A controversial vigil commemorating the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar appears set to proceed as planned, despite statements from Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish suggesting that a flyer featuring poppies over a black-and-white image of Sinwar was not associated with any legitimate event. The vigil, scheduled for November 26 at Celebration Square in Mississauga, west of Toronto, has drawn backlash, particularly from Jewish community leaders, after Parrish initially stated that the city would not intervene in a peaceful vigil, as long as it adhered to laws and city by-laws.
The flyer, which circulated on social media, uses the slogan “Lest we forget our heroes” alongside red poppies — a symbol of remembrance for Canadian military veterans. Sinwar, who was killed by Israeli forces in October, is widely regarded as the mastermind behind the October 7 massacres in Israel. On Monday, following public criticism, Parrish backtracked, claiming that the event was not real. She stated that no organization could be found to support the vigil and posted a letter from the Muslim Council of Peel, which disassociated itself from the event, calling it “not associated with any legitimate organization in Mississauga.”
Despite Parrish’s claim, the group behind the vigil, Canadian Defenders 4 Human Rights (CD4HR), continued to insist that the event would take place. In a video posted by CD4HR, the group’s leader, Firas Al-Najim, defended the event, calling Sinwar a “great man” and describing the vigil as a tribute to “Axis of resistance martyrs.” He maintained that the event was organized to honor the “struggle for Palestinian liberation.”
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) has strongly condemned the vigil and the mayor’s statements, accusing her of further dividing the community by sharing inflammatory language from the Muslim Council of Peel. CIJA also expressed concern that the mayor had consulted only Muslim groups, without involving Jewish representatives who are directly affected by the vigil. In a tweet, CIJA asked the mayor whether she would intervene to prevent the vigil from honoring a figure associated with violence, executions, and terrorist activities.
On Tuesday, CD4HR posted an email from the Royal Canadian Legion requesting that the phrase “Lest we forget” be removed from the flyer, as it is a trademark of the Legion. The email did not object to the use of the poppy symbol. CD4HR then shared a revised version of the poster with the slogan “Sinwar is our Mandela,” further sparking controversy.
Al-Najim, who has a history of controversial statements, including praising the October 7 attacks by Hamas, remains unapologetic. The CIJA and other Jewish leaders argue that allowing this vigil to take place would be a dangerous normalization of extremism, inciting hatred and violence against Canadian Jews. They call on the mayor to prevent the event, which they argue would be an affront to the values of freedom, peace, and justice in Canada.
