Canada – Judge Drops Ahenakew Hate Charges

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    David Ahenakew with lawyer Doug Christie brushes past reporters[ file photo]Canada – A provincial judge declared First Nations leader David Ahenakew innocent of charges of inciting racial hatred in an anti-Semitic speech in 2002.

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    Provincial Court Judge Wilfred Tucker made the ruling in Saskatchewan in Ahenakew’s second trial on the charges, which upheld the overturning of his 2005 conviction.

    Ahenakew’s lawyers had said the remarks were off-the-cuff and that he hadn’t intended to rile up the crowd at a 2002 health conference sponsored by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations.

    Ahenakew told the audience that when he was stationed in Germany with the military that some Germans had insisted it was the fault of the Jews that World War II had broken out.

    After the speech, however, he allegedly made some more-incendiary remarks to a reporter who was taping the interview and had challenged him on what he had said in his speech.

    The fallout from the widely broadcast interview cost Ahenakew his positions on various commissions and boards. He was also stripped of his Order of Canada award.

    The judge said in his judgment that although the comments were “revolting, disgusting and untrue,” it didn’t appear to him that Ahenakew intended to promote hatred.

    After hearing the verdict, Ahenakew hugged his daughter and told reporters outside court: “I’m glad it’s over.”


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    2 Comments
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    Funny
    Funny
    15 years ago

    And the killings of thousands of Native Americans where the Natives fault? Stupid.

    bigwheeel
    bigwheeel
    15 years ago

    …So, it’s the fault of the Jews that the germans killed and tortured over 6 Million Jews! according to Tribal leader Ahenakew! And then the germans have the nerve to tell the world that the nazi era was an “Aberration”. And that the german nation is pure as the driven snow!!! Try insulting the indians by implication only, and you’re finished for life. They’ll chase you to the ends of the Earth and beyond!!!!