(National Post) Two Jewish groups are calling on organizers of a large Islamic conference scheduled for downtown Toronto this weekend to cancel two planned speakers, citing previous statements deemed antisemitic.
Reviving the Islamic Spirit (RIS) is an annual convention that, over two decades, has become one of North America’s largest Muslim meetings.
This year, 32 speakers are scheduled over three days with an expected audience of more than 40,000 from Dec. 20 to Dec. 23.
Several speakers on the schedule have been criticized over the years for their stance on women’s rights and gay rights, and for advocating for Sharia law, but this year two speakers have brought particular concern from the Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation, a charitable organization, and Tafsik Organization, a Jewish civil rights group.
