Zionistiche Gestapo Scheiße: Advocates’ Society cancels keynote by Tareq Hadhad (owns Peace by Chocolate), because some judges and lawyers (bully Howard Levitt?) are afraid for their feelings. What about *Tareq’s* feelings, and those of his loved ones and workers? These “advocates” are more cowardly, despicable, cruel and stupid than Donald Trump. “Love is the answer” you turnips, not hate.
Sometimes a story comes along that every person on earth should hear – The story of Tareq Hadhad and his family is one.
Once a displaced Syrian refugee, Tareq shares with each audience the feelings and fears that gripped his family and millions more as their home city of Damascus – the oldest city in the world – fell into a bitter and lasting conflict.
The stress, inhumanity and deep sadness that haunted his family during their three years as refugees is punctuated by moments of despair and unthinkable frustration.
"It seems likely that this large-scale investigation involving more than 70 police officers and 10 nighttime raids will not achieve a single registered criminal conviction."
How very zionist.We fund the police and they take it and use it to brutalize us for criticizing Israel’s genocide. Like our politicians, the police are traitors & useful idiots.
@PaulChampLaw:
According to some lawyers, Mr Hadhad’s problematic post was this: “Thinking of all the children that we failed everywhere and continue to fail in Rafah and all of Gaza. This genocide must be stopped. Children should wake up to the sounds of birds not the sounds of bombs.“
@ElJonesPoet March 29, 2025:
Scott Hutchison is secretary of the Advocates Society who cancelled @TareqHadhad for alleged social media posts re: genocide in Gaza. His firm Henein Hutchison Robitaille is who U of T hired to investigate allegations of security misconduct towards the camp. @occupyuoft.
O4P spokesperson Erin Mackey, a fourth-year student studying political science and environmental studies, told The Varsity that O4P raised the allegations with the university in the meeting with Gertler and other members of the administration following the occupation. While O4P did not specifically request an external investigation, Mackey said, “we did raise [the allegations] as quite serious concerns that we were appalled by… [and] we wanted the university to take [them] seriously.”
Mackey also raised doubts over the university’s motives for launching the investigation.
“I do think it’s more of a PR stunt, to be honest,” she said. “I think it’s them trying to cover their ass.”
Anvar McCall also called into question U of T’s choice to hire HHR — which Henein opened as Henein &Associates in 2002 — as the law firm to investigate the complaints. They pointed to Henein’s reputation as Ghomeshi’s criminal defence lawyer as a cause of suspicion.
Henein was widely criticized and accused of betraying women by taking on the Ghomeshi case. She has also come under criticism by some legal scholars across Canada for the tactics she used in cross-examining Ghomeshi’s accusers at trial, on the grounds that they make it harder for victims of sexual assault to bring forth accusations.Vicious legal-fed misogyny, in my view.
On May 29, The PEARS Project — a student group that provides peer support and resources to survivors of sexual violence at U of T — released a statement expressing their concerns with Campus Safety’s presence at the encampment amid the ongoing investigation as well as U of T’s choice of law firm.
HHR confirmed on May 11 through a post on X that U of T has engaged with firm partner Danielle Robitaille to “conduct an impartial investigation into the complaints made by [O4P].”In many, if not most, cases when lawyers or judges (incl retired) are hired to do investigations/reviews, “impartial” is impossible. They are paid! Bias is created soon as pay is involved. And look to the horrific inhumane law violations in Nazi USA these days happening every hour it seems, often by lawyers, to make hate-filled bigoted racist misogynistic white male billionaires billions richer and more powerful, all the while intentionally pissing on the public interest, rights and the law, and stealing from ordinary Americans.
According to the post, Robitaille has expertise in investigating and reviewing misconduct for private and public institutions in cases including “sexual violence, voyeurism, and police misconduct.”
Anvar McCall emphasized the fact that HHR is one of the most prestigious and expensive criminal defence firms in Toronto. In my view, Big Money creates the Biggest Biases; the rich get all the favours; the rest of us get ripped off expensive unjust unfair harmful (to us) shit lawyering.
“This speaks volumes to us,” they said. “We believe that [U of T] want[s] really strong representation because they know that the evidence that we have against campus police is ironclad and irrefutable, and they want as much as possible to try to refute our evidence.”
