Former Montreal anti-racism commissioner Bochra Manai is suing the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) for alleged defamation and a campaign to discredit her.
The Montreal Gazette and CBS Canada first reported on the lawsuit, which Manai filed with the Quebec Superior Court in Montreal.
The specific accusation against CIJA revolves around a visual montage in which CIJA allegedly compared her to Adolf Hitler. The montage is not searchable online currently; however, it is featured in the lawsuit.
Manai argues that the montage is just part of an almost three-year campaign orchestrated by CIJA with the aim of discrediting her and having her fired from the City of Montreal. She is seeking $125,000 in damages, split into $100,000 in moral damages for the alleged harm caused to her and a further $25,000 in punitive damages.
Manai's history at City of Montreal
Manai was appointed as city commissioner for the fight against racism and systemic discrimination in 2021.
After October 7, 2023, her relationship with CIJA deteriorated.
The precipitating moment seemed to be on October 28, 2023, when Manai decided to take part in a pro-Palestine, pro-ceasefire rally in Montreal, during which controversial Imam Adil Charkaoui gave a speech about "Allah, take care of these Zionist aggressors. Allah, take care of the enemies of the people of Gaza. Allah, count them all, then exterminate them. And don't spare any of them!"
Canadian police investigated the incident as a hate crime.
Manai: Attending the pro-Palestine rally in Montreal was her 'duty to humanity'
Manai defended her position in an op-ed in Le Devoir, saying her choice to attend the rally is her "duty to humanity." She did not publicly condemn the imam's remarks. She did, however, condemn Islamophobic and antisemitic acts committed in the weeks after October 7, saying "all are unacceptable, and the violence must be strongly condemned."
"Shooting Jewish schools and children is a crime that must be punished and has no place in a metropolis like Montreal. Targeting Muslim places of worship is just as important."
A few weeks later, in November 2023, CIJA called for Manai to resign.
“The choice of when she was silent and when she was vocal is very telling," said Eta Yudin, CIJA’s then vice-president, in the Montreal Gazette. "A step forward would be for her to resign or for the mayor to find someone to fill that role who would be aligned with the mayor’s own views on antisemitism and commitment to fighting antisemitism, Islamophobia and all forms of racism, and someone who has the moral clarity and leadership to gain the confidence of all minority groups and Montrealers.”
December 2023, CIJA called for the mayor to replace Manai
Then, in December 2023, CIJA and Federation CJA called on then-Mayor Valerie Plante to replace Manai, citing her attendance at several rallies while remaining silent about antisemitism. Manai's lawsuit cites a sentence in this CIJA publication - that she is “complicit by refusing to speak out against hate” - as "a serious accusation capable of significantly damaging her reputation."
CIJA again expressed concern in February 2025 when Plante promoted Manaï from Commissioner for the Fight against Racism and Systemic Discrimination to director of the Office of Commissioners of the City of Montreal.
“Such a promotion is simply scandalous,” CIJA said.
"She has been noted for her silence and inaction in the face of the antisemitism that has been rotting the city for more than 15 months.”
Manai alleges CIJA communications reinforced Muslim stereotypes
The accusations by CIJA of Manai's antisemitism are featured prominently in the lawsuit. According to the Gazette, Manaï alleges CIJA’s communications contributed to stereotypes associating Muslims with antisemitism and extremism, including by suggesting that she supported or tolerated extremist violence. The lawsuit argues this amounts to discrimination based on religion prohibited by Quebec’s Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.
She also said the alleged campaign caused “harm to her reputation, dignity and integrity, humiliation, stress, anxiety and loss of enjoyment of life."
Regarding the alleged Hitler montage, the lawsuit says the comparison "equates the plaintiff with a figure who committed genocide against Jews and a leading figure of antisemitism, which constitutes an extreme attack on her honor and dignity."
Manai is still the director of the Office of Commissioners of the City of Montreal.
CIJA declined to comment when asked by the Post, citing that the investigation is ongoing.