CIJA Vice-President Richard Marceau expressed relief at the resignation, stating, “The Jewish community had lost confidence in him to occupy that position, which is so important at this period where we’re seeing sky-high levels of antisemitism. It was the right thing to do.”
A newly appointed Indian-origin Commissioner for Human Rights in Canada has resigned before officially assuming office, following allegations of anti-Semitism. Birju Dattani, who was set to begin his role, stepped down amid concerns raised by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA). The controversy centered around Dattani’s use of the name “Mujahid Dattani” in various online activities and speaking engagements—a detail not included in the initial background check conducted by the Privy Council Office.
Announcing his resignation on LinkedIn, Dattani wrote, “I have agreed to resign as Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, effective today, August 12, 2024. I remain a steadfast believer in the Commission’s work, mandate, and its importance to our democracy.” In his letter, Dattani explained his name change journey, revealing that while he was raised Hindu, he converted to Islam in 2001, adopting the name Mujahid. In 2017, he reverted to using his given name, Birju Dattani, though Mujahid remains part of his identity.
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Investigation revealed that Dattani had omitted the name Mujahid Dattani and periods of unemployment from his background check forms
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Despite these omissions, the report found no evidence of antisemitic beliefs or bias against Jews or Israelis
The allegations against Dattani stem from his past advocacy and criticisms of Israel, which, according to CIJA, should have been disclosed during the application process. CIJA labeled some of Dattani’s past comments and actions as antisemitic, prompting a fact-finding investigation led by Justice Minister Arif Virani. The investigation, carried out by Filion Wakely Angeletti LLP, culminated in a report submitted on July 31, 2024.
Justice Minister Virani stated, “The findings speak for themselves. I received his submissions in response to the report on August 1, 2024. I have accepted his decision to step down as Chief Commissioner. Maintaining the confidence of all Canadians in the Canadian Human Rights Commission remains my top priority.”
The investigation revealed that Dattani had omitted the name Mujahid Dattani and periods of unemployment from his background check forms. Despite these omissions, the report found no evidence of antisemitic beliefs or bias against Jews or Israelis. “Based on his evidence, we cannot find that he harboured or harbours any beliefs that would be characterized as anti-Semitic,” the report concluded.
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