Despite their concerns about the law firm, O4P has committed to cooperate fully with the investigation. …
@ElJonesPoet March 29, 2025, Cont’d:
Put bluntly, Hutchison’s firm makes money from the suppression of speech on Palestine and the painting of all activism on Palestine as hateful.Seems there are many legal characters in Canada profiting off Israel’s genocide and farming Zionism’s hatred and mass murdering racism He needs to be transparent about the role of the board in cancelling this talk and the identities of those who complained.Yes! The public must know the names of the judges and lawyers who complained – with their complete uncensored complaints, so that we can avoid hiring these inhumane lawyers, and ask for a different judge if we land in front of those hate-filled racist fuckers in court, notably those of us publicly calling out Israel’s crimes and boycotting Zionist/Israel/Amerikkkan products, and if not white male.
Meanwhile, Marie Henein represented Heather Reisman in the case against the Indigo 11 https://archive.ph/9JVvl. Henein describes “an international conflict upon which even countries do not seem to agree” yet the Advocates Society is comfortable silencing one side!
The case of the Indigo 11 is an egregious attack on protest rights and free speech: people had their homes raided at dawn by police only to have charges dropped.And now Hutchison is in the board of an organization cancelling any expression on Palestine? https://globalnews.ca/news/11103069/
JR_Vive le Canada! @leftsoccermum:
the Advocates Society is clearly anti-Muslim and racist
@pourlapaixnow:
fascism
@ltw1996:
This is just a load of bullshit. These are supposed to be lawyers? I guess if you are brown you can’t trust lawyers to represent you apparently. They should be ashamed.
@PaulChampLaw March 28, 2025:
Rule of law is in a very bad place right now, including in Canada. The Advocates Society disinvites the Peace By Chocolate owner because some lawyers may feel harmed and unwelcome. Is it time for Cdn law schools to stop teaching international law as same crowd may feel “harmed”?
Arab Canadian Lawyers Assoc. @CanArabLaw:
Shame on The Advocates Society for succumbing to expressions of anti-Palestinian racism and cancelling speaker @TareqHadhad because “this is not the right time or event” to host a Syrian refugee? an Arab? a Muslim? anyone supporting Palestinian human rights?
#Arabsnotwelcomehere
When is it the right time to invite Arabs to speak in legal spaces? ACLA is constantly told by legal institutions now is not the right time to talk about racism or human rights as it pertains to our community.
ACLA provided TAS a letter expressing our concern over the racist backlash. TAS choose not to consult with us. We disagree with their decision to prioritize the comfort of those who express hatred towards our community. TAS has harmed their credibility and lost our trust.
Shame on The Advocates Society for succumbing to expressions of anti-Palestinian racism and cancelling speaker @TareqHadhad because "this is not the right time or event" to host a Syrian refugee? an Arab? a Muslim? anyone supporting Palestinian human rights? #Arabsnotwelcomeherepic.twitter.com/tXRcSwdkCY
— Arab Canadian Lawyers Assoc. (@CanArabLaw) March 26, 2025
@SeditiousMe:
The Peace by Chocolate guy’s mom is in hospital.
Maybe they can reach out and support him in a difficult time.
This is awful.
@ThankSolOtt:
Having seen Tareq speak before (and hopefully again at the upcoming ILCO conference in Halifax), they’re missing out – he’s a fantastic speaker with an amazing story. Shame on The Advocate Society indeed.
So advocating for dignity & rights of all humans, who are facing persecution & GENOCIDE is “controversial”? Making people “uncomfortable”? Shame on you Advocates Society! You DON’T get to use refugee success stories as your token EDI icon & cancel them when it’s not convenient!
@jmckay2508:
This is disgusting
let that man speak
Tareq Hadhad came to Canada as a Syrian refugee and founded the socially conscious Peace by Chocolate, making headlines for his inspiring story.
Now a prominent legal group, The Advocates' Society, has cancelled his keynote address after concerns about his stance on Gaza. pic.twitter.com/6Ai8aVTzzL
Tareq Hadhad came to Canada as a Syrian refugee and founded the socially conscious Peace by Chocolate, making headlines for his inspiring story.
Now a prominent legal group, The Advocates’ Society, has cancelled his keynote address after concerns about his stance on Gaza.
@ShameelaShakeel:
Definitely their loss. My husband heard @TareqHadhad at a legal event in Toronto recently and was very impressed with him. Members should demand more info on why he was cancelled. It’s unacceptable.
@lebaneseogre:
funny how they want to foster unity and love so they decide to cancel the muslim. they acknowledge that two sides would be hurt, so they decide to make one side happy and ‘apologize’ if the other sides’ feelings are hurt.
white rule of thumb: when in doubt, cancel the arab
@dbeggs13:
The alt right – Bernier, Poilievre, Scheer, Harper – are inspiring people of all faiths and ethnicities to reach deep down into their basest instincts and find their hate, resentment, and rage.
@Spudders22:
Wow. Wow. Wow.
@ltw1996:
Wow that’s fucking stupid to be blunt
@blair8000a:
I can’t believe the @Advocates_Soc would consider letting a speaker talk about something as offensive as a CANADIAN chocolate business that donates 3-5% of profits to peace initiatives worldwide. Speakers should only be allowed to talk about weather. @CanArabLaw @Peacebychoco
PS: Grow a pair Advocates Society. You’re an embarrassment to ALL lawyers in Canada and beyond. (I’ve heard the Peace by Chocolate Story. It’s an interesting and exciting CANADIAN success story with NO political advocacy. KNOW YOUR SPEAKER before you cancel.)
@heinrichs_helen:
Disinviting Tareq Hadhad is just petty.
@beitris:
Cowards!
@AlexNeve24:
“@Advocates_Soc: For a Strong, Independent and Courageous Bar” Or maybe not. In what craven world did this seem the right decision to make? @TareqHadhad has inspired countless people with his resilient message that inclusion & diversity triumphs over division & hate. A message that needs to be heard everywhere & by everyone, certainly including advocates of all stripes & beliefs. This is a disgrace.
@yeshbreirah:
This is just too racist to be real life….
***
I think they mean, “By Racist Advocates. For Racist Advocates.”
The Advocates’ Society is a not-for-profit professional association of judges, lawyers, and advocates, and Canada’s premier advocacy skills training provider.
A prominent legal organization is facing criticism for cancelling a speech by a noted entrepreneur and humanitarian advocate after, it says, some members expressed concerns about his position on Israel’s war in Gaza.
Tareq Hadhad, the founder of Peace by Chocolate, had been selected by the Advocates’ Society, a national non-profit group made up of some 6,000 judges, lawyers and advocates, to deliver the keynote address at its highly anticipated end-of-term dinner, in Toronto in June. On its website, the organization says it was “established to ensure the presence of a courageous and independent bar.”Courageous? Bunch of dim witted cowards more like it. Independent? Or to keep the racist Sword of Zionism sharp and mass murdering innocent kids and women?
Bibi Netanyahu and the Sword of Zionism attacking Canada’s charter in the war against our right to Freedom of Expression by charter-hating Steve Harper, his puppet Pierre Poilievre, lawyer and past AG Irwin Cotler, retired supreme court of Canada judge Rosalie Abella to serve Israel’s genocide of Palestinians and theft of Palestine, oil, gas, olive groves, water, farms and more. Cartoon of Bibi was published by La Presse in March of 2024.
But in a message to its members on Wednesday, the group said that invitation was rescinded after some members raised concerns about his “public posts on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.”
“We recognize that, by selecting Mr. Hadhad, we have harmed many of our members and made them feel unwelcome,” it said.Rude bullies.
The message did not point to any specific posts made by Hadhad or elaborate on what about them raised concerns.
But the Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association (CMLA) says when it pressed the society, it was told the concerns stemmed from complaints about Hadhad’s use of the term “genocide” on social media, particularly in the context of human rights discussions, adding he had not provided what they deemed “equal comment” on other impacted groups.Heil Zionism! Want more impacted groups? Here:
Tareq Hadhad came to Canada as a Syrian refugee and founded the socially conscious Peace by Chocolate earned his citizenship with a perfect score.
When asked, the Advocates’ Society would not confirm those specifics to CBC News.Chicken shits.
In a statement, it said the reaction “made it clear that our plans were pushing members apart, not bringing us together. With regret, we have concluded that this is not the right time or event for this speaker to address our members.” It’s the best time! The most important time! The Advocates’ Society is just cinching another legal gag. Abusive fuckers.
“The decision was not due to any specific social media post, but rather the impact this discussion had on our members, creating division and harm for some, instead of community and collegiality.”Did those harmed advocates watch their children get blown to bits by Israel violating the ceasefire, yet again?
@hussedogru:
German journalists refuse to report on these war crimes committed by Israel and instead focus on fabricated campaigns against them. You are complicit.
This is a Palestinian father holding the decapitated head of his child after an Israeli attack tore his body to pieces.
https://twitter.com/hussedogru/status/1905573329958007243Mr. Anti Free Speech X removed the clip and text above in italics. Of course he did – he’s even a proud anti-semite, but he won’t be snatched off the street by Trump thugs, then disappeared because he’s a rich white male Nazi. I added another clip below, will check to see how long before X removes it too. (In case all the clips are removed by Rich Nazi Guy, I took a screen gab, added it above and below.)
