Toronto (October 18, 2019) – Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) calls on Canadian religious leaders to condemn the alleged hateful words of B.C. Imam Younus Kathrada.

In a video of an October 14 sermon the Imam posted to his Facebook page, he refers to the political candidates in the upcoming federal election as “evil” and “filthy non-Muslims” who “approve of homosexuality” and “support the Zionists against Islam and the Muslims.”

According to the Imam’s Facebook page, his sermon was made to the Muslim Youth of Victoria at the Dar Al-Ihsan Islamic Center in Victoria. On the Center’s Facebook page, Kathrada is listed as the leader of the Center.

“If this is true, it is totally unacceptable for a Canadian religious figure to be allegedly spewing such hate, divisiveness and disdain for democracy - and even worse that he is trying to sell these ideas to our country’s youth,” said Avi Benlolo, FSWC President and CEO. “We ask that religious leaders from all faiths stand together and reject the hateful poison of Kathrada’s message.”