Birju Dattani, a former appointee to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, is seeking public donations to fund lawsuits against critics he accuses of defamation.
Blacklock's Reporter says in a crowdfunding appeal, Dattani said he aims to fight “bullying” and “smearing” by those with large platforms.
“There is a pattern in this country of silencing, bullying, doxing, and smearing people, and it has to stop!” Dattani wrote on GoGetFunding.com.
“I need your help to hold them accountable.”
He is attempting to raise $200,000 to pursue libel claims in Ontario Superior Court, alleging $2 million in damages. Named defendants include Conservative MP Melissa Lantsman, Rebel News publisher Ezra Levant, and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.
Dattani has so far raised $11,514, primarily from anonymous donors. Comments on the crowdfunding page praised the effort, with one $25 contributor calling it “a hugely important step toward accountability.”
On February 6, Dattani announced the lawsuits, stating he was a victim of Islamophobia and vowing to stand for others facing similar attacks.
“It is expensive to litigate, and I am crowdsourcing funds to help pay for this legal process,” he told reporters. “I am taking this step to reclaim my reputation and seek accountability.”
Dattani was appointed Canada’s Chief Human Rights Commissioner last June with an annual salary of $394,000. However, just before he was set to assume office on August 8, the government suspended his appointment and launched an investigation into his past conduct as a member of the Muslim Students Association.
The probe focused on Dattani’s 2014 statements in Istanbul, where he described terrorism as “a rational and well-calculated strategy that is pursued with surprisingly high success rates.”
He also attended a protest outside the Israeli Embassy in London and participated in “Israeli Apartheid Week” events at Cambridge University. Additionally, past social media posts likening Palestinians to Holocaust victims drew scrutiny.
In an August 12 report commissioned by the Department of Justice, Dattani expressed regret over his past remarks and tweets, attributing them to his time as a graduate student.
“With the benefit of hindsight, he would not have sent that tweet,” the report stated.
