them and with the lack of diverse consultation in our deliberations," it said in a statement Friday. "We hear you. We are sorry and regret the harm we have caused," TAS said, adding "through these decisions and related communications we have not fully lived up to our mission and core values." In a statement to CBC News, lawyer Muneeza Sheikh, who was among those raising alarm bells over the decision to cancel Hadhad's invitation, said Conlon's resignation was "demonstrative of the deep frustration and gross disappointment that has been felt by so many lawyers in the last two years particularly." She's now calling on the organization to cancel its event and for the executive committee to resign. "The Advocates' Society silenced Mr. Hadhad and in doing so eroded the integrity of the law. As lawyers, we are supposed to be blind to race, religion, and politics," she said. "We have lost all trust. The Advocates' Society needs to put in the hard work to reclaim its identity as an organization free of the worst type of bias." The Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association meanwhile is calling for an external review of the process and a change in leadership at TAS. "It is clear that the board and executive have lost the confidence of the membership and the public, and their actions risk bringing the profession into disrepute," said CMLA chair Husein Panju.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legal group apologizes after cancellation of noted Syrian Canadian speech sparks 'profound' reaction
A prominent Canadian legal association is apologizing after it cancelled a keynote speech by Syrian Canadian humanitarian advocate Tareq Hadhad, prompting sharp criticism from many of its members. Last Friday, CBC News was first to report that The Advocates' Society rescinded an invitation for Hadhad, founder of Peace by Chocolate, to deliver a keynote speech, saying some members expressed concerns about his position on Israel's war in Gaza. Now, the organization says it's acknowledging the "profound reactions" surrounding its decision. "Our members have expressed deep concerns with the way our decisions were made, the basis for them and with the lack of diverse consultation in our deliberations," it said in a statement Friday. "We hear you. We are sorry and regret the harm we have caused," it said, adding "through these decisions and related communications we have not fully lived up to our mission and core values." CBC News has asked The Advocates' Society if it now plans to reverse its decision and is awaiting a response. The statement comes after a wave of lawyers resigned from the legal organization including high profile criminal lawyer Marie Henein, who served as president of TAS from 2010 to 2011. Litigator Danielle Robitaille also confirmed she cancelled her membership and an upcoming speaking engagement over the move. "Personally, it is very difficult for me to align myself with an advocates' organization that cancels speakers because we may disagree with them," Robitaille wrote in a social media post this week. "I continue to engage with leadership and membership at the TAS to see if there is a path forward for the organization. In the meantime, I am out." Employment and human rights lawyer Arleen Huggins cancelled her membership as well. "Rather than engaging in dialogue, there are those who, in the Trumpian manner, want to cancel and stifle free thought and speech, and wish to use associations such as the Advocates' Society to do so," wrote Huggins in a letter to TAS. As CBC News reported last week, TAS, which says on its website that it was "established to ensure the presence of a courageous and independent bar," rescinded Hadhad's speaking invitation at its upcoming end-of-term dinner in Toronto after it said some members had raised concerns about his "public posts on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East." The message did not point to any specific posts made by Hadhad or elaborate on what about them raised concerns. The Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association (CMLA) previously told CBC News that when it pressed the organization for specifics, it was told the concerns stemmed from complaints about Hadhad's use of the term "genocide" on social media, adding he had not provided what they deemed "equal comment" on other impacted groups. TAS would not confirm those details to CBC News. Lawyer flagged 'one-sided view' of war in Gaza On Oct. 19, 2023, amid Israeli air raids in Gaza following the attacks by Hamas days earlier, Hadhad wrote on X, calling for humanitarian aid to be allowed into the enclave and for an end of the fighting. "Our Canadian government needs to not only call, but to pressure for an immediate ceasefire and save civilians' lives. All human lives have equal weight