University of Toronto’s Encampment
The University of Toronto administration, including President Meric Gertler, knowingly allowed Jewish and pro-Israel students, faculty and staff to face harassment, intimidation, and verbal and physical abuse from encampment participants.
Canary Mission investigates hatred on the far-right, far-left and by anti-Israel activists. Every Canada profile has been carefully researched and sourced.
- Joshua D'SilvaProfessionalOntarioBDSWestern University
Joshua D'Silva has mocked the death of Israelis, spread antisemitism and promoted an anti-Israel conspiracy theory.
D'Silva has expressed hatred of Israelis, Zionists and Israel on social media. He is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
D'Silva wrote his X posts during Israel’s war against Hamas, which Israel launched after the October 7, 2023, terror attacks when Hamas murdered nearly 1,200 Israelis, injured thousands and kidnapped hundreds.
As of July 2025, D'Silva's LinkedIn said he worked as an IT solutions developer at TD Securities. He graduated from the University of Western Ontario (Western University) with a bachelor's degree in software engineering in 2023.
As of the same date, D'Silva's LinkedIn said he was located in the Greater Toronto area, Ontario, Canada.
- Juliana JungProfessionalOntarioCODEPINK, BDS
Juliana Jung is a Canadian CODEPINK activist who has called for the death of U.S. Congressmen and Israelis.
Jung has also expressed support for Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists, denied Hamas' war crimes, called for Israel's destruction, promoted antisemitism and spread hatred of Israelis, Zionists and Canada.
Juliana Jung wrote her posts during Israel’s war against Hamas, which Israel launched after the October 7, 2023, terror attacks when Hamas murdered nearly 1,200 Israelis, injured thousands and kidnapped hundreds.
As of July 2024, Jung posted on X that she was an activist with the anti-West activist group CODEPINK and a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
As of July 2025, Jung was listed on the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) website as a suspended social work registrant, whose registration number was 839848.
Also as of July 2025, Jung's username on X read: "julia
," using emojis in support of Hamas' terrorism on October 7, 2023. Her X bio said: "communist...glory to the resistance, always."
Resistance Defined Short
As of February 2025, Jung wrote an X post where she indicated she was located in Ontario, Canada.
- Mohammad ZubairiProfessorOntarioBDSMcMaster
Mohammad Zubairi is a pediatrician who has expressed support for terrorists and promoted an anti-Israel campus encampment. Zubairi is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Zubairi wrote his social media posts during Israel’s war against Hamas, which Israel launched after the October 7, 2023, terror attacks when Hamas murdered nearly 1,200 Israelis, injured thousands and kidnapped hundreds.
The encampment that Zubairi showed support for was at the University of Toronto (UofT). For more information on the UofT encampment, check out Canary Mission's campaign titled: "University of Toronto’s Encampment."
As of July 2025, Zubairi was listed on the McMaster University (McMaster) website as an associate professor of pediatrics at the university. He was also listed as a developmental pediatrician working at Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre. McMaster is in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
- Heidi MatthewsProfessorOntarioBDSOHLS
Heidi Matthews justified Hamas terrorism after the group committed war crimes against Israeli civilians, including mass murder, torture, rape, beheadings and kidnappings, on October 7, 2023.
Matthews has also whitewashed terrorists, minimized antisemitism, demonized Israel and showed support for the pro-Hamas student encampments. She is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
As of December 2023, Matthews was an assistant professor at York University’s (York) Osgoode Hall Law School. Her bio on “The Conversation” said she “researches and teaches in the areas of international criminal law, the law of war, international legal history, political theory and law and sexuality.”
Matthews LinkedIn profile said she graduated from Harvard University (Harvard) with a “Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.), International Law (International Criminal Law; Law of War)” in 2014. She also graduated from McGill University (McGill) with a “Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)- Bachelor of Civil Law (B.C.L), Law” in 2007.
- Ibrahim BechrouriProfessorOntarioBDSuOttawa, John Jay (CUNY)
Ibrahim Bechrouri signed an anti-Israel letter during Israel’s war against Hamas terrorists. Israel launched the war after the October 7, 2023, terror attacks.
Hamas murdered approximately 1,200 Israelis, injured thousands and kidnapped hundreds more that day. For more information, see the Canary Mission page on Hamas.
