Canadian editor sentenced to prison for promoting Holocaust denial, rape
Jewish groups hail one-year sentence handed down to James Sears, say it shows ‘attempts to spread hate in Canadian society will not be tolerated’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
MONTREAL (JTA) — A Canadian editor was handed a one-year prison sentence for promoting hatred against Jews and women in his publication.
James Sears, editor of the quarterly newspaper Your Ward News in Toronto, was sentenced Thursday to two six-month terms by Judge Richard Blouin of the Ontario Court of Justice.
The publication promoted Holocaust denial and anti-Semitic blood libel claims and published columns justifying rape. It also contained racist, Islamophobic and homophobic messages.
In 2016, the minister in charge of Canada’s postal service banned Your Ward News from being distributed by mail.
Noah Shack, vice president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, hailed the conviction as a “moment of justice for the thousands of women and Jewish community members… who have been impacted by the toxic hate-mongering of Your Ward News.”
B’nai Brith Canada also praised the conviction. CEO Michal Mostyn said it sent a “clear message — that repeated and remorseless attempts to spread hate in Canadian society will not be tolerated.”
The publication’s publisher, LeRoy St. Germaine, is to be sentenced August 29, the Canadian Jewish News reported.
The Times of Israel Community.