and peace should prevail," Hadhad wrote. In another X post on Oct. 30, 2023, he wrote in part: "A child in Gaza is being killed every 15 minutes ... How many are enough? Stop the killing. Stop the war." On May 27, 2024, Hadhad wrote in reference to the children of Gaza: "This genocide must be stopped. Children should wake up to the sound of birds, not the sound of bombs." Lawyer Jonathan Lisus was among those who wrote to the organization to flag what he described as Hadhad's "one-sided view" of the conflict, noting Hadhad did not appear to have posted in solidarity with the Israeli victims of Hamas's Oct. 7 attack or the hostages taken that day. "I appreciate and advocate for the distinction between bona fide criticism of Israel and its policies on one hand and ill will towards the Jewish people on the other," he said in a letter dated March 15. "Sadly, Mr. Hadhad's record of public statements makes a strong case that while expressing understandable concern for civilian deaths in Gaza he is unsympathetic, and certainly indifferent, to the harm and suffering of Jewish people and the Jewish state." 'If lawyers are not fighting for freedom of speech then who the hell will?' Since the decision, fallout has continued, with numerous lawyers and advocacy groups, including the National GC Network (NGCN) and the South Asian Bar Association of Canada, calling on the organization to reverse course. "In cancelling Mr. Hadhad's keynote, TAS has abandoned its principle of giving a voice to all, reflecting a troubling lack of respect for the freedom of its members to hold diverse ideological perspectives. This decision has alienated many members and is plain wrong," NGCN said in its letter, dated March 31. On Thursday, 40 law professors from across the country also issued a letter containing a similar message. "Put simply, the willingness to defend pro-Palestinian expression has become the canary in the coalmine for an organization's ability to effectively foster diverse perspectives, and ultimately, to act as a meaningful force for democratic values," the lawyers' letter said. "It is disturbing to see that, faced with this test, the Advocates' Society has profoundly failed, and decided that the path of least resistance was to allow a veto over any speaker whose perspective may push members out of their comfort zone." In its letter, the South Asian Bar Association said: "Diversity and inclusion are not just words, they require action and commitment. In recent years, TAS has vocally committed to these ideals and fostered them. This decision sends that commitment stumbling backwards." And while TAS alluded to members raising concerns over Hadhad's stance on the war in Gaza, lawyer Kathryn Marshall spoke out over the decision on social media Tuesday, saying she was speaking "as a lawyer who is a staunch supporter of Israel and will fight to the end for my clients, many of whom are victims of anti-Semitism." "It is highly disturbing to me to see lawyers who claim to be top shelf litigators engaging in cancel culture," Marshall wrote. "If lawyers are not fighting for freedom of speech then who the hell will?"
CBC
04-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Legal group apologizes after cancellation of noted Syrian Canadian speech sparks 'profound' reaction
A prominent Canadian legal association is apologizing after it cancelled a keynote speech by Syrian Canadian humanitarian advocate Tareq Hadhad, prompting sharp criticism from many of its members. Last Friday, CBC News was first to report that The Advocates' Society rescinded an invitation for Hadhad, founder of Peace by Chocolate, to deliver a keynote speech, saying some members expressed concerns about his position on Israel's war in Gaza. Now, the organization says it's acknowledging the "profound reactions" surrounding its decision. "Our members have expressed deep concerns with the way our decisions were made, the basis for them and with the lack of diverse consultation in our deliberations," it said in a statement Friday. "We hear you. We are sorry and regret the harm we have caused," it said, adding "through these decisions and related communications we have not fully lived up to our mission and core values." CBC News has asked The Advocates' Society if it now plans to reverse its decision and is awaiting a response. The statement comes after a wave of lawyers resigned from the legal organization including high profile criminal lawyer Marie Henein, who served as president of TAS from 2010 to 2011. Litigator Danielle Robitaille also confirmed she cancelled her membership and an upcoming speaking engagement over the move. "Personally, it is very difficult for me to align myself with an advocates' organization that cancels speakers because we may disagree with them," Robitaille wrote in a social media