Pro-Palestinian demonstrator in Canada charged with links to Hamas

Ahmad Hassan Hajahmad, 33, a pro-Palestinian demonstrator in Toronto, Canada, has been charged with a terrorism offence over alleged links to Hamas, police have said.

Officials noted that Hajahmad was arrested following a joint investigation conducted by the force's hate crime unit and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's national security team, Caliber.Az reports, citing Canadian media.

He appeared in court on July 21

According to police, Hajahmad attended pro-Palestinian demonstrations in downtown Toronto between May 25 and Sept. 7, 2024, where he allegedly used a microphone to make public statements advocating harm against members of the Israeli and Jewish communities.

Authorities said a search of his residence on March 7, 2025, resulted in the seizure of multiple electronic devices. Investigators alleged the evidence showed Hajahmad acted "for the benefit of, and in association with, Hamas," which Canada has designated as a terrorist organisation.

Ontario's and Canada's attorneys general approved the terrorism charge on July 20.

Hajahmad has been charged with one count of participating in or contributing to the activities of a terrorist group. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

His lawyer, Mohamed El Rashidy, denied the allegations, saying his client had "no connection to Hamas or any other foreign group."

El Rashidy also argued that Hajahmad was not charged with advocating hatred or violence.

"He faces a single charge arising from speaking at public demonstrations. No violence, no weapon, no one harmed," the lawyer stressed.

"Speaking out at a protest about the killing of civilians is protected expression, not terrorism," he added.

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw affirmed investigators worked closely with the RCMP's Integrated National Security Enforcement Team throughout the case.

"Investigations into criminal offences committed at demonstrations do not end when the event is over," Demkiw remarked, adding that the case underscored the need to strengthen counterterrorism capabilities to address evolving security threats.

Hajahmad is scheduled to return to court in Toronto on Aug. 26.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs welcomed the investigation, saying Canadian law enforcement agencies must have sufficient counterterrorism resources to prevent attacks and combat the radicalisation of individuals who support violence or terrorist organisations.

Statistics Canada reported on Wednesday that Jewish Canadians accounted for 71% of all victims of religiously motivated hate crimes in 2025. The agency also noted that antisemitic incidents have increased since the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran in late February.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov