Jewish community outraged over Toronto Police podcast on Oct. 7, anti-Israel rallies
Uniformed Toronto police officers in now-deleted podcast praised Oct. 7 for surge in Islam converts, and dismissed criticism of hateful anti-Israel rallies as "Islamophobia"
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Mar 11, 2025 • Last updated 7 hours ago • 3 minute read
OTTAWA — Toronto’s Jewish community is reacting with alarm to remarks made by a pair of Toronto Police constables in a now-deleted podcast episode.
Constables Haroon Siddiqui and Farhan Ali — both Muslim liaison officers — hosted an episode of the police-produced Project Olive Branch where they made a number of questionable comments, including praising the Oct. 7 2023 Hamas terror attacks for an increase in converts to Islam.
“A lot of people, after Oct. 7, started learning about Islam,” Siddiqui said in his conversation with Ali — both in full uniform and seated behind a large table emblazoned with the Toronto Police crest.
“There have been a lot of ‘reverts’ through this whole process … the amount of people reverting to Islam is unbelievable, they’re educating themselves and saying ‘(why) is it that Muslims are being targeted, and why are they being targeted?'”
Converts are often referred to as “reverts,” as Islam teaches all human beings are born Muslim.
The podcast episode was uploaded, in four parts, to Ali’s official Instagram page on Monday — but by Tuesday morning, the post had been deleted.
The episode never appeared on the podcast’s YouTube page.
In the same conversation, the pair also implied criticism of Toronto’s anti-Israel rallies constitutes “Islamophobia.”
“When we have somebody labelling a certain group as something they’re not, all of the sudden now an islamophobic undertone,” Ali said.
“If someone is calling a Palestinian rally a Hamas rally, then people start getting afraid and think ‘Oh wow, these are people who support an entity that’s been labelled a terrorist organization.’ However, the people that are there protesting, they’re there for a different cause altogether.”
Since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack, Toronto’s Jewish community has been regularly victimized by rallies and marches by anti-Israel activists — with many taking place inside Jewish neighbourhoods and in front of schools and places of worship.
Demonstrators displaying overt support or allegiance to Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist groups are commonplace at these rallies.
Toronto Police are often criticized for ostensibly turning a blind eye. The force came under fire last January after officers delivered urns of coffee to anti-Israel activists illegally occupying the Avenue Rd. bridge over Hwy. 401.
A number of protesters were charged with hate-motivated crimes, many of which are still before the courts.
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw ordered a review of content and procedures to ensure inclusivity efforts maintain impartiality.
“We recognize the Jewish community’s profound pain and anguish as a result of October 7th and the ensuing rise of antisemitism,” Demkiw said in the statement.
“I have personally heard from the community about the impact of this podcast, and I’m truly sorry. Our commitment to protecting our Jewish communities remains unwavering.”
A Toronto Police statement said the force’s Officer Liason Program is designed to “build and strengthen relationships” with the city’s diverse communities.
“While the podcast aims to foster dialogue, we recognize that this episode has been upsetting for some. In light of this, we have made the decision to remove it. We remain committed to respectful and inclusive engagement with all members of our communities,” said the statement.
Casey Babb, a senior Macdonald Laurier Institute fellow and advisor to Secure Canada, told the Sun it’s “unconscionable” to see officers boasting about Oct. 7 bringing a surge of converts of Islam.
“When men and women dress up like Yahya Sinwar, when speeches of Abu Obaida are played, and where Palestinian terrorism is celebrated — that’s not anything but pro-terror — and there’s nothing wrong with calling it out for what it is,” he said, insisting both officers should lose their jobs.
B’nai Brith Canada’s Austin Parcels said the protests are not peaceful demonstrations.
“They are pro-Hamas rallies that promote the group’s ideology and glorify terror,” he said.
“Calls to erase Israel, chanting genocidal slogans outside synagogues, and celebrating attacks by Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran are not free speech — they are endorsements of terrorism. Attempting to frame concerns about this as ‘Islamophobia’ is a dangerous deflection.”
Michelle Stock, of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), expressed concern about the podcast.
“As one of the officers involved authored the (Toronto Police Service) ‘Foundations of Islam and Islamophobia’ guide, we are compelled to wonder if their views represent the official position of the TPS,” she said.
“Jews don’t feel safe in Toronto and have repeatedly questioned why the police aren’t doing more to protect our communities and stop the open glorification of terror on our streets. Is this why? Are we witnessing a two-tier policing system that leaves parts of our city vulnerable to hate and extremism?”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume
torontosun.com
Uniformed Toronto police officers in now-deleted podcast praised Oct. 7 for surge in Islam converts, and dismissed criticism of hateful anti-Israel rallies as "Islamophobia"
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Published Mar 11, 2025 • Last updated 7 hours ago • 3 minute read
OTTAWA — Toronto’s Jewish community is reacting with alarm to remarks made by a pair of Toronto Police constables in a now-deleted podcast episode.