post this week. "I continue to engage with leadership and membership at the TAS to see if there is a path forward for the organization. In the meantime, I am out." Employment and human rights lawyer Arleen Huggins cancelled her membership as well. "Rather than engaging in dialogue, there are those who, in the Trumpian manner, want to cancel and stifle free thought and speech, and wish to use associations such as the Advocates' Society to do so," wrote Huggins in a letter to TAS. As CBC News reported last week, TAS, which says on its website that it was "established to ensure the presence of a courageous and independent bar," rescinded Hadhad's speaking invitation at its upcoming end-of-term dinner in Toronto after it said some members had raised concerns about his "public posts on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East." The message did not point to any specific posts made by Hadhad or elaborate on what about them raised concerns. The Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association (CMLA) previously told CBC News that when it pressed the organization for specifics, it was told the concerns stemmed from complaints about Hadhad's use of the term "genocide" on social media, adding he had not provided what they deemed "equal comment" on other impacted groups. TAS would not confirm those details to CBC News. Lawyer flagged 'one-sided view' of war in Gaza On Oct. 19, 2023, amid Israeli air raids in Gaza following the attacks by Hamas days earlier, Hadhad wrote on X, calling for humanitarian aid to be allowed into the enclave and for an end of the fighting. "Our Canadian government needs to not only call, but to pressure for an immediate ceasefire and save civilians' lives. All human lives have equal weight and peace should prevail," Hadhad wrote. In another X post on Oct. 30, 2023, he wrote in part: "A child in Gaza is being killed every 15 minutes ... How many are enough? Stop the killing. Stop the war." On May 27, 2024, Hadhad wrote in reference to the children of Gaza: "This genocide must be stopped. Children should wake up to the sound of birds, not the sound of bombs." Lawyer Jonathan Lisus was among those who wrote to the organization to flag what he described as Hadhad's "one-sided view" of the conflict, noting Hadhad did not appear to have posted in solidarity with the Israeli victims of Hamas's Oct. 7 attack or the hostages taken that day. "I appreciate and advocate for the distinction between bona fide criticism of Israel and its policies on one hand and ill will towards the Jewish people on the other," he said in a letter dated March 15. "Sadly, Mr. Hadhad's record of public statements makes a strong case that while expressing understandable concern for civilian deaths in Gaza he is unsympathetic, and certainly indifferent, to the harm and suffering of Jewish people and the Jewish state." 'If lawyers are not fighting for freedom of speech then who the hell will?' Since the decision, fallout has continued, with numerous lawyers and advocacy groups, including the National GC Network (NGCN) and the South Asian Bar Association of Canada, calling on the organization to reverse course. "In cancelling Mr. Hadhad's keynote, TAS has abandoned its principle of giving a voice to all, reflecting a troubling lack of respect for the freedom of its members to hold diverse ideological perspectives. This decision has alienated many members and is plain wrong," NGCN said in its letter, dated March 31. On Thursday, 40 law professors from across the country also issued a letter containing a similar message. "Put simply, the willingness to defend pro-Palestinian expression has become the canary in the coalmine for an organization's ability to effectively foster diverse perspectives, and ultimately, to act as a meaningful force for democratic values," the lawyers' letter said. "It is disturbing to see that, faced with this test, the Advocates' Society has profoundly failed, and decided that the path of least resistance was to allow a veto over any speaker whose perspective may push members out of their comfort zone." In its letter, the South Asian Bar Association said: "Diversity and inclusion are not just words, they require action and commitment. In recent years, TAS has vocally committed to these ideals and fostered them. This decision sends that commitment stumbling backwards." And while TAS alluded to members raising concerns over Hadhad's stance on the war in Gaza, lawyer Kathryn Marshall spoke out over the decision on social media Tuesday, saying she was speaking "as a lawyer who is a staunch supporter of Israel and will fight to the end for my clients, many of whom are victims of anti-Semitism." "It is highly disturbing to me to see lawyers who claim to be top shelf litigators engaging in cancel culture," Marshall wrote.
