Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center Questions McMaster University's Hosting of Anti-Israel, Pro-Iranian Speaker

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Jan. 24, 2012) - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) is deeply concerned about the hosting of Pro-Iranian speaker Zafar Bangash by the organization 'Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War' at McMaster University this week. At a rally this past summer at Queens Park Bangash was quoted as saying, "Inshallah I see that day when we, the Muslims, will march on Palestine and liberate Palestine . . . under Islamic law."

"It is unclear to me why an organization whose name implies support for peace would choose to host an individual known for his hate speech, incitement to revolution and calls for the genocide of the Israeli people," said Avi Benlolo, President and CEO of FSWC. "It seems to me that the purpose of HCSW is not to encourage support for peaceful resolutions to conflict, but to support the 63 year old intention of the Arab world to eliminate the State of Israel and to disparage the Jewish community of Canada which is opposed to this genocidal goal. I question what objective is honestly served by bringing a known supporter of Iranian-style revolution and Israel hatred to a university campus," he added.

Mr. Bangash has been quoted in the past advising Israelis to go "back where they came from: the U.S., Canada, Europe, Russia, whoever is willing to take them in," warning, "The struggle for the liberation of Palestine will not be easy; it will demand an even greater price in blood than has already been paid. But nobody ever said that the Islamic movement will find anything easy."

For further details please go to: http://www.friendsofsimonwiesenthalcenter.com/downloads/news_012412.pdf