With cries of “Free free Palestine”, three young pro-Palestinian activists disrupted, for a few minutes, a speech by the federal liberal minister, Jean-Yves Duclos, who was participating in a press briefing at the University Laval, Thursday afternoon.
Minister Duclos was interrupted while speaking at the launch of construction work on the scientific complex of the Institut nordique du Québec.
Stevens LeBlanc/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
An activist wearing a mask then stood up to deplore the fact that Canada continues to arm Israel. He was applauded by two of his comrades. Security officials then removed the activists from the room where the press briefing was taking place.
Stevens LeBlanc/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
A physical and verbal altercation subsequently took place between the security guards and the activists who continued to make noise and chant slogans.
Stevens LeBlanc/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
Impassive and calm
Minister Duclos remained completely impassive and calm during the incident. The mayor of Quebec, Bruno Marchand, and the Minister of Infrastructure, Jonatan Julien, also participated in the event.
Called to react, Jean-Yves Duclos was not too formalized by the situation. “We are lucky to live in a free and democratic society. At Laval University in particular, it is important that freedom of thought and expression can be manifested,” he declared, assuring that things took place “very respectfully” and that there was no did not feel threatened.
According to the minister, “it reflects all the pain and distress that is being experienced across the country. The Canadian government has been calling for a humanitarian ceasefire for several months […] What is happening in Palestine is atrocious […] The Canadian government demanded that the Israeli government not invade the city of Rafah [au sud de la bande de Gaza]. It would be a humanitarian catastrophe if that were the case.”
Non-lethal weapons
Regarding the sending of weapons to Israel by Canada, Mr. Duclos assured that “there are strict rules on sending weapons no matter where – elsewhere in the world – these weapons are sent. In the context we are talking about, these weapons are not lethal and there are very specific conditions with which the people who receive these weapons must treat them.
Three weeks ago, during the commemorations of the attack on the great mosque of Quebec, a pro-Palestinian activist also verbally attacked Minister Duclos.
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2024-02-23 01:42:35
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