The May 8, 2024 letter Ibrahim Bechrouri signed accused Israel of “genocide” in its war against Hamas and showed support for the pro-terror campus encampments. It also endorsed elements of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
At the time of the signing of the letter, Ibrahim Bechrouri's LinkedIn profile said he was an adjunct professor at John Jay College (John Jay CUNY).
As of July 2025, Ibrahim Bechrouri was listed as an assistant professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
John Jay CUNY is located in New York, New York, and uOttawa is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
- Hugh GustersonProfessorBritish ColumbiaBDSUBC
Hugh Gusterson [Hugh P. Gusterson] signed an anti-Israel letter during Israel’s war against Hamas terrorists. Israel launched the war after the October 7, 2023, terror attacks.
Hamas murdered approximately 1,200 Israelis, injured thousands and kidnapped hundreds more that day. For more information, see the Canary Mission page on Hamas.
The May 8, 2024 letter Hugh Gusterson signed accused Israel of “genocide” in its war against Hamas and showed support for the pro-terror campus encampments. It also endorsed elements of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
As of May 2025, Hugh Gusterson was listed as a professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
UBC is located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
- Khalil QasemProfessionalOntarioN/A
Khalil Qasem [Khalil R. Qasem] is a Canadian immigration official who ripped down posters raising awareness of Israeli civilians kidnapped by Hamas terrorists and held hostage in Gaza. The January 2024 incident occurred in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Qasem also denied Hamas war crimes and spread hatred of Israel on social media during Israel’s war against Hamas in late 2023.
As of January 8, 2024, Qasem was listed online as a program assistant at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in Toronto.
Qasem ripped down the posters following a series of Hamas terror atrocities and war crimes against Israeli civilians, including mass murder, torture, rape, beheadings and kidnappings, which were executed on October 7, 2023. The terror attacks left over 1,200 Israelis dead, hundreds kidnapped and thousands wounded. Israel retaliated with a war called “Swords of Iron.”
Hamas - Designated Terrorist Org - Qabil IbrahimProfessionalOntarioSJP, BDS
Qabil Ibrahim [Cain Ibrahim] was arrested for his alleged role in a violent disruption of a pro-Israel event sponsored by the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) chapter of Students Supporting Israel (SSI TMU) on November 5, 2025, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
On November 6, 2025, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) released a statement stating that Qabil Ibrahim was arrested and charged with “1. Forcible entry; 2. Mischief – Damage property under $5,000; 3. Assault; 4. Member of unlawful assembly while masked; 5. Mischief – Interfere with property under $5,000.” Ibrahim was one of six individuals arrested.
The disruption was preceded by a protest organized by the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter at TMU (SJP TMU) held outside the pro-Israel event.
TPS said in its arrest statement that protesters “forced entry into the building, damaging property, and entered a common area where attendees were gathered” and that “their actions caused those in attendance to fear for their safety.” TPS also said that “one individual sustained injuries from broken glass during the forced entry.”
Post-Ceasefire October 7 Overview snippet for for EP-IT ProfilesQabil Ibrahim was arrested also in April 2025 for alleged arson, possession of incendiary material for arson and common nuisance, for his actions during a pro-Hamas demonstration.
As of November 2025, Qabil Ibrahim's LinkedIn profile said he was a "Finisher" at The Printing House (TPH) and was located in Toronto.
- Kiana AlexisProfessionalOntarioSJP, BDS
Kiana Alexis was arrested for her alleged role in a violent disruption of a pro-Israel event sponsored by the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) chapter of Students Supporting Israel (SSI TMU) on November 5, 2025, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
On November 6, 2025, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) released a statement stating that Kiana Alexis was arrested and charged with "1. Forcible Entry; 2. Member of Unlawful Assembly; 3. Obstruct Peace Officer." Alexis was one of six individuals arrested.
The disruption was preceded by a protest organized by the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter at TMU (SJP TMU) outside the pro-Israel event. The protest was in support of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
TPS said in its arrest statement that protesters “forced entry into the building, damaging property, and entered a common area where attendees were gathered” and that “their actions caused those in attendance to fear for their safety.” TPS also said that “one individual [the speaker at the pro-Israel event] sustained injuries from broken glass during the forced entry.”
Insert the snippet: “October 7 Overview snippet for for EP-IT Profiles”As of November 2025, Kiana Alexis's Babysits profile said she was a babysitter.
As of the same date, the Toronto Police Service said Kiana Alexis was located in Toronto, Ontario.
- Manal KamranUnknownOntarioSJPUofT
Manal Kamran was arrested for her alleged role in a violent disruption of a pro-Israel event sponsored by the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) chapter of Students Supporting Israel (SSI TMU) on November 5, 2025, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
On November 6, 2025, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) released a statement stating that Manal Kamran was arrested and charged with “Obstruct Peace Officer.” Kamran was one of six individuals arrested.
The disruption was preceded by a protest organized by the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter at TMU (SJP TMU) held outside the pro-Israel event.
TPS said in its arrest statement that protesters “forced entry into the building, damaging property, and entered a common area where attendees were gathered” and that “their actions caused those in attendance to fear for their safety.” TPS also said that “one individual sustained injuries from broken glass during the forced entry.”
Post-Ceasefire October 7 Overview snippet for for EP-IT ProfilesAs of November 2025, Manal Kamran's LinkedIn profile said she graduated from the University of Toronto (UofT) in 2025.
- Dalal Atta WaseemProfessionalOntarioBDSWestern
Dalal Atta Waseem has expressed support for terrorism, spread antisemitism, promoted antisemitic conspiracy theories and expressed hatred of Israel and Zionists.
Waseem is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
October 7 Overview snippet for EP-IT ProfilesAs of October 2025, Waseem's LinkedIn profile said she graduated from Western University (Western) with a master's degree in business administration in 2020.
As of the same date, Waseem's LinkedIn said she worked as a manager at Deloitte Consulting in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Arul ShankarProfessorOntarioBDSUofT
Arul Shankar signed an anti-Israel letter during Israel’s war against Hamas terrorists. Israel launched the war after the October 7, 2023, terror attacks.
Hamas murdered approximately 1,200 Israelis, injured thousands and kidnapped hundreds more that day. For more information, see the Canary Mission page on Hamas.
The May 8, 2024 letter Arul Shankar signed accused Israel of “genocide” in its war against Hamas and showed support for the pro-terror campus encampments. It also endorsed elements of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
As of July 2025, Arul Shankar was listed as a professor of mathematics and computational sciences at the Mississauga, Ontario campus of the University of Toronto (UofT).
- Uahikea MaileProfessorOntarioBDSUofT
Uahikea Maile [David Uahikeaikalei'ohu Maile] expressed support for Hamas after the terror group committed war crimes against Israeli civilians, including mass murder, torture, rape, beheadings and kidnappings, on October 7, 2023.
Maile has also spread hatred of Israel and is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Uahikea Maile showed support for the pro-Hamas protest encampment at UofT in May 2024.
As of June 2024, Maile had served as the “founding Director of Ziibiing Lab” at UofT since October 2022, and was slated to be “on leave from July 1, 2024 until July 1, 2025.”
As of January 2024, Maile was listed as an assistant professor of Indigenous Politics in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto (U of T), St. George campus (UTSG), since 2019. U of T is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Maile graduated from the University of New Mexico with a PhD in American studies and a graduate certificate in women’s studies in 2019.
- Waqas ButtProfessorOntarioBDSUTSC
Waqas Butt [Waqas H. Butt] justified Hamas terrorism less than three weeks after Hamas committed war crimes against Israeli civilians, including mass murder, torture, rape, beheadings and kidnappings, on October 7, 2023.
The Hamas terror attacks left over 1,200 Israelis dead, hundreds kidnapped and thousands wounded. Israel retaliated with a war called “Swords of Iron.”
Hamas - Designated Terrorist OrgWaqas Butt also participated [00:00:10] in the pro-Hamas protest encampment at UofT in May 2024.
Butt is also a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement. He has also expressed support for anti-Israel agitator Ilhan Omar.
As of January 2024, Butt was an assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Toronto Scarborough campus (UTSC).
As of the same date, Butt’s LinkedIn profile said he graduated from UC San Diego with a PhD in anthropology in 2018 and was located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Swords of Iron Short - Kiran MirchandaniProfessorOntarioBDSUofT
Kiran Mirchandani participated in and showed support for the pro-Hamas protest encampment at UofT in May 2024.
On May 5, 2024, Kiran Mirchandani was featured [00:00:45] in an Instagram video participating in the encampment.
Kiran Mirchandani showed support for the encampment by signing on [row 21,first photo] to a statement put out by UofT community members in May 2024. The May 20, 2024 statement was part of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
The statement backed all the encampment’s demands, including divesting from the alleged “apartheid policies of the state of Israel and its ongoing genocide in Gaza.”
To show support, Mirchandani submitted a “support selfie,” which featured her holding a sign that said: “Disclose / Divest / Cut ties.”
UofT is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Yogendra ShakyaProfessorOntarioBDSUofT
Yogendra Shakya expressed support for Hamas terrorists when the group committed war crimes against Israeli civilians, including mass murder, torture, rape, beheadings and kidnappings, on October 7, 2023.
Shakya also spread hatred of Israel during its war against Hamas after the October 7, 2023 massacre which left 1,200 Israelis dead, hundreds kidnapped and thousands wounded. Israel retaliated with a war called “Swords of Iron.”
Shakya has also promoted terrorists and anti-Israel content in his academic teaching.
Shakya also showed support for the pro-Hamas protest encampment at the University of Toronto (UofT) in May 2024.
Shakya is a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
As of July 2024, Shakya’s LinkedIn profile said he was the former “Bousfield Distinguished Visitor, Professor of Practice” at UofT’s Department of Geography and Planning, from September 2022 to May 2023 and an “Assistant Professor (Adjunct),” since 2009.
It also said he was the “Founder-Director” of Global Equity Matters (GEM) Initiative, since 2019. He described himself as an “Advocate researcher, educator, & analyst focused on Decolonial Anti-capitalist Worldmaking praxis grounded in Liberatory Reparative Justice, Abolition, & Political Economy of Radical Love/Revolutionary Humanism.”
Shakya’s LinkedIn also said he was a senior research scientist at Access Alliance since April 2006.
As of the same date, Shakya’s LinkedIn said he graduated from U of T with a PhD in geography in 2005 and a master’s degree in geography and planning in 2000.
Shakya’s LinkedIn also said he lived in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
As of November 2023, Shakya went by the username “Yogendra B. Shakya” on Facebook and Instagram. As of the same date, he used the handle “@ybshakya” on Instagram.
Also as of November 2023, he went by the username “Yogendra Shakya” and used the handle “@yshakya” on Twitter. He also went by the username “Yogendra B. Shakya” and the handle “@ybshakya” on Instagram.
- Ruth MarshallProfessorOntarioBDSUofT
Ruth Marshall [Ruth A. Marshall] is a UofT professor who participated [slide 6] in an anti-Israel ceremony organized by the UofT encampment on June 3, 2024, graduation day at UofT. Protesters held the event to “honor all of those who could not graduate because of the genocide their university is funding.”
The ceremony was organized by UofT Occupy for Palestine, which according to their Instagram is a body of “Students calling for divestment from entities sustaining the attacks on Gaza + the occupation, apartheid, and illegal settlements of Palestine.”
Ruth Marshall also showed support for the pro-Hamas protest encampment at UofT again in July 2024.
As of July 2024, Marshall showed her support for the encampment by signing on to a statement put out by UofT community members. The May 20, 2024 statement was part of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
The statement backed all the encampment’s demands, including divesting from the alleged “apartheid policies of the state of Israel and its ongoing genocide in Gaza.”
To show support, Marshall submitted a “support selfie,” holding a sign that said: “University of Toronto DISCLOSE! DIVEST! CUT TIES!” She also had a Palestinian flag in the background.
UofT is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Winnie LemProfessorOntarioBDS, F4PTrent
Winnie Lem showed support for the pro-Hamas protest encampment at UofT in May 2024.
As of July 2024, Winnie Lem, a “Professor Emeritus [sic]” at Trent University (Trent), had shown support for the encampment by signing on to a statement put out by UofT community members. The May 20, 2024 statement was part of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
The statement backed all the encampment’s demands, including divesting from the alleged “apartheid policies of the state of Israel and its ongoing genocide in Gaza.”