Imagine you’re a parent holding the severed head of your child.
Imagine you’re holding the lifeless head of your child.
Imagine your child is decapitated and you’re holding their head!
This is what USreal is doing to Palestinian children!
The child’s name is Ahmad Al-Najjar.
‘I stand firm on my values’
Hadhad arrived in Canada as a refugee in 2015 after the war in his native Syria displaced millions, and quickly made headlines for his entrepreneurship after recreating his family’s chocolate business.
It’s for that reason that the society chose him for its keynote, saying in its message to members Hadhad “has an inspiring personal story about his perseverance as a Syrian refugee.”
Hadhad said he was “honoured” by the invitation and “surprised” when it was rescinded.
A man reacts as Palestinians search for casualties a day after Israeli strikes on houses in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, on Nov. 1, 2023. (Mohammed Al-Masri/Reuters)
“I stand firm on my values and I am proud of who I am. My story is not political, it is personal. It is rooted in lived experience,” he said in a statement to CBC News.
“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.”
Hadhad added that his speech would have focused on “values that unite” and the “dignity of every human being.”
Accused of ‘policing views’
In an open letter to the society, the CMLA noted Hadhad has earned widespread recognition for his story, including the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, in addition to being invited to speak by numerous Canadian financial institutions and consulting services.
As for any concerns raised about the use of the term genocide to refer to Israel’s actions in Gaza, it pointed out that top human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have already argued Israel’s actions amount to genocide.
The International Court of Justice has also ordered Israel to take all measures to prevent any acts contrary to the 1948 Genocide Convention in its war in Gaza, and the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for specific Israeli officials for war crimes. Israel has vehemently denied those charges.
“By policing views on this issue, the Society is making it very clear that it is not committed to diversity of opinion or colour and sending a clear message to its visible minority members that they are not welcome,” CMLA chair Husein Panju said in the letter.
“The Society’s actions show that it and its board place a higher value on appeasing certain anonymous constituencies than on promoting free speech, intercultural dialogue, inclusivity, and the open exchange of ideas. We can think of few things that are more at odds with fundamental Canadian values.”
In its statement to CBC News, the society said it is “committed to creating a vibrant, diverse, welcoming and inclusive environment for all advocates” and that it is “actively reaching out to members and leaders of legal organizations to listen, learn, and seek to restore the trust of our membership.”
But for employment and human rights lawyer Muneeza Sheikh, the society’s about-face sends a different message.
“The fact that someone as passionate about human rights as Mr. Hadhad can get booted off a prominent legal stage (with young, racialized lawyers watching) in this manner sends a clear message: those who stand for human rights are screened first as to whose human rights they are standing for,” she wrote to CBC News.
“That is not OK,” she continued. “My friends in the legal community are not OK. Free speech has become a casualty in the Ontario legal community, which is shocking given that it is an imperative when looking at human rights — furthermore, thought crimes are punishable in the worst way.“
Hadhad, meanwhile, says he will continue to do what he has done since arriving in Canada: aiming to build bridges through dialogue.
“I believe in creating spaces where stories of hope and peace can be heard without fear or division.”
Think:
@propvstruth:
BREAKING: Israeli Air force pilots used 1000 pound bombs on October 7. They attacked 945 times and fired 11,000 times. You don’t use 11,000 bombs or missiles on 1500 enemy combatants. They straight up SLAUGHTERED their own people.
BREAKING: Israeli Air force pilots used 1000 pound bombs on October 7. They attacked 945 times and fired 11,000 times. You don’t use 11,000 bombs or missiles on 1500 enemy combatants. They straight up SLAUGHTERED their own people. https://t.co/BSyM6DffQTpic.twitter.com/jWzjEyUEW8
If the 11,000 bombs/missiles were divided equally among the 1,139 Israelis and 1,000 Hamas fighters who died, each person would have been struck approximately 5.14 times.
That’s an insane amount of firepower for a “hostage rescue” or “hostage prevention” mission.
They were given explicit instructions to strike anything that moves..
Sumaia Al Khalidi Tweet: “Imagine you’re a parent holding the severed head of your child. Imagine you’re holding the lifeless head of your child. Imagine your child is decapitated and you’re holding their head! This is what USreal is doing to Palestinian children! The child’s name is Ahmad Al-Najjar.”
Vicious legal-fed misogyny, in my view.