Constables Haroon Siddiqui and Farhan Ali — both Muslim liaison officers — hosted an episode of the police-produced Project Olive Branch where they made a number of questionable comments, including praising the Oct. 7 2023 Hamas terror attacks for an increase in converts to Islam.
“A lot of people, after Oct. 7, started learning about Islam,” Siddiqui said in his conversation with Ali — both in full uniform and seated behind a large table emblazoned with the Toronto Police crest.
“There have been a lot of ‘reverts’ through this whole process … the amount of people reverting to Islam is unbelievable, they’re educating themselves and saying ‘(why) is it that Muslims are being targeted, and why are they being targeted?'”
Converts are often referred to as “reverts,” as Islam teaches all human beings are born Muslim.
The podcast episode was uploaded, in four parts, to Ali’s official Instagram page on Monday — but by Tuesday morning, the post had been deleted.
The episode never appeared on the podcast’s YouTube page.
In the same conversation, the pair also implied criticism of Toronto’s anti-Israel rallies constitutes “Islamophobia.”
“When we have somebody labelling a certain group as something they’re not, all of the sudden now an islamophobic undertone,” Ali said.
“If someone is calling a Palestinian rally a Hamas rally, then people start getting afraid and think ‘Oh wow, these are people who support an entity that’s been labelled a terrorist organization.’ However, the people that are there protesting, they’re there for a different cause altogether.”
Since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack, Toronto’s Jewish community has been regularly victimized by rallies and marches by anti-Israel activists — with many taking place inside Jewish neighbourhoods and in front of schools and places of worship.
Demonstrators displaying overt support or allegiance to Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist groups are commonplace at these rallies.
Toronto Police are often criticized for ostensibly turning a blind eye. The force came under fire last January after officers delivered urns of coffee to anti-Israel activists illegally occupying the Avenue Rd. bridge over Hwy. 401.
A number of protesters were charged with hate-motivated crimes, many of which are still before the courts.
Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw ordered a review of content and procedures to ensure inclusivity efforts maintain impartiality.
“We recognize the Jewish community’s profound pain and anguish as a result of October 7th and the ensuing rise of antisemitism,” Demkiw said in the statement.
“I have personally heard from the community about the impact of this podcast, and I’m truly sorry. Our commitment to protecting our Jewish communities remains unwavering.”
A Toronto Police statement said the force’s Officer Liason Program is designed to “build and strengthen relationships” with the city’s diverse communities.
“While the podcast aims to foster dialogue, we recognize that this episode has been upsetting for some. In light of this, we have made the decision to remove it. We remain committed to respectful and inclusive engagement with all members of our communities,” said the statement.
Casey Babb, a senior Macdonald Laurier Institute fellow and advisor to Secure Canada, told the Sun it’s “unconscionable” to see officers boasting about Oct. 7 bringing a surge of converts of Islam.
“When men and women dress up like Yahya Sinwar, when speeches of Abu Obaida are played, and where Palestinian terrorism is celebrated — that’s not anything but pro-terror — and there’s nothing wrong with calling it out for what it is,” he said, insisting both officers should lose their jobs.
B’nai Brith Canada’s Austin Parcels said the protests are not peaceful demonstrations.
“They are pro-Hamas rallies that promote the group’s ideology and glorify terror,” he said.
“Calls to erase Israel, chanting genocidal slogans outside synagogues, and celebrating attacks by Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran are not free speech — they are endorsements of terrorism. Attempting to frame concerns about this as ‘Islamophobia’ is a dangerous deflection.”
Michelle Stock, of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), expressed concern about the podcast.
“As one of the officers involved authored the (Toronto Police Service) ‘Foundations of Islam and Islamophobia’ guide, we are compelled to wonder if their views represent the official position of the TPS,” she said.
“Jews don’t feel safe in Toronto and have repeatedly questioned why the police aren’t doing more to protect our communities and stop the open glorification of terror on our streets. Is this why? Are we witnessing a two-tier policing system that leaves parts of our city vulnerable to hate and extremism?”
bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume
Jewish community outraged over Toronto Police podcast on Oct. 7, anti-Israel rallies
Uniformed officers in now-deleted podcast praised Oct. 7 for surge in Islam converts, said criticizing anti-Israel rallies is "Islamophobic"