To show support, Lem submitted a “support selfie,” where text beside her face said: “DISCLOSE. DIVEST. CUT TIES.”
- Max MishlerProfessorOntarioBDSUofT
Max Mishler showed support for the pro-Hamas protest encampment at UofT in May 2024.
As of July 2024, Max Mishler showed support for the encampment by signing on to a statement put out by UofT community members. The May 20, 2024 statement was part of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
The statement backed all the encampment’s demands, including divesting from the alleged “apartheid policies of the state of Israel and its ongoing genocide in Gaza.”
To show support, Mishler submitted a “support selfie,” where text beside his face said: “DISCLOSE. DIVEST. CUT TIES.”
UofT is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Katherine BlouinProfessorOntarioBDSUofT
Katherine Blouin is a professor who expressed support for Hamas terrorism, spread anti-Semitism, and promoted historical revisionism and hatred of Israel in late 2023 and early 2024 during an Israeli war against Hamas. Blouin is also a supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Katherine Blouin also participated in the pro-Hamas protest encampment at UofT in 2024, where she helped make a pro-Hamas display.
Blouin’s statements occurred following a series of Hamas terror atrocities and war crimes against Israeli civilians, including mass murder, torture, rape, beheadings and kidnappings, which were executed on October 7, 2023.
The Hamas terror attacks left over 1,200 Israelis dead, hundreds kidnapped and thousands wounded. Israel retaliated with a war called “Swords of Iron.”
Hamas - Designated Terrorist OrgAs of January 2024, Blouin was listed as an associate professor of at the University of Toronto (U of T) in “ancient History in the departments of Historical and Cultural Studies (UTSC) and Classics (UTSG), with cross-appointments in the graduate departments of History and Religion, as well as a membership in the Archaeology Center and the Center for Jewish Studies.”
UTSC is the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus and UTSG is the University of Toronto Saint George Campus.
As of January 2024, Blouin was co-founder and lead editor of a blog titled: “Everyday Orientalism.”
As of the same date, Blouin’s LinkedIn profile said she lived in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Helene Furlotte-BoisProfessionalOntarioBDS
Helene Furlotte-Bois [Helene Hayes] was a lead drummer at the pro-Hamas encampment at UofT in May 2024. Furlotte-Bois expressed support for Hamas terrorism and spread hatred of Israel and Canada online and in other activism.
On May 22, Furlotte-Bois was a lead drummer at the encampment, which was in support of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Furlotte-Bois was also arrested and charged with multiple crimes in April 2024, in relation to Furlotte-Bois’s anti-Israel activism.
On May 7, 2024, Furlotte-Bois helped lead [00:00:33] an anti-Israel protest march that ended at the UofT encampment.
UofT is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Azriel KerbelStudentOntarioBDS, RCPTMU
Azriel Kerbel participated in the pro-Hamas encampment at UofT in May 2024 as part of the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP). He also promoted violence and joined in multiple anti-Israel protests in 2023 and 2024 in Toronto and Montreal.
On May 2, 2024, Kerbel participated [slide 1; 00:00:03] in the pro-Hamas encampment at UofT, describing the mood “as very electric and revolutionary.”
In a video on the @toronto_communist Instagram page, Kerbel said [slide 1; 00:00:23]: “What’s required next is to expand the struggle to the workplace within the community and fight the bosses and the imperialists to free Palestine.”
The Instagram post said: “Comrades in Toronto have formed a contingent at the UofT Encampments in solidarity with Palestine Solidarity with the students and the workers, globalize the intifada!
/ All out to U of T, mobilize!”
Intifada Defined and Short HistoryUofT is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Safaa AlnabelseyaProfessionalOntarioBDSUW
Safaa Alnabelseya celebrated terrorism while leading multiple protests at the pro-Hamas encampment at UofT in May 2024. She has also expressed support for Hamas terrorists in other activism.
On May 22, 2024, Alnabelseya led a protest at the encampment. She was featured chanting [00:00:20]: “We won’t rest, till UofT divests!”
On May 11, 2024, Alnabelseya led [slide 4; 00:00:01] an anti-Israel protest march, titled: “76 YEARS OF NAKBA / RESISTANCE UNTIL RETURN,” which joined the UofT encampment. The march was organized by PYM Toronto and Toronto4Palestine.
NakbaResistance Defined ShortAt the rally, Alnabelseya led [00:00:50] anti-Israel activists in chanting: “Viva, viva intifada!” and [00:00:01]: “There is only one solution, intifada revolution!” and [00:01:35] “Long live the intifada!…We are the intifada!…”
Intifada - connotation of violence - Edited by Will 4/5/2022Alnabelseya said in a speech [00:06:48]: “...Under this occupation, the so-called ‘State of Israel’ has no right to self-defense against the territory that it occupies.”
On May 7, 2024, Alnabelseya led a protest march, where she gave a speech in support of Hamas. The march began outside the Israeli consulate in Toronto and joined the UofT encampment. The march was organized by anti-Israel activist groups, including Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) and Toronto4Palestine.
At the rally, Alnabelseya said [00:00:04]: “Remember that our resistance on the ground [Hamas] is strong and steadfast. They will not back down…They will continue to fight against the evil murderous treacherous Zionist entity [Israel] with their entire might, and here we salute the resistance in Gaza and beyond…” She then led protesters in chanting [00:00:57]: “Resistance is justified when people are occupied!”
Zionism DefinedFrom February 17, 2024, to May 11, 2024, Alnabelseya led at least seven anti-Israel rallies in the Toronto area.
UofT is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Sait Simsek MuratStudentOntarioBDSUofT
Sait Simsek Murat participated in the pro-Hamas protest encampment at UofT in May and June 2024.
On May 12, 2024, Sait Simsek Murat, a UofT student, posted on X that he had been at the university’s encampment “since day 1.”
On May 22, 2024, Simsek Murat featured [00:00:37] in a video posted on Instagram from the encampment of protesters chanting: “Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest!…we won’t rest till UofT divests!”
On May 23, 2024, Simsek Murat posted on X: “...This encampment will stay. If one is destroyed, another will arise. As a UofT student, I am willing and ready to be arrested…We’ll stay until UofT meets the students’ demands.”
On May 27, 2024, Sait Simsek was named as a respondent in a “LEGAL PROCEEDING” brought against him and 12 others, plus an unspecified number of “PERSONS UNKNOWN,” by UofT’s Governing Council. The case was brought before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
Among the requests of the UofT Governing Council was that the court apply “An interlocutory and permanent injunction that the Respondents…shall be restrained and enjoined from directly or indirectly” continuing with the UofT encampment [p. 6], as well as from “physically preventing, impeding, restricting or in any way physically interfering with…access to University property” [p. 5].
On June 18, 2024, Simsek Murat posted on X a photo of himself at the encampment holding a banner that said: “NO PROFITS FROM PALESTINIAN DEATH: DIVEST NOW!”
Simsek Murat also posted on X indicating his participation at the UofT encampment on other days, including May 27, 2024, June 1, 2024 and June 25, 2024.
UofT is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Kalliope Anvar McCallStudentOntarioBDSUofT
Kalliopé Anvar McCall organized and led protests at a pro-Hamas encampment at UofT in May 2024. She also served as media liaison for the encampment.
On May 2, 2024, the first day of the encampment, Anvar McCall gave an interview to CP24 News, in which she said [00:26:15], referring to Hamas terror attacks on Israel: “We’ve been organizing on campus since October…in solidarity with Palestine.”
October 7 2023 Attacks Super ShortAnvar McCall also reportedly said, referring to the encampment: “This area has been declared like a zone without police and without Zionists. We are ready to do anything to defend this space.”
Zionism DefinedOn May 13, 2024, Anvar McCall said [00:00:04] in a press conference at the encampment that the protesters were calling on UofT to “cut all ties with Israeli academic institutions.” She added [00:02:52]: “To refuse to cut ties with them…the University of Toronto is accepting their own complicity and the complicity of these institutions in this ongoing genocide.”
At the same press conference, Anvar McCall also said [00:00:02]: “We’re not leaving…we live here now and we’ll live here as long as needed to have our demands met.”
UofT